Comments on Your Brisbane: Past and Present: The Queen Mother

Thanks for dropping by. Yes, it is far too heavy t...

2010-01-06T08:01:38.523+10:00

Thanks for dropping by. Yes, it is far too heavy to read in bed. If you drop off to sleep while reading (as I frequently do) you could do yourself a serious injury!

I have just today finished reading the Shawcross b...

2010-01-05T20:18:20.090+10:00

I have just today finished reading the Shawcross biography, so what extraordinary serendipity that I came across your blog by way of Hels, who left a comment on mine! I agree, it was not an easy book to read because of its weight, and I only resolved that problem by reading it at my desk. Unfortunately too, despite being very careful with it, the binding split when I was about halfway through. As Sir Roy Strong suggested, it would have been better to print it in two volumes.

"King Edward and his wife were nasty, not because ...

2009-12-12T20:58:55.064+10:00

"King Edward and his wife were nasty, not because of the divorces, but because Edward favoured German fascism as a bulwark against communism."

Indeed. Shawcross's biography (mentioned in this post) indicates that Edward may have harbored ideas of resuming the crown if the Nazis had been able to overthrow Britain. Bertie (King George VI) stepped up manfully, and his wife (later the Queen Mother) never forgave Edward for his folly, believing that becoming King in these circumstances shortened her husband's life.

Thanks for your amazing posts about our wonderful ...

2009-12-12T20:09:51.161+10:00

Thanks for your amazing posts about our wonderful city. You will be missed over Christmas!

"When her brother-in-law, King Edward VIII, fell i...

2009-12-12T19:27:44.027+10:00

"When her brother-in-law, King Edward VIII, fell in love with and wanted to marry a divorcee, he was forced to abdicate; and he did so on 11 December 1936". Thank goodness. Royalty may be irrelevant to Australians today but it was very central in the lives of our parents and grandparents.

King Edward and his wife were nasty, not because of the divorces, but because Edward favoured German fascism as a bulwark against communism. The photos of him smarming around the Nazis suggest he was comfortable with an alliance with them.

I am so grateful that King George VI and Elizabeth became king and queen instead. Happy birthday and happy holidays :)