Counting One's Blessings

by William Shawcross

  But, darling, I was touched beyond words by your concern for my hopeless racing account. Just like you, & I have managed to pay in a certain amount, and hope to find homes for several horses which will help. Oh, for the good old days when hay was twelve pounds a ton, & no huge vets’ bills for poisoning poor horses!

  With so many loving thanks for my heavenly visit, all so familiar & so full of memories,

  from your very loving and slightly nostalgic

  Mummy

  28 June 1986 to the Right Rev. Robin Woods, former Dean of Windsor

  The Royal Lodge

  My dear Bishop,*

  It was a great joy to see you at the Windsor reception, and thinking of old days, it seemed exactly right that we should meet in St George’s Hall! It is most kind of you to give me a copy of your autobiography, and I shall read it, I know, with great interest and pleasure.

  I have, this minute, returned from a few days in Tuscany, so I have only had time to read the first few chapters, and learned for the first time how long your dear father had to be in Switzerland and how marvellous was his recovery from tuberculosis.

  He meant a great deal to the King & myself, and was our ‘Librarian’ for many years, and I think that it was he who gave my husband a book called ‘The Upper Room’, which gave him a great deal of thought & evoked much discussion!†

  It is curious, how in a fairly long life some moments remain so vivid in one’s memory. And one is, prayers in the Chapel before going to bed, when we were staying with your parents at Lichfield. A moment of tranquillity and peace never to be forgotten.

  With again my warmest thanks for the delightful book,

  I am, ever yours

  Elizabeth R

  2 May 1988 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Clarence House

  My Darling Lilibet

  Every day I read about endless things that you are doing, and hope so much that you are bearing up? You look very happy & pretty in the pictures so perhaps you are!

  Here everything seems to go on much the same, IRA murders, horses running badly, rain pouring down, and an occasional uplift when Dick Hern* has some lovely horses winning races!

  I believe that your lovely filly has got over her horrid accident, & it will be very interesting when she runs.

  I went over to see Charles’s new offices [in York House, St James’s Palace], which seem a great success. Anyway, it means that he does see his office people, & also visiting foreigners etc in a more handy place! It was so funny, I couldn’t help remembering when Uncle David† lived there, and going to dances after the theatre etc, & the thrill of being partnered by Fred Astaire! It’s rather a pity that one couldn’t have plaques put up to remind one of the unlikely residents who lived there, Uncle David with his rather smart entourage, & Uncle Harry‡ to succeed in quite a different way of life.

  I went to see the Australians ‘on guard’ next door, & they were so nice. They adored their visit and they were all absolutely exhausted! They were so touched by their visit to Windsor, and were all going back there, to have a photograph taken in the Long Walk with the Castle in the background. What a lot of good it has done.

  I count the days when you are away, and the time of your return is now not too far. I am going up to Birkhall for just about ten days on May 11th, the day after you return, so perhaps you will give me a ring when you feel able?

  Dash has gone to join your corgis at Windsor, and Ranger is dreadfully lonely, he keeps very close to me, & moons about in a most depressed way! She is very much the moving spirit.

  So much love darling, from

  your very loving

  Mummy

  On 3 June 1988 Queen Elizabeth spoke at the unveiling of an English Heritage blue plaque to mark the residence of P. G. Wodehouse at 17 Dunraven Street, London W1

  I am particularly pleased to have been invited to unveil this plaque as for many years I have been an ardent reader of P. G. Wodehouse. Indeed, I am proud to say that his very first book ‘The Pothunters’ was dedicated by him to members of my family.

  Sir Pelham Wodehouse succeeded in the great ambition of so many novelists: not only has he brought new words and expressions into the English language but he has also created characters whose names have become household words – Jeeves and Bertie, Lord Emsworth and his prize pig, the Empress of Blandings, and even Aunt Agatha, to name but a few, live on as immortal characters.

