Counting One's Blessings

by William Shawcross

  Have you heard what the Abyssinian soldier said about Mussolini? ‘He is my enema, the Douche’. Blackie* will appreciate that!

  With so many thanks again for the card, and much love dearest Papa

  from your very loving and

  dutiful daughter in law

  Elizabeth

  PS May I wish you a very happy & peaceful New Year.

  3 January 1936 to Princess Elizabeth

  The Royal Lodge

  My Darling Lilibet

  Thank you so much for your darling letter. It made me laugh very much the idea of having to go upstairs whilst the water rushed about downstairs.

  Fancy Dookie’s disgust if he had to paddle to the door to go out! And how would Annie clean the carpet with her roaring machine under water! And Ainslie would have to swim round the dining room offering food, and Papa & I would have to have a boat to go round the garden. Mr Stone & Cripps would have to wade about in the Chapel splash, splosh. & how would Owen exercise the horses! I think that it would be easier to build an ark like old Noah, and live in it until the rain stops! However luckily it has not rained today, so I hope the poor people in Windsor will be happier.

  It is three weeks tomorrow since I went to bed. Isn’t it a long time – much too long I think. But I am feeling much better today, my cough has practically gone, so I hope that the doctor will let me get up. After being in bed so long, one’s legs feel a bit wibbly wobbly, so I shall have to get them strong.

  Well my darling, I hope that you are quite happy & that your cold is gone. Give Alah & Margaret a kiss.

  Goodbye my Angel from your

  very loving Mummy

  10 January 1936 to D’Arcy Osborne

  The Royal Lodge

  My dear D’Arcy,

  It was kind of you to send me two such FUNNY books for Xmas, and I have enjoyed them both enormously. Thank you very much for thinking of such a nice present, I am extremely grateful. They arrived just at the right moment, when I was beginning to come back to life after having pneumonia. I never thought that I would be really ill. I suppose that is the optimism that one is born with! But it’s really very pleasant, nothing matters; people, things, food & drink don’t exist, in fact one becomes a NOTHING.

  The only unpleasant thing is returning to Life & feelings. However, even that is made bearable when kind friends send one amusing books.

  What do you think of everything? All that Sam Hoare & Laval & Baldwin business* was going on when I had a very high temperature. Consequently I am not sure whether it all really happened or not. […]

  I have spoken to Mrs Greville on the telephone who, I may say, takes the gravest view of everything. ‘I can’t tell you on the telephone but Austen* told me’ etc. I believe somebody heard her speaking of her ‘dear little brown shirts’.†

  I have been in bed for a whole month, & the last week or so I have been able suddenly to think clearly (for me) instead of being in a fog. It is very interesting. Especially about people. One realises them if you know what I mean. Silly people, who one forgave for being silly & probably rather cruel because one liked them, become what they are – cowardly, futile & unhappy. And nice dull people become valuable, & one’s real friends turn to gold, and become more important than anything else in the world.

  At the end of November we went to Paris for a St Andrew’s Day Scottish Dinner, & were worked very hard. We lunched with the President,‡ when I sat between the old boy & Laval, who was very pleasant of course, & a huge dinner party at the Embassy & Reception, & French people at odd hours, M. Pietri§ twice running for dinner, and an enormous man who said that he was Herriot’s¶ chief man, who practically sank to his knees beside me, & gurgled ‘If only we had people like you both in France’ etc etc whilst I pretended that it was quite O.K. to have a Huge Frenchman with a Légion d’Honneur in his buttonhole kneeling violently beside one. They don’t mean a word they say, but they are so nice, & so nasty. I like their sense of humour – it’s so delicious, & yet, how can one trust them? They are so unsentimental when it comes to politics & horribly straight seeing. What do you think of them?

  I have been wondering what you are going to do about moving to Rome.* It all seems so unnecessary. I have always hated the League of Nations† – do you think that they will be stronger or weaker after this business? Do tell me what you think.

