The papers have been so vulgar and stupid as usual, that it made it all the worse for him, and it is all a nerve-racking business at the best.
I am thrilled to hear that there is a suggestion that you may both come here soon – (I don’t even dare write the day!) and I shall look forward so very much to seeing you, my first visitors.
With all my love and a million thanks for the boxes,
Ever darling Mama, your very loving daughter in law
Elizabeth
Undated [27 August 1930] to the Duke of York
Glamis Castle
My Darling Sweet
I must write you one line just to say how much I loved seeing you yesterday, and how much I miss you now. I do hope that everything is settling down at Balmoral, and that the Monarchical temper is improved. I wrote to Mama today, & I suggested Ann – I hope that they will be tactful about it.
Simson came back this morning to bring me a trout, & to say that he proposes coming here on Friday evening at about 6 to send out the last bulletin. Apparently the daily (& more decent papers) are terribly anxious that the Sunday press should not get it, & I rather agree that it would be better to have it out on Saturday. Do you? But don’t trouble to return or anything, as there is nothing to say, and he only wanted you to know. I did not like to tell him that you were not returning until Sat. and perhaps he is better off out of the way!!
Goodbye Angel. P.T.O.
This is my last piece of paper, & am not supposed to be writing another letter!! A great many kisses, & I hope that Thursday & Friday will pass quickly.
Your very loving E
6 September 1930 to Queen Mary
Glamis Castle
My Darling Mama
I am sending you up Lilibet, and I must confess that I shall miss her very cheerful companionship very much. But I am sure that she will enjoy her visit enormously, and Bertie will bring her back next Saturday, which is a comfort, as I am always terrified of her travelling by road nowadays. I have asked that I might have a telephone message of safe arrival. This sounds like a fussy mother, but I do think that car travelling is dangerous!
I hope that you had a pleasant visit to May, and managed to do all that you wanted to do in Edinburgh. And I wonder so much whether you found any exciting things in the Curiosity shops?
Bertie & I have decided now to call our little daughter ‘Margaret Rose’, instead of M. Ann as Papa does not like Ann. I hope that you will like it. I think that it is very pretty together.
I am getting on well, and am having massage which is helping my flabby muscles back wonderfully. I expect that next week I shall start getting up, and that I always think is a bad moment, as one feels so weak out of bed.
I see that the Braemar Gathering* is next week. What a joy! If Lilibet asks to go too, which she is quite likely to do, I do hope that you won’t take her Mama, as she is really much too little for that sort of thing, and would get very weary standing about in the pavilion.
I shall miss not seeing lovely Balmoral this year, and we often talk of the happy time we spent at Birkhall last autumn.
With much love darling Mama,
Ever your loving daughter in law
Elizabeth
PS Lilibet is unfortunately not very good on a long car journey now, but with plenty of air is fairly all right.
9 September 1930 to the Duke of York
Glamis Castle
My Darling Sweet
Thank you so very much for your letter which I was so pleased to get. I am delighted to think that you were politely received – quite right too, and don’t you stand any rudeness. I am writing this sitting in a chair by the window, and the sun is shining on me! Isn’t that grand? It’s such a lovely day, I do wish you were here duckie. I have thought of a lovely way to exercise you when you get back.
And that is lugging me round the garden in a bath chair. Now what do you think of that? It is one o’clock, and I have had a very busy morning as usual, and this is my first opportunity of writing, so I thought I would continue sitting-up & writing to you. […]
I shall long for Saturday. […]
I had a very sweet and sugary letter from Mama, and I am glad that they realise what a sacrifice it is sending Lilibet away. The sun has now gone in and it’s rather cold! I loved Lilibet’s letter and please give her the enclosed from Margaret Rose – she held the pencil for the kisses specially for Lilibet. Will you give it to her & tell her this? Also do read her my letter.
Well darling, I will write again soon, and I do hope that your week will be pleasant. I miss you horribly, and get very bored at moments.
Kiss Lil for me, and a great many for yourself darling,
from your very loving Elizabeth
10 September 1930 to the Most Rev. Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury
Glamis Castle
My dear Archbishop,
Thank you so very much for your most charming letter of congratulation. It was very kind of you to write, and I was so delighted to hear from you.
Daughter No. 2 is really very nice, and I am glad to say that she has got large blue eyes and a will of iron, which is all the equipment that a lady needs! And as long as she can disguise her will, & use her eyes, then all will be well.
I do hope that if you can find time you will christen her for us later on in London? I couldn’t bear to have a child not christened by you, and we shall be so grateful if you will do this.
I was very disappointed as I was longing to ask you to stop here during your Scottish ‘tour’, & christen her in the Chapel here, but that idea was most firmly stamped on by Lord Stamfordham,* who assured us that it was quite impossible for you to do this. I had no idea that the two Churches were so far apart, and I thought that not only would it have been delightful for me, but that it would have given pleasure in Scotland. However, this raised a storm in the vicinity of Balmoral and the King practically told me that you would be appalled at the very idea, so I regretfully said goodbye to that nice peaceful plan!
