Queen Mum's Birthday, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Windsor

photo Dailyexpress.co.uk

August 4, 1900 was the birthdate of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wife of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II and affectionately known as the Queen Mum

 

This photo was apparently taken in the 1970s of the Queen Mum with her 2 daughters Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose

 

 

 The Queen Mother died at Windsor at age 102 in 2002

Brought back to a new generation by the movie The King's Speech, Elizabeth's role in the monarchy was an important one. 

Born in Hitchin to the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, she apparently refused Albert, the Duke of York and the future George VI, 3 times, not wanting to be in court life.

 

 But they were married in 1923, and had the 2 princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret

 In 1937, after Albert's elder brother King Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcee' Wallis Simpson, Albert became King George VI and she, Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth was a tireless supporter of her husband and the GBP or Great British Public, during World War II earning her the heart of the people.

She refused to move from Buckingham Palace, made frequent tours of goodwill and support to bombed areas and quipped about Buckingham Palace being bombed as well. There were also the famous black lines in the Buckingham Palace bathtubs because water rationing was in force elsewhere in London.

On her husband's untimely death on February 6, 1952, she was became the supporter of her daughter, now Queen Elizabeth II. She was affectionately nicknamed The Queen Mum...both my family and my husband's always referred to her as that, and we grew up with that....

Her legacy lives on now...Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was recently seen wearing the Papyrus or Lotus Tiara...

The piece was produced by royal jewellers Garrard & Co in 1923 at the request of the Queen Mother using the diamonds and pearls from a wedding gift. The pearls were from her mother in law Queen Mary.

A wonderful legacy and a wonderful personality.

 

Paragon China Princess Margaret Birth china and Royal warrant marks

Ever wonder what a Royal Warrant is...and how you get it?  I had a customer ask about it this week and also came across the question about Royal Warrants on a blog site participating in Teacup Tuesday that my sister site Antiques And Teacups participates in at antiquesandteacups.blogspot.com.


Royal Warrants were designed to represent patronage by the British Royal family. Originally the warrant even named the royal personage and meant that their wares had been purchased (or received from the company as a gift and approved) by the royal person named. An example of that is:

This teacup was made by Paragon and bears the Royal Warrant above identifying the item was made between 1937-1952. The mark is for Queen Elizabeth, affectionately known until her death as the Queen Mum, wife of King George VI and her mother-in-law Queen Mary. This teacup can be seen at Time Was Antiques at this link:
Paragon Teacup Chintz Center


Paragon got into serious trouble in 1930 by overstepping their position. Paragon had made the approved design for the christening of Queen Elizabeth II and were awarded the Royal Warrant. BUT without permission they called themselves Royal Paragon and were chastised for it. When they brought out this design for the birth of younger sister Princess Margaret they had to go back to Paragon and have let it remain until today.
You can see more of Princess Margaret china at Time Was Antiques at this link:
Paragon China

As to Royal Warrants today, in the late 1950s that strict application of the name Royal in a pottery's name was relaxed, and there was a proliferation of names with Royal in them which is a trend that continues today. Now, it just is a marketing choice and means they think Royal will give a bit of cache' to their china!


A bit cloudier and still cool here in Sequim. It was actually warmer in Juneau, Alaska than Sequim yesterday! How funny. Have a great day, stay warm and take time for a cuppa!