  I gather that America is determined to keep out of any European trouble, before anything else. One can be sympathetic with that, but is the British Empire exactly an European country? It’s all very complicated, and I am sure that you must be tired with this disjointed letter. Half the blame for its stupidity I put on this Fountain Pen that I am trying to write with. Only the most boring words come from its horrid nib, and I have the greatest difficulty stopping it writing words like ‘dainty’ and ‘afternoon tea’. So you see I am labouring under a disadvantage.

  Thank you so much again for the books

  From

  Yours gratefully

  Elizabeth

  18 January 1936 to Queen Mary

  The Royal Lodge

  My Darling Mama

  I must send you one little line to tell you that I am thinking & praying for you & Papa all the time. I cannot think of anything else, my life has been so bound up with yours the last twelve years, and I cannot bear to think of your anxiety. I feel so cut off & far away from you here, & I do hope that you will let me come down to Sandringham if I can be of any use, I would like to. I won’t write any more darling Mama, but send all my love & devotion.

  Your very loving

  Elizabeth

  Please do not dream of an answer

  King George V was growing weaker every day. The Duchess of York was still recuperating from influenza at The Royal Lodge and was unable to join the rest of the family around the King’s bedside. He died on the night of 20 January and his son David, Prince of Wales, became King, taking the name Edward VIII.

  11 March 1936 to Queen Mary

  Compton Place,

  Eastbourne

  Darling Mama

  We have been here a week now, and so far have had very mixed weather.

  Yesterday was divine, and in the morning we went down to the little ‘chalet’ on the beach, and the sun was heavenly. The people were rather a bore, and though they stared quite politely, they stared & STARED. I do think it is such bad manners, especially in the type of rather prosperous middle class people that they were! However, we shall try again on the next fine day. In the afternoon we went to Cooden Beach, & the children enjoyed themselves enormously. I am feeling so much better, and feel sure that a fortnight or so more will put me quite right.

  I do hope that you are feeling well, and not feeling the reaction from all that terrible time too much. I find that from my own point of view one misses Papa more & more, and I cannot imagine what it must mean to you, darling Mama. You have been so wonderful all this time, but the strain must have been terrific.

  Also I feel that the Family, as a family, will now revolve round you. Thank God we have all got you as a central point, because without that point it might easily disintegrate. And a united family is the strongest thing in the world, & so important, don’t you think?

  Also it provides a check on all those little jealousies and backbitings that occur even in the best regulated of families!

  This house, for me, is full of memories of you & Papa, & when we went to the nice service on Sunday, it was almost too much for Bertie & I.

  With much love darling Mama, ever your loving daughter in law

  Elizabeth

  3 August 1936 to Duff Cooper

  The Royal Lodge

  Dear Mr Duff Cooper

  I write to thank you most gratefully for so kindly sending me the copy of your speech in Paris. I have read it again, & most cordially agree that in no part of it did you say anything that could have raised ire. In fact it’s a dashed good speech.

  Also, permit me to thank you for the translations of the three Japanese poems
. They are so romantic & exquisite. I am sending you (this sounds so grand) a pair of porcelain vases!

  But wait. They are only a couple of inches high, & were painted in the 18th century. The translation of the verse is as follows –

  ‘The blossoms tipping the branches

  of the trees flourish in the splendour,

  And even the lower creation

  makes virtue its chief concern.’

  It’s a rather disappointing little poem, but I thought that I would like to send you a little nothing with a verse, & these vases were the only suitable means of conveying my gratitude for having introduced to me so charming a person as Prince Genji.

  Could you not arrange to accept into the Army men who are not quite fit, & make them fit? Say ‘C’ men, & after 6 months they will be ‘B’ men.

  It seems such a pity nowadays that men who wish to join the Army should not have the chance through the horrible system under which they live. I mean the ‘keep unfit’ system so prevalent in our towns & villages nowadays.

  Oh do.

  I have just returned from some days spent in Durham, Northumberland & Yorks. We went to Jarrow, which I regret very much, as it really made me unhappy. I always dread going up to Tyneside, because I admire the people there with all my heart, & it darkens my thoughts for months afterwards, to know how desperate they are. Thank God that they can still feel desperate, as they have not yet given way to that dreadful apathy that seems to follow on prolonged unemployment.

