Queen Mary Pt 3

[Grace]

She wore toques and carried parasols long before she was in her old age, Tom.  I doubt they were a "fashion statement" either - just the look she preferred.

[Eddie_uk]

I thought this was an interesting recollection from the late Sir Edward Ford (such a nice man by all accounts), the Queen's former assistant private secretary.

It was Ford who broke the news of George VI's death to both Queen Mary and Winston Churchill. Half a century on, he recalled: "The king's body had been discovered that morning by his valet, in his bedroom at Sandringham. We had a codeword for this eventuality, which was 'Hyde Park Gardens'. The king's private secretary telephoned me and said simply 'Hyde Park Gardens, tell Queen Mary and the prime minister.' The codeword meant that the king was dead, but I knew no more.

"It was 9.15 in the morning and I found Churchill in bed, with Foreign Office papers strewn all round. I said, 'Prime minister, I've got bad news for you. The king died last night.' 'Bad news, the worst,' Churchill replied. He slumped as a man in shock, clearly deeply affected. He then thrust his papers aside, saying, 'How unimportant these matters seem.' I then had to tell Queen Mary. 'What a shock,' she said to me. 'What a shock'."

[grandduchessella]

And how many sudden deaths she'd already suffered--her mother, her brother Frank, her son John, her son George, her nephew Rupert and so on.

[Eddie_uk]

That's true. Interestingly James Pope Hennessey noted that Grand Duchess Augusta missed all the deaths of her nearest and dearest...

[CountessKate]

as most royal fans know in her later years Queen Mary favored her trademark toque hat and parasol/umbrella. was the umbrella/parasol a fashion statement or a clever way of helping the ageing Queen Mary to keep steady on her feet?   would like to know what you think!

She wore toques and carried parasols long before she was in her old age, Tom.  I doubt they were a "fashion statement" either - just the look she preferred.

There is a wonderful picture at the bottom of this page:
http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=3783.45
showing her as Duchess of York in about 1900 clearly with her toque and parasol  (the toque more flowery and feathery than later models, but still pretty much a toque) - she looked elegant, but was absolutely not a fashion leader nor considered so even then.  As Grace says, this was the look she was comfortable with and which suited her.  The parasols/umbrellas (as it was not done to carry a parsol in winter) I think at least began as something to do with her hands - much like the present Queen's handbag.

[royal_netherlands]

That's true. Interestingly James Pope Hennessey noted that Grand Duchess Augusta missed all the deaths of her nearest and dearest...

Yes interesting indeed Eddieboy, Aunt Augusta really had a talent fore missing out on that. I'm reading the biography on Queen Mary written by James Pope Hennessey at the moment. And I absolutely love it! I almost finished it but I wish the book was another 1000 pages. I admire Queen Mary so much more and she is now at the top list of my favorite royals. And dear Aunt Augusta with her sharp tonque and her marvelous intelligent character is on the same list, the both stole my heart. I like Queen Mary even more because we share the same love of (family) history, art, the social factor and collecting and making cataloques of these items. I did this even before I knew Queen Mary excisted, but I dont have to exaggerate about it offcourse. But I mean I would love to hang out whit May and have a talk!

The most beatifull line that hit me, was from one of here letters to Lady Mount Stephen when she talks about her family items or just about her marvelous collection of items:

'It always seems strange to me that there can be people to whom these things mean & say nothing to them, I confess I pity them as they miss much in life.'

I read it outlout to my grandmother and she justed said to me: ' Dear, she was a person you and I could talk to, she is a lady from my heart.'
My grandmother and I to share a passion fore collecting, history and family items, and May is so right it truly is a way to make life bigger and more interesting. So I'm going to write Queen Mary's inspiration line on a piece of paper then frame it and look at it with much appreciation as much as I can.

With love from my country,

RN

[royal_netherlands]

 
                                       

                                                                   ''Queen Mary is not amused!''

[tom_romanov]

                                      

                                                                   ''Queen Mary is not amused!''

Lol    are then any photos out there of Queen Mary smiling?

[royal_netherlands]

Certainly their are photos of Queen Mary smilling!









Queen Mary talks to her grandaughter princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) with a smile, the year is 1948. I wonder were the talk about?
Lets make a contest of it! The person who makes up the most funniets conversation between granny and granddaughter or has a suggestion about what the say wins a price. Looking forward to youre creative answers, come on let those creative minds go to work!

RN

[Gabriella]

What about this: Queen Mary laughing.

[tom_romanov]

ok here its goes - (it's very bad but it is 9pm and im tired) -

1st photo- (elizabeth has brought her gandmother out for a day at the races ) (she see a guard who's kilt has blown up in the wind) ( she smiles)
2nd -  E -  Grandmama look over there i've just seen a mans naked behind
3rd -  QM - really ! ( she giggles) how amusing!
          E- it reminds me of the other day when i saw Philip in the shower
4th- QM - PHILLIP IN  THE SHOWER !!! ( she laughs out loud at this thought)

[timfromengland]

Mary's  mother.... the Duchess of Teck.... was the grand daughter of King George 3rd  !
As these pictures show, she was not the most attractive middle aged lady.....
in fact , it begs the question... how did she produce such a lovely and attractive daughter
as  Mary proved to be
go here
http://celebheaven.freepowerboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=130&p=651#p651




.

[Grace]

It is hard to tell, but quite a few people in Mary Adelaide's day considered her very attractive in her younger years, even given her very large size.  She was apparently a good deal fairer than her photos show.  

We should be continuing this discussion on Queen Mary Part 4....

[timfromengland]

chopping up these threads drives me mad
part 3 part 4 ....  wot is the  point ?

[timfromengland]

 the Duchess of Teck is of course  our Queen's great grandmother !

In her more recent photos the Queen has been reminding me more and more
not of  Elizabeth Bowes Lyon .... her own mother...
but  of  Queen Mary... her grandmother  !