It is such a long time since I have seen you, but I know that my mother has asked you if you can stop here for a meal on your way from here to there, so that if you come I do hope that you will pay me a visit. It would indeed be a pleasure for me.
I shall think of you motoring to Dunecht & other beauty spots this week, & wish that I was there, to talk, but not to drive, for I hate long shut drives – don’t you?
With many thanks for your kind letter, I am,
Yours very sincerely
Elizabeth
Friday undated [12 September 1930] to the Duke of York
Glamis Castle
My Darling Sweet
I do feel so sorry for you with all this disgusting weather – it must be so dull, & such a waste not being able to go out stalking or anything. I should absolutely refuse to go all the way to London for a banquet. I should say that you can’t go dashing up & down, and we might be going south early I suppose. It all depends when I finish with the baby, and anyway I think it sounds about the most unnecessary thing that I’ve ever heard of! Well, you can always write & say that you can’t go.
Isn’t Oct 30th a bit late for the christening – the baby will be 10 weeks old, and still a pagan. But we can talk it over when we meet, as Papa & Mama need not be there. In fact it would be much nicer to have it whilst they are away at Sandringham. I am so looking forward to tomorrow, & mind you come down the Elbow in second, or whatever it is! I hope Lilibet won’t be sick again.
It’s cold & damp still – ugh – I now drink Maggie’s beer for lunch, it makes me feel very heavy in the head, but it does me good too.
Margaret Rose put on 8oz this week. Isn’t that grand? […]
Lots of love darling, from your very very loving
Elizabeth
1 October 1930 to Lady Helen Graham
Glamis
My dearest Nellie,
This seems quite passable in a twaddly way.* […] The only thing that she [Beryl Poignand] might take out
is a remark at the bottom of page 7 to the effect that I may one day rule this country. That is just too much, and she can easily omit the words, ‘she may one day rule as Queen’. It always irritates me, this assumption that the Prince of Wales will not marry – he is quite young and it is rude to him in a way too. Otherwise it is all quite innocent. […]
With much love,
Elizabeth
24 October 1930 to Lady Strathmore
145 Piccadilly
My Darling Sweet,
I can’t tell you how miserable I was at having to leave Glamis. It was so delicious being there with you darling, and I can never never thank you enough for all your angelicness to me & Bertie & Lilibet & the baby. […]
It is horrible getting back to London, and Lilibet at once got a very bad cold. […]
The only good thing is that baby is very well, and has put on 8 1/2 oz this week. She is so merry. It must be horrid not having any noisy little creature tramping in for ‘just five minutes with Granny’. […] I think you must come down darling & meet David. I think that after all you do for Father he should certainly pay your journey down.
I wish that I could pop up to Glamis, as I am sure you must be feeling rather dull after such a busy Autumn.
Goodbye darling, I really don’t know what we would all do without you,
From your very loving
Elizabeth
17 December 1930 to Dr Varley
145 Piccadilly
Dear Doctor Varley
I am writing to ask you whether you would mind if Doctor Weir* came to see the leg whilst you are dressing it this evening.† My husband is a very nervy person (which I expect you have noticed), & he has great faith in his little homeopathic powders, & Dr Weir is a homeopathic doctor. My husband is so afraid of not keeping fit, and if you don’t mind, I really believe that the idea even of these little doses will make him feel more cheerful! It is not the leg that worries him, it is his fitness. It seems almost a religion nowadays does it not? And if you have no objection to Dr Weir seeing the leg, then he can swallow his little powders down.
I am quite ignorant about etiquette, and I hope that it is alright suggesting this? Dr Weir is an old friend of my husband’s, but he has not asked him to come in yet before asking you. If it is alright, my husband thought that he might look on whilst you are looking at the leg, and then he can swallow down his powders with joy.
I am, yours very sincerely, Elizabeth
26 January 1931 to Queen Mary
Thornby Grange*
Northampton
My Darling Mama
It is too kind of you to send me the 3 pretty little dresses for the baby, and I think the work is very good. I will certainly give them some work, and will start by giving them a dress of Lilibet’s to copy. […]
I had to leave the children behind in London as the baby had a very bad cold & cough, and then Alah & Bobo† had it – (a sort of flu) & so all our plans were upset, and I am now hoping very much to get them here this week.
I hope that you have been having nice sunny days at Sandringham – Lilibet & I miss our evening ‘hops’ very much, & often wish that we were marching or polka-ing in the ballroom with you.
The Government seem to be in rather a precarious position over the Trades Disputes Bill, but it looks as if those horrid Liberals are going to keep them in all the same. I wonder if there has ever been a more stupid & spendthrift Government than this one.‡
I wonder when you are going to visit the British Industries Fair this year? It opens about Feb. 16th I believe.
With much love darling Mama, & so many thanks for the little dresses –
Ever your loving daughter in law
Elizabeth
16 March 1931 to Mrs Beevers
Thornby Grange
Dearest Nannie B
Thank you simply a thousand times for the darling little jumper for Lilibet – it fits her beautifully, and she thinks that the ‘Brownies’ are too lovely.