  I went to see Palmers Shipyard,* Jarrow’s sole means of employment – a horrible scene of desolation, & then out through the streets – driving through large crowds of emaciated, ragged, unhappy & undaunted people, who gave us a wonderful reception. It made me weep – their courage is so high. I hope that you do not think that I am carried away by just a glimpse of the tragedy up in the North. I often think about it all, it seems terrible that such good material should be wasted.

  It is such a pity that the Trades Union officials etc are so foolishly anti-military – it would solve the problem of these young boys – if they would join the Army.

  I did not mean to write at such length, but got carried away!

  I really only wished to thank you very much for the speech, & to say that we shall hope to see you in the winter.

  I am, Yours sincerely

  Elizabeth

  27 August 1936 to Lady Strathmore

  Birkhall

  My Darling Angel

  […]

  We were so sad at leaving Glamis on Sunday, I always feel the same every year, but was so glad that you were feeling a little better darling. It was such bad luck getting ill again, and I would have been very unhappy to have left you feeling miserable & ill. Do promise not to do a little too much when you feel well! And please don’t go to Chapel. I am sure that Father won’t mind, because he really did get worried about you.

  It has been too lovely up here the last three days, and yesterday was boiling on the hill. Where Bertie is shooting the views are too marvellous for words. You see over the Dee valley, and the hills are spread out for miles & miles, I do wish that you could see them.

  Lilibet enjoys coming out very much, as you can imagine!

  The garden is really looking lovely. I do wish that you could come up very soon & see it. The phloxes are perfect, and in great huge masses, and everything seems to have done well.

  Do you remember you gave me some seed of a blue Columbine? It is very well & strong here, & I wondered whether you would like some seed in return, as I remember the old gardener at Glamis pulled up all your seedlings thinking they were weeds!

  If you feel well enough for a motor drive on a lovely day, do come up here. But only when you are quite well.

  I did love my time at Glamis darling, but I do wish that the time did not go so quickly there. […]

  Goodbye duckie, from

  Your very loving

  Elizabeth

  19 September 1936 to Queen Mary

  Birkhall

  My Darling Mama

  It is too kind of you to send us that charming picture of Birkhall, and it is exactly the right size for a little room too. Thank you a thousand times – it fits in most beautifully.

  I went to Balmoral the other day and chose out the photographs that you wanted. I do hope that they will prove the ones that you wanted sent, as in one or two cases I was a little puzzled. However, the nice housemaid was a great help, as of course the housekeeper did not know very much.

  The latter seemed a very nice woman, & most capable and intelligent, and very happy at Balmoral.

  Next week we go to Aberdeen to open the new Hospital.* I do wish that David could have done it, as they have all worked so hard for so long, & it will be one of the best in Scotland, and it would have given such enormous pleasure to the countryside round here. But he won’t, so there it is!

  I am secretly rather dreading next week, but I haven’t heard if a certain person is coming or not – I do hope not, as everything is so talked of up here. I suppose it is natural, the place being empty for eleven months, that the time it is occupied every detail is discussed with gusto! Mr Pierpont Morgan† is coming up to luncheon tomorrow, and David may come over too, which would be very nice of him, & it would give the old man such pleasure.

  We went to the Gelder‡ for a picnic yesterday, it was too divine for words, the mountains heavenly, the sun hot, and the air like champagne. In fact Scotland at its most lovely, & it is hard to beat then. We have been round to see a few of the people, and the schools – I could not remember how many people you used to visit beyond the obvious ones like Abercromby & the Stirtons* & Arthur Grant etc – are there any others that you would like us to do?

  With so much love darling Mama,

  Your very loving daughter in law

  Elizabeth

  PS I do hope that Marlborough H. is getting on well.

  11 October 1936 to Queen Mary

  Birkhall

  Darling Mama

  We have been thinking so much of you this last week, and are so glad to hear that you are getting settled at Marlborough House. It sounds as if you have made it quite lovely, and I am simply longing to see it.

