The Queen Mother Biography

When she was 21, George V's second son, Prince Albert asked her to marry him, but she turned him down. Elizabeth refused the prince on three further occasions, but in January 1923 she consented. The marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 23rd April that year.

Elizabeth was now the Duchess of York. She and Albert had two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose.

George V died in January 1936 and his eldest son ascended the throne as Edward VIII, but shocked the world by abdicating to be with Wallis Simpson.

Suddenly Elizabeth's husband was thrust into the role of king. He accepted the crown, taking the name George VI, and worked hard to live up to his new responsibilities, but it was never easy for him, and his wife never forgave his brother Edward and Wallis.

The king and queen stayed on in London during the Blitz, whilst the girls spent the war years at Windsor Castle, where they were relatively safe. Buckingham Palace was hit by bombs and rockets on nine occasions. "I'm glad we've been bombed," Queen Elizabeth said. "It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face." She and the king often visited bomb sites.

The king and queen celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1948, but the king's health began to deteriorate. He died of lung cancer in 1952. His eldest daughter became Queen Elizabeth II, and his widow was now known as Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother died in March 2002 at the age of 101.