  Nevertheless I think that Wodehouse’s greatest gift is that fifty or sixty years after many of his books were written they still make us all laugh, and I am sure that generations to come will continue to laugh at them just as much as we have done. What an encouraging thought for the future!

  P. G. Wodehouse lived in this house from 1927 until 1934, and I am delighted to unveil the plaque which now records this.

  19 July 1988 to Rachel Bowes Lyon

  Clarence House

  Darling Rachel

  Another heavenly weekend at St Paul’s Walden is over, and now I have many happy memories to enjoy. It was thrilling to see your new garden, and I was amazed at how much you have achieved in such a short time. You really are a Garden Wizard!

  I loved wandering round the old Barns and Flea House, & remembering some of the old characters who seemed to live there. Will Wren’s parlour, and Charles May’s shed, were always full of fascinating & exciting objects when we were children, and the Brew House with its dangerous deep well, and chaff cutting machine, were very special and rather frightening!

  And once again, the garden and wood, so beloved and so full of memories, were looking wonderful.

  Thank you a thousand times for a truly happy visit, and I am, as always,

  your loving

  Elizabeth

  10 September 1988 to Camilla Cazalet

  Birkhall

  My dear Camilla,*

  You wrote me such a charming letter about our beloved Freddy [Ashton], and it is hard to believe that such a dear friend has left us.†

  I think of the word integrity when I think of him, he was so wonderfully honest in his opinions, and I think thank goodness his great genius will live on in his works.

  And what fun he was to be with! Such laughs, and we were always so amused by what I called his ‘marble profile’ when he was displeased with a play or some unpleasing music, real rigid displeasure!

  Oh, how we shall miss him, I don’t think that he had the faintest idea, how dear he was to his friends, so modest was he.

  With so many thanks for your letter, I know what a great blank this will be to you, who was always so wonderful to him,

  & I am ever your affec

  Elizabeth R

  24 September 1988 to the Prince of Wales

  Birkhall

  My Darling Charles,

  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week seem now like a lovely dream, & no one but you could have thought of such a marvellous, imaginative and brilliant birthday present. When sitting in a butt, and gazing at those glorious mountains, I was whisked back in time & those fifteen years just rolled away, and I felt so happy and carefree. […] Everything was perfect, including the weather! I shall never forget the beauty of the Monday at Corndavon, sitting outside the Old Lodge, surrounded by dear friends. It was all too wonderful for words. I was so pleased that I am still able to walk up that steep hill to the second drive after lunch!! One is so grateful to be mobile!

  I do love those undulating hills. Their grandeur and peace seem to make one’s own troubles & anxieties seem so small.

  It was, I am sure, one of the happiest 3 days in my life, all due to your dear self, and my thanks do come straight from my heart. With so much love from your very loving Granny

  26 December 1988 to the Prince and Princess of Wales

  Clarence House

  Darling Charles and Diana,

  You have given me the most marvellous Christmas present, and I can now look forward to hours of glorious Hancock.*

  Thank you a MILLION times from your extremely grat
eful Granny

  II February 1989 to Ashe Windham†

  Clarence House

  My dear Ashe,

  What a delightful reunion that was the other evening!

  It was such fun having it down in that cosy old kitchen at Pratt’s Club, with that very old trout hanging on the wall, and the card tables set out all ready for endless games of dominoes or six pack bezique or whatever true Pratt-ites play.

  I know that the lovely idea of an ‘old comrades’ dinner party was all yours and Mikie [Strathmore’s] idea, and I do want to thank you very warmly for arranging such a happy treat for us all.*

  Everyone seemed in excellent form and ‘doing alright’ which is always a relief nowadays.

  I do hope that you will be able to come up to Birkhall in May, between 10th and 20th and see if buying off the nets on the Dee is having any effect. Perhaps it is to too soon to say.