  We are leaving here today, and spend a week at Glamis on our way to London, and are looking forward so much to seeing you again. It seems such ages since July. It has been so lovely up here this year, the weather has been heavenly & the gardens blazing with colour, but there has also been a great sadness & sense of loss both for us & all the people. It will never be quite the same again for us. You & Papa made such a family feeling by your great kindness & thought for everybody, but David does not seem to possess the faculty of making others feel wanted. It is very sad, and I feel that the whole difficulty is a certain person. I do not feel that I can make advances to her & ask her to our house, as I imagine would be liked, & this fact is bound to make relations a little difficult. However, luckily Bertie is quite outside all that, & I am sure that it is very important for him to steer clear of those very difficult questions. The whole situation is complicated & horrible,† and I feel so unhappy about it sometimes, so you must forgive me darling Mama for letting myself go so indiscreetly. There is nobody that I can talk to, as ever since I married I have made a strict rule never to discuss anything of Family matters with my own relations – nor would they wish it, but it leaves so few people to let off steam to occasionally!

  It will be heavenly to see you again. Has anything transpired about Xmas? Can we all spend it together – do suggest it to David as he loves & admires you & I am sure would arrange what you wished.

  With much love darling Mama, & I do pray that you will be blessed & happy at Marlborough House,

  Ever your loving daughter in law

  Elizabeth*

  21 October 1936 to Queen Mary

  145 Piccadilly

  Darling Mama,

  Tuesday December 3rd will suit me very well indeed, & I shall look forward so much to bringing the children. It wa
s so wonderful to see you again today. In these anxious & depressing days you are indeed ‘a rock of defence’ darling Mama, & I feel sure that the whole country agrees. It was a great joy to us to be with you again.

  Your always devoted daughter in law

  Elizabeth

  23 October 1936 to Lady Strathmore

  The Royal Lodge

  My Darling Angel

  We were miserable at leaving Glamis & you on Tuesday, and each year I think that we all enjoy being there more & more. It was heavenly this year and the only sadness was that you were not feeling well. I do hope that you won’t have another attack just yet, & give it time to heal up. It is horrible for you darling, and worries me very much.

  I don’t think that there is anybody else who would make so little fuss as you do – you are very brave duckie.

  We had a very good journey down, and found London looking very dirty & horrid, & all felt very sorry that we were not at Glamis! […]

  I have got Lilibet down here alone, & she is sleeping in my room which is very nice.

  Goodbye darling, & please take great care of yourself, & a million thanks for all our delicious time at Glamis.

  Your very loving

  Elizabeth*

  29 October 1936 to King Edward VIII

  145 Piccadilly

  Darling David

  I do want to thank you most gratefully for lending us Birkhall this year. It is the most wonderful holiday for us, and I cannot tell you how much better we both feel after 6 weeks of complete peace. I honestly don’t believe that I could cope with all the problems of modern life, if it wasn’t for Birkhall, & it was ANGELIC and kind of you to let us have it. I do thank you from my heart – you are always so sweet & thoughtful for us, and I wish that I could thank you as I would wish.

  Now please may I bother you with something? It really isn’t my business at all, but I am implicated with the St John of Jerusalem as Commandant of the Nursing Divisions, and I know that the Order is very anxious for you to do some function for them next summer. I am wondering whether it would be possible for you to do such a thing as a Review or Inspection of the Brigade in Hyde Park some time? It would do an incredible amount of good, because you know the men are practically all working men who give up holidays & ordinary leisure to do Ambulance service on great & little occasions. They hardly ever get a pat on the back, & yet are absolutely essential to us, and I cannot begin to tell you what a marvellous effect it would have if you could possibly spare a day next summer. Oh dear – I do hate to ask you this, but the St John gets things like Investitures for the grand people, and I do feel that the thousands of working men who give up their hard earned leisure to cope with accidents & public occasions would feel so set up if you could have a look at them.