Queen Mother

[mikefank]

Quiz books tell us that Adolf Hitler is regarded of being in fear of the Queen Mother. Why? Which Queen Mother?

[Lindy Loo]

Don't know the why, but the Queen Mother being refered to would be: HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER 4 August 1900 - 30 March 2002 She was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, and the widow of the late King George VI. She married Prince Albert, Duke of York in 1923, and found herself Queen Consort on the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. Her husband, Prince Albert, became King George VI on 11 December 1936 and reigned throughout WW2. Hope this answers part of question for you, sorry I couldn't help with the first part!!

[slimjim]

No it can't be Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She didn't become the Queen Mother until 7 years after Hitler's death. I guess it may have been Alice or Alexandra but I'm not sure if either of these were officially called Queen Mother. Could also be someone in the, say, the Dutch Royal Family.

[Bohne]

This was such an interesting question and I did not know the answer, so I started reserching a bit. Apparently it was indeed the mother of queen Elizabeth II. Hitler said: "If Churchill is the man in Europe I must fear most, then surely she is the woman I have most to fear of in Europe!" During the Second World War she refused to leave London, and she even travelled to parts in London that were bombed. For this she was loved by the population, and I guess it was the power she had over them, resulting from her strenght, that made Hilter worry. I can only assume, that the quote 'he was afraid of the queen mother' comes from a later time, and Hitler did not call her that himself.

[Lindy Loo]

Thank you Bohne!! But slimjim is also right as The Queen Mother was not know as such until King George VI's death in 1952, and Elizabeth II succeded to the throne. In some countries the widow of the King, and other nobility, is known as the Dowager Queen, Countess etc. Princess Alice of Albany was the grandaughter of Queen Victoria and died in 1981. Queen Alexandra, was the wife of King Edward VIII, and died in 1925. Ok!!! I cheated too and delved into google for the answers. Well that's what it's there for isn't it!!!!

[slimjim]

I stand corrected.

[Lindy Loo]

Wasn't having ago slimjim. Am i forgiven? pretty please!!

[Ewood27]

Lindyloo, I think you got one too many Is. Alexandra was the wife of Edward VII. Edward VIII's wife was Wallis Simpson.

I'm old enough to remember that it was widely understsood that the Queen Mother (Elizabeth, George VI's queen) was the strong one who stiffened her husband and gave him her strength. She also had the common touch which allowed her to appeal to the people in general, and the instinct to visit the bombed East End.

[Lindy Loo]

Yes, Ewood27, you're right!! Twas a typing mistook. Never did get on with those Roman Numerals. Why couldn't they have done it King xxxxxx 1st, 2nd etc. Much easier!!!

[bernardo]

The only reason why the Queen Mother was known as the "Queen Mother" is because she had the same name as her daughter the Queen. Normally, the widow of a former King would continue to be known simply as "Queen [Name]" rather than "the Queen Mother" or "the Queen Dowager".