  With again so many thanks for a wonderful evening, I am ever yours,

  Elizabeth R

  11 February 1989 to Dame Freya Stark

  Clarence House

  Dear Dame Freya,

  I was so thrilled and very touched that you should wish me to have a copy of the latest volume of your Letters, and I do want to send you my warmest thanks for giving me such a delightful present.

  I particularly love the letters from the desert, so vivid and so beautifully descriptive, I almost feel that I am standing with you, gazing into the distance & feeling content.

  I often think of the day when I came to visit you in Asolo.† You were standing at the top of the stairs, holding a glorious bunch of roses, and wearing an extremely becoming hat, and you gave me such a lovely welcome, & showed me the layout of the garden, and that day remains with me as a very happy memory.

  Once again, may I thank you for the precious book.

  I do hope that we shall meet again in heavenly Asolo

  & I am, ever yours,

  Elizabeth R

  24 June 1989 to Sir Antony Acland

  Clarence House

  Dear Sir Antony*

  It was so kind of you to send me such a full account of your visit to Hyde Park,† and I thought that your speech to open the Exhibition was perfect. Reading it brought back so many memories of our tour in Canada & the U.S. The shadow of Hitler was looming over us at home in England, and it was wonderful to find such support and understanding in both those great countries, & one felt less alone.

  Our visit to Hyde Park was full of incident, and the most delightful & funny things happened.

  The house, I believe, belonged to old Mrs Roosevelt […]. There were two steps down into the dining room, & one by one the various courses crashed to the floor as the butler & co fell down the steps. To be treated with roars of laughter by the President, and black looks from his mother! Then at Church on the Sunday morning, as we arrived, we saw a large notice outside the Church saying ‘Church of the President’, and under it some wag had written ‘Formerly God’s’.

  I think that the King and President Roosevelt had some very good talks (closely attended by Mackenzie King) about bases etc, and all the Roosevelts were kindness itself, and it was all very happy & relaxed. Isn’t it strange about history, what people really remember of our visit was Hot Dogs!

  I hope that you will let me know if you are coming to London, as I would be so glad to see you both, & hear some news of the dear old U.S.

  With again my warmest thanks for your letter, I am, ever yours sincerely,

  Elizabeth R

  5 September 1989 to Queen Elizabeth II

  Birkhall

  My Darling Lilibet

  I adored my precious two days at Balmoral, in fact 2 1/2 with that lovely picnic in your new tent, and it was, as usual, a great joy to be with you all. There is something so special about Balmoral, always the same happy atmosphere, the family, the outings, the piper, it was all such fun.

  It was so nice to hit off Peg [Hesse] & Tiny,* I so enjoyed seeing Peg getting a tiny bit tiddly in the evening (can I top you up) and on thinking it over, I can understand why she said ‘I feel so lonely’, because, I think that as you get older you feel rather isolated in a curious way, with only very few people or family left on your wavelength.

  I believe that next weekend is Prime Minister weekend, so if convenient & helpful do bring her [Margaret Thatcher] to tea.†

  With so much love and a million thanks from your very loving

  Mummy

  30 December 1989 to the Hon. Lady Johnston‡

  Sandringham

  Dearest Libby

  How very kind of you to give me a copy of Sarah Legh’s§ letters & diaries. It is really fascinating, and takes one right back to those far-off days & people who one had forgotten – Some of the entries ‘lunched with so-and-so at the Ritz he came to tea later’ reminded me of my debutante days, when one was thrilled by that sort of thing!

  I remember dancing with a nice young American* at Lady Powis’ ball in Berkeley Square (aged 17) and the amazement and thrill when the next day a huge bunch of red roses arrived!

  In those days flowers were very rare!

  Sarah was talked of as little Mrs Shaughnessy, & was extremely attractive, &, I suppose, quite young.

  A thousand thanks for such an entertaining Christmas present, & with my love,

  I am, ever your affect.

