Duchess of York

‘Enchanting, often moving and sometimes hilarious’ – Daily Mail

Full of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, the Queen Mother’s letters give readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face.

In Duchess of York: Counting One's Blessings Part 2, WIlliam Shawcross reveals, in the Queen Mother's own words, the young woman who, after a long courtship and two refusals, accepted the Duke of York’s proposal and, as his Duchess, brought a sense of ease and fun into the public and private lives of the Royal Family. We see her delight in her beloved daughters and her real anguish when she and her husband realized that he would become King because his brother Edward VIII was determined to abdicate.

‘The warm personality and humour of the late, much-loved Queen Mother shines through in her letters, as does her affection for all, whether below or above stairs’ Scotsman

‘Recaptures her effervescent charm, and the simple fact that she was a good egg’ Spectator

‘How one warms to her!’ – Evening Standard