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A&E Biography: The Queen Mum
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was born on August 4th, 1900 to an aristocratic English family. Because Elizabeth had twelve siblings, she quickly discovered her niche as the family jester and comedian. Elizabeth grew up at the Glamis Castle in Scotland and the family estate at St. Paul�s Waldenbury during the hunting season. On Elizabeth�s fourteenth birthday, her mother and father took her to see a variety show; it was at that show that the outbreak of World War I was announced. Within weeks, Elizabeth�s mother transformed Glamis Castle into a hospital for the wounded. Although there were many nurses and attendants for the soldiers, Elizabeth helped to keep the resolve of the soldiers high by singing and reading to them and playing the piano. It was one of these soldiers that wrote to Elizabeth that he wished she would have riches and fame; there was never a more true prophecy.
In 1923, Elizabeth met Prince Albert Windsor, although his stature or riches did not impress her, he immediately fell in love with her and asked her to marry him and after turning him down three times, she finally consented. Albert and Elizabeth were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of York. In 1937, King George V died, leaving his crown to his eldest son, Edward VIII. However, after a short reign as King, Edward abdicated the thrown to marry American divorcee, Wallace Simpson. In May of 1937, Albert reluctantly assumed the title King George VI. Although England had been a neutral country for many years, war was declared on Germany in 1939, only adding to the country�s overwhelmed uncertainty of the future. However, Albert and Elizabeth bolstered the country�s morale and quickly earned a special place in the hearts of the British people.
Queen Elizabeth has been a pivotal person in the history of England. Although she has little political power, her influence on the hearts of her subject is immense. She has been a figure of British history for seventy-seven years and is she is often considered the only royalty in the British monarchy.
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