Queen Elizabeth: The Queen Mother--90 Glorious Years

Anglophiles across North America are going to love this picture book come to life story of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. At the age of 90, she is the longest lived of any King or Queen in British history. Drawing on extensive film clips, still photographs, and contemporary interviews with the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and others, the program takes viewers back to the turn of the century: August 4, 1900 when Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was born to a fine, though not royal, family. Recalling her childhood days, the Queen Mother remembers taking care of wounded British soldiers during WWI at Glamis Castle. Courted by Prince Albert, Elizabeth eventually became a Duchess in a wedding that sported a 9 ft. high, 600 lb. wedding cake. Following the death of King George V, fate took a strange turn when Prince Edward abdicated from the throne in order to pursue his romance with Mrs. Simpson. Suddenly, Elizabeth's husband, the Duck of York, was now King, and she the Queen. Her and her husband's 15 year reign from 1937-1953, through some of the most trying years of our century, is covered, along with the crowning of Elizabeth II, following the death of the King. Although the Queen Mother retreated to Scotland after her husband's death, she did not stay out of the limelight for long, returning to England, and taking up residence near Buckingham Palace, where she continued to take a full role in the royal family's activities, as well as pursue her love of gardening and racing horses. Narrated by Richard Baker, Queen Elizabeth--The Queen Mother is not a critical biography in the sense that probing questions about the subjects life and times are addressed. It's rather more of an endearing portrait of a woman who has been held dear in the hearts of the English and people from around the world. Highly recommended. (Available from: Public Media Video, 5547 N. Ravenswood