Monarchy

On December 11, 1936 King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry American Wallis Simpson

Thrust into the royal spotlight by Edward VIII's 1936 abdication, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother helped reshape the monarchy for a more fast-paced era.

Her efforts during the war did much to restore respect for an institution tarnished by the abdication scandal, in which Edward VIII gave up the throne rather than be without the American divorcee he loved.

Author Lady Elizabeth Longford says that after the old fashioned, even aloof, reign of George V and Mary, the Queen Mother proved "exactly the opposite."

"The Queen Mother demonstrated that the monarchy was in touch with ordinary people and in fact loved them - - and they loved her back," she said.

"She brought fun, a sense of humour, a sense of enjoyment and an added charm which is quite out of the ordinary. She can really talk to people, with none of the usual intervention in such communication. She goes directly to people"

Historian David Starkey sees it as a more calculated popularisation, with the creation of the image of the Royal family as an ordinary but ideal family leading the nation - - sowing the seeds for future trouble by bringing much greater attention to their personal lives.

Abdication and Coronation

At the time of the abdication crisis, after 14 years of relatively quiet domesticity together, the Queen Mother worried about the effect the full glare of public life would have on her shy, stammering husband.

Elisabeth Bowes-Lyon became Queen Consort in 1937, as her husband Prince Albert, Duke of York, was crowned George VI

But, duty to the fore, she is credited with making her "Bertie", as he was known, into the King he was, getting the help of a voice coach for his stammer and often taking the lead at social occasions.

The pair were crowned, George VI and Queen Consort, at Westminster Abbey in May 1937 with Elizabeth becoming the first Scottish Queen for around 800 years.

Following Edward, with his love of America, cocktails and desire for institutional change, the new King and Queen saw a return to intense conservatism says Starkey, with the traditions and trappings of the monarchy retained.

Raised to believe in duty the Queen Mother never forgave Edward VIII's paramour Wallis Simpson for her part in making him shirk his.

Indeed in a letter criticising the Duke's appointment as Governor of the Bahamas in 1940 she said that the Duchess was "looked upon as the lowest of the low" and later blamed the pair, who spent their lives in exile, for the King's death.

Lady Longford says it was also the Queen Mother, demonstrating a vein of steel, who ensured that Wallis Simpson never received the title Her Royal Highness that Edward sought for her.

Lady Longford says George VI, who had always admired his younger brother, may have given in but she believes the Queen Mother's action was "absolutely right" as it may have lead to the establishment of rival courts.

World War II

The Queen Mother's mettle, often hidden beneath a triple string of pearls and a winsome smile, was also to the fore during World War II, when the Royal Standard flew steadfastedly over Buckingham Palace in defiance of persistent German air raids.

The Royal Family inspect bomb damage to Buckingham Palace during World War II, 1940.

Despite having earlier publicly backed Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement with Germany, when conflict did break out the Royal couple with wartime leader Winston Churchill formed a formidable triumvirate to help boost national morale.

Refusing to leave the country with her daughters Elizabeth and Margaret as was suggested, she is reported to have said: "The children will not leave unless I do. I shall not leave unless their father does, and the king will not leave the country in any circumstances whatever."

At first there were reports of jeering as she toured bomb sites in her finery but in September 1940 Buckingham Palace was damaged in an air raid, leading her to famously declare: "I'm glad we have been bombed. I feel I can look the East End in the face."

After the war the King and Queen undertook a major tour of South Africa in 1947 accompanied by Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth - - the first time a sovereign had been accompanied by family on a state visit.

Widowed

The King's health prevented further travels to see firsthand a rapidly changing world.

Many of the countries in the British Empire struggled to independence, with George VI ceasing to be Emperor of India in 1947 as the subcontinent was divided to form India and Pakistan. Internationally the British monarch's role was now as head of the Commonwealth, a loosely defined group of nations with previous colonial ties.

At home, amid continuing post-war hardship Britain got its first Labour Government and saw the birth of the welfare state, while internationally the superpowers jockeyed as the Cold War freeze began.

The turmoil took its toll on the king and weakened by lung operations he died aged just 56.

Despite being, at first, a reluctant monarch he had proved a popular one with over 300,000 people paying their respects to his body lay at Westminster Hall.

His Queen for his 16-year reign was now left, amid the grief of early widowhood, to find herself a new role.

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