I do think that it is kind of you to think of her, especially when you have been having this horrible flu – I do hope that you are really feeling better – I wish that I had known a little sooner & you might have come down here for a few days’ change. The air is wonderfully bracing, you ought to see the two children! Lilibet is so full of spirits, & as for Margaret Rose – she is simply bounding with energy. I am longing for you to see her again.
We shall be returning to London some time in April I think.
Such a lovely little jumper has arrived for the baby – please do thank your kind cousin very very much – she makes such perfect ones. And blue suits the baby so well – when she has her bonnet on with blue ribbons her eyes look like the blue sea.
With much love dearest Nannie B & many thanks.
Yours affect.
Elizabeth
20 March 1931 to Duff Cooper
Thornby Grange
My dear Mr Duff Cooper*
I feel that I must write and congratulate you on your most excellent victory over Lords Rothermere† & Beaverbrook.
After what you told me at Lady Astor’s party, I have taken a violent interest in your campaign, and was so very pleased at your courage in taking on St George’s.
I dispatched a busload of servants up to London to vote for you – each clutching their Daily Mail, and the middle page of the Daily Telegraph thrust into their unwilling hands by myself!
I subsequently ascertained that they voted for you en masse.
Please do not trouble yourself to acknowledge this short letter, it is only to tell you how pleased I am at your victory.
I hope that Lady Diana and yourself are not too exhausted.
I received my papers and longed to use my vote, and also was furious to receive a communication from old Petter.
I placed it as obviously as possible in the waste paper basket.
I am,
Yours very sincerely,
Elizabeth
19 June 1931 to the Hon. Richard Molyneux*
Windsor Castle
To the Windsor Wets.†
Fellow Soakers!
I have received with gratification the invitation to become Patroness of your exclusive Club. It is with pride and pleasure that I accept this responsible position, and if the occasion arises, you may rest assured that your Patroness will be with you to the last glass. And so, from half pint to Jeroboam, let us go forward together, always remembering our watchword – ‘Aqua Vitae NON aqua pura’. With kind regards and many hiccoughs,
I remain,
Yours in thirst, Elizabeth
24 July 1931 to King George V
145 Piccadilly
My dearest Papa,
Here is the cigarette box that I got for you in Paris. I thought that it might do to use in the yacht, and is of rather modern French workmanship. In case you do not notice the design, the little silver things are yachts floating across the lid! […]
With much love, dearest Papa,
ever your very affectionate daughter-in-law
Elizabeth
3 August 1931 to D’Arcy Osborne
145 Piccadilly
My dear D’Arcy,
Thank you so very much for your letter from on board the Cunard RMS Aquitania.* I feel slightly abandoned at addressing you in this very familiar fashion, but dash it all, I have known you now for about twelve years, and as you are one of my few friends, I think that I may venture? Eh? You seemed to think that it was quite OK when I broached the subject at Ciro’s, so I hope that it’s all right. I quite agree with you that we did not discuss things half enough when you were here – I like to thrash every subject out – and next time you MUST take your leave in the winter when life is more peaceful and there is plenty of time for argument and tattle.
I do want to know one thing. Did your mind veer at all towards matrimony? I wondered so much one evening, and hoped that you rather liked a certain fair and intelligent young lady. Excuse an old pal butting in, but I would love to see you hap
py and affianced. However, these things are nobody’s business, and I daresay it never entered your head. You know, I have very few friends, and there are very few people that I write to like this – so you don’t mind do you? I don’t mean that there are not a lot of people who I don’t love dearly, but I have only a mere half dozen of intimates, so you must put up with this kind of letter.
Paris was great fun in the end, and Lord Tyrrell* I found charming and quite without a soul. Everything seemed to go quite well, and the French were most polite, and we exchanged compliments and kissed hands without ceasing for four days. Old [Marshal] Lyautey† was a dear old boy and rather liked me – he thought he liked me, but he really liked my hats, which had sweeping feathers & reminded him of his gay young days.‡
Tomorrow we go to Glamis. I long for Scotland, as we have had a very busy summer & somehow I feel more connected and older this year. I don’t know how to describe it quite, but I am beginning to feel that I am ‘the good old Duchess’ rather – I suppose the younger generation has got used to me. I can’t quite tell you what it is, because I don’t know myself, but I expect you can guess. You usually know what I mean!
Goodbye for the moment,
Yours ever,
Elizabeth
16 September 1931 to Queen Mary
145 Piccadilly
My Darling Mama
Having just returned from our inspection of Royal Lodge,* I hasten to write and tell you our impressions. We thought it the most delightful place, & the garden quite enchanting, also the little wood. Of course, the bedroom accommodation is very limited for us with our large nursery, but I think that we can manage quite well if Bertie makes one of the ‘reception’ rooms on the ground floor into his dressing room. That means putting in a bathroom, but I think that would be quite easy. It would be wonderful for the children, and I am sure that they would be very happy there.
Most of the carpets & beds etc belong to Mrs Fether – but we have got one or two beds over, & I daresay that we can manage.
Counting One's Blessings Page 19
