Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900-2002), was the mother of Queen Elizabeth ll and Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom. She was the widow of King George VI. During her lifetime, the queen mother was one of the most popular members of the royal family. She was known affectionately as the Queen Mum.
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on Aug. 4, 1900. Her father was Claude Bowes-Lyon, the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in Scotland. She was educated at home.
In 1923, Lady Elizabeth married Prince Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V. By her marriage, she became the Duchess of York. Elizabeth and Albert had two daughters, Elizabeth, born in 1926, and Margaret, born in 1930.
After George V died in January 1936, he was succeeded by his oldest son, who became Edward VIII. Edward wanted to marry an American divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson. The government, the Church of England, and many British people objected. In December 1936, Edward gave up the throne to marry her, and Prince Albert became King George VI. Elizabeth thus became the queen consort (wife of the king).
During World War II (1939-1945), the royal family remained in London, where they survived a bombing of Buckingham Palace. The people of the United Kingdom admired them for staying and confronting the difficulties of the war with the rest of the nation.
After George VI died in 1952, his oldest daughter became Queen Elizabeth II. The widowed Queen Consort Elizabeth then took the title of queen mother.
The queen mother was active in public duties and was the patron of more than 300 organizations. From 1955 to 1980, she was chancellor of the University of London. She was known for her love of horses and owned several successful racehorses. The queen mother lived most of the year at Clarence House in London. She died on March 30, 2002.
