The Basics
HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born on August 4, 1900 to Lord and Lady Glamis(later the Earl and Countess of Strathmore). She was christened Elizabeth, Angela, Marguerite Bowes-Lyon. She spent her childhood at Glamis Castle, the family seat, and was educated at home; she was fluent in French by the age of 10. At the outbreak of World War I, in 1914, Glamis Castle became a hospital for war veterans. She helped the patients as best as she could but she was not allowed to be a nurse. Unfortunately one of her brothers was killed in 1915. After the war was over she became good friends with the future King George VI, Prince Albert and this relationship would eventually blossom into love. They married on April 26, 1923 at Westminster Abbey. They have two daughters Queen Elizabeth II, born on April 21, 1926 and Princess Margaret, born on August 21, 1930. King George V died in 1936 and Elizabeth became the Queen Consort on May 12, 1937, when her husband became King George VI. In 1939 World War II started and this brought difficult times for the country of England. Elizabeth was in Buckingham Palace when it was bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940 but she did not lose her cool. Some felt that it would be better for Elizabeth and her daughters to leave the country during the war but she would not here of it and her family remained in England through out the war. Because of this courage she became a great symbol of strength for the British people. The war took a great toll on George and he died on February 6, 1952. At this point her daughter became Queen Elizabeth II and upon the death of Queen Mary the next year, she became the Queen Mother. She has remained active in public life, heading up organizations and participating in royal duties. She just turned 100 on August 4 and it seems that she will be with us for awhile.