  Elizabeth R

  Good Friday 13 April 1990 to the Duke of Edinburgh

  Windsor Castle

  Dearest Philip,

  I am so sorry to have kept this book† so long! I found it fascinating, especially the letters from prison; she must have had an extraordinary memory for detail, which does help to give the book extra ‘family’ interest.

  So many thanks & love from

  Mama E

  4 August 1990 to the Prince of Wales

  Clarence House

  My Darling Charles,

  It was a heaven-sent idea of yours to give your most loving Grandmother such a delectable musical birthday present! The Concert was superb and was greatly enjoyed not only by the loving grandmother, but by all the guests, from the Poet Laureate* to William.† Dear Rostropovich was in great form and I loved the Thistle and the Rose‡ – so beautifully sung by Maria McLoughlin in her splendid scarlet dress. The whole conception of the evening was so touching, so delicate, and I can never thank you enough darling Charles for thinking of something so rare and so memorable.

  The orchestra also was perfection, and having Raymond§ to conduct, a real inspiration, and so I can only say from my heart, a thousand thanks for an evening of bliss for us, and encouragement to the young composers, and with endless love from your devoted GRANNY

  18 August 1990 to Ted Hughes

  The Castle of Mey

  My dear Poet Laureate

  I have been reading and re-reading your wonderful poem* with admiration and amazement, admiration for its beauty and nobility, and amazement that you managed to put into glorious words, the whole history of the last ninety years.

  And slipping from horror words like Stalin and Hitler suddenly into lovely things like a salmon lying under a white stone.

  There is a white stone in my favourite pool on the Dee, Polveir, and there is nearly always a fish under it, just moving in a languid way against the stream.

  And you even remembered when Mickey Mouse came upon the scene!

  I wish that I knew enough words to tell you what immense joy your poem has given me, it is so beautiful and so moving, there are several passages that make me cry, and this happens every time I read it.

  And your kindness in writing it out in your own hand has touched me very deeply, it will be my greatest treasure.

  I think that this must be rather a good place to read a poem. There is only the sea and the immense sky, and the images that you create in your great poem seem to float in one’s mind, in fact every time I read it a new one appears.

  My thanks do indeed come from the grateful heart of

  Elizabeth R
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  27 April 1991 to the Earl of Snowdon

  The Royal Lodge

  Dearest Tony,

  What an enchanting luncheon party that was on Friday! I can never thank you enough for arranging such a wonderful visit to Oliver’s ‘suite’.* I had always wanted to see it and I found it entrancing. It could not possibly have been conceived by anyone else, so brilliant, and so original and so glowing. I loved the dining room, so clever to cover the glass with huge motifs so that you never saw yourself but just felt that you were in an exotic garden. It’s wonderful that you managed to save it and to find such talented and sympathetic people to carry out the work of restoration. They were so charming and I loved meeting them. It was such a happy visit and one that I shall always remember with much gratitude and it was also great fun.

  With a thousand thanks, I am ever yours affectionately

  Elizabeth

  12 July 1991 to Lord Wyatt of Weeford

  The Royal Lodge

  Dear Lord Wyatt,†

  It is always a great pleasure to visit Cavendish Avenue, and last Tuesday was an extra treat, because I had never seen your charming house in daylight!

  It all looked so lovely, with that beautiful garden giving such a feeling of peace and tranquillity.

  And then one turned inward to find a starry company, full of sparkling conversation both witty and wise, and as usual, I soon found myself being vastly entertained, & best of all, greatly cheered up!

  Your guests were all so nice and so interesting. I was very pleased to meet Lord Weidenfeld* for the first time, & I can see how he gets his reputation for charm, for he was most kind & delightful company at lunch.

  It was most kind of you to ask me to such a splendid lunch party, and I enjoyed it no end – you have such a wide range of fascinating friends, & I do love meeting some of them.

  With a thousand thanks to you & to Lady Wyatt, I am, ever yours

  Elizabeth R

  25 January 1992 to Ted Hughes

  Sandringham