Prince Albert's quest for the hand of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon was less a courtship than a campaign. He conducted it for 30 months and used spontaneous charges, tactical retreats, and evidently well-considered feints. Within months of his first flash of interest in the summer of 1920, Elizabeth would have accepted his inevitable proposal. But her heart was with another man, James Stuart, the third son of the 17th Earl of Moray and, as irony would have it, Bertie's equerry who arranged his logistics and assisted him at events. He was a tall moustachioed Scotsman with a lady-killer reputation! This author takes us into the inner sanctum of the Windsors and gives us an intimate and gripping portrait of a royal marriage that survived betrayal, tragedy and world war. It is a deeply moving paean to the power of duty, honour and courage in Britain's darkest and finest hour and a memorable and touching portrait of two decent people who took on a job they never wanted by an author who understands the British aristocracy including the royals very well indeed. It is a brilliant portrait of the loving marriage of King George VI and Elizabeth, their raising of their daughter to become Queen Elizabeth II, and London during World War Two, based on exclusive access to the Royal Archives. Granted access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents' letters and diaries, and to papers of their close family and friends, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to life - how they led a nation, solidified the public's faith in the monarchy, and raised their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. When King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936, shattering the Crown's reputation, his younger brother known as Bertie assumed his father's name and became King George VI. Shy, sensitive, and afflicted with a stutter, he never imagined that he would become King. His wife Elizabeth was a pretty, confident and outgoing woman who later became known as 'The Queen Mother', who strengthened and advised her husband. With her guidance and love, George VI was able to overcome his insecurities and even his stammer, become an exceptional leader and navigate the country through the Second World War, establishing a relationship with Winston Churchill, visiting Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington and in Hyde Park, and inspiring the British people with his courage and compassion during the Blitz. Packed with intrigue and love interests. A big lump of a book, 700 pages with many photos and a selection of archive images.
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