Mother dear Mother
Posted by Stolzi on October 24, 1997 at 13:31:40:
In response to More on the Queen Mother...., written by Clare on October 24, 1997 at 12:19:17
] The unofficial title of 'Queen Mum' only became attached to Queen Elizabeth after the death of her husband the King. Prior to that, she was the Queen or Queen Consort. To distinguish her from her daughter Queen Elizabeth II they began refering to her as the Queen('s) Mother.
I'm not sure about the provenance of "Queen Mother." "Queen Mum" is of course just a slang, affectionate sort of variation.
But I did want to contribute that when I was a gel, there were three queens living: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and the Dowager Queen Mary (widow of George V). There is an exquisitely moving photograph of these three women, all veiled in deep black, at the funeral of King George VI.
I do not know if Queen Mary was known as "The Queen Mother" during the reign of her son George VI. (and the oh-so-brief reign of her older son, Edward VIII). If she was this would disprove the story of the present Queen Mother objecting to the title of Dowager Queen.
Hope nobody missed the pronunciation of "gel." :)
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