The Last Great Edwardian Lady

by Ingrid Seward

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother is as old as the century; she was born nearly 100 years ago during the reign of Victoria, when the British Empire covered a quarter of the Earth. She has seen two world wars and 97 years of the most repid progress inmankind's history completely alter her world (and the royal family's place in it), yet she retains the old-fashioned charm, elegance and dignity that epitomised the Edwardian Lady. And, more significantly, she has successfully continued to live the Edwardian lifestyle: Her five-storey London house contains some 40 servants; she does not like to eat alone so dinner is seldom for fewer than sixteen people; her summer migration to her two castles in Scotland involves two army lorries transporting over 200 pieces of luggage. And it costs the queen two million pounds a year to maintain the slow Edwardian existance she loves. Using her unique insight to the Royal Family, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chef of Majesty magazine, has written not only a fascinating, perceptive account of the life of Britain's best loved Royal, but also a powerful, important account of the twentieth century.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Royalty, Biography Memoir

277 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 1999

About the author

Ingrid Seward is Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, the leading monthly journal covering all aspects of British, European and other royal families around the world.

Since it began in 1980 Majesty magazine has remained the market leader in its field.

Ingrid is acknowledged as one of the pre-eminent writers and commentators on the royal family and has published over 20 books and contributed numerous articles to publications worldwide.

An experienced public speaker both in the UK and North America, Ingrid has worked for every major TV and radio station across the world. She is currently royal commentator for ABC network's Good Morning America.

Ingrid is in the unique position of knowing many members of the royal family personally and through Majesty enjoys a special relationship with the Royal Household.

Reviews

[Ghost of the Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming charming book, this was a true pleasure of a read.
I remember the Queen Mother vividly from my childhood, the hats, the pearls, the smile and later, in her final years, the steel you could feel under all the silk and ruffles when her health visibly started to fade.
I confess to have had a somewhat muddled perception of her life, my fault for never having read anything specifically about her, so this was a treat since it helped make sense and mentally organize all that I already knew,and taught me a thing or two as well.
It was especially interesting to see more of her time as Queen to King George VI and how she ended up being a fundamental support for him.
This won't be to everyone's liking but if you enjoy history , not just royal history, give it a go, since Ingrid Seward clearly enjoyed writing this and it shows. What you have here is a perfectly charming window to a past almost out of living memory and to the life of one very though (and pampered) grand dame. True she was handed a rather heavy deck of cards when she married the Duke of York, but proceeded to master the game and stay on top of it for a century.
Royalist or not, this was one impressive woman and she's definitely worth your time.

Happy Readings!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit, I have a growing fascination with the Queen Mother. Yes, this biography does not delve into anything too deeply. But what it does instead is show, through the Queen Mother's style and conduct, why the author believes her subject is truly the last Edwardian lady. It really was a joy to read, with lovely pictures throughout as an added visual treat.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un très bon portrait de la reine mère, quoi qu'on sente qu'il y a certains aspects de sa personnalité qui pourraient avoir été volontairement oubliés ou mentionnés que très peu en des termes voilés, question d'éviter la critique ou des remarques sur la famille royale. Outre ce détail, je recommande à quiconque s'intéresse un tant soit peu è la famille royale britannique.

[Annie Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book about a wonderful lady, filled with beautiful photos taken over the years of the Queen Mother's life.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm halfway through this superficial social history of the Queen Mother's life. It doesn't pretend to be more than that. It's a bit repetitive and really ignores the political and economic circumstances, but the social context of the Royals and the disintegration of the Empire is interesting enough.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book; it is well written and contains exciting and sometimes funny information about Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. In saying that, it was dry at times, but at other times I would laugh audibly.

The way some things are phrased makes it so meaning full, "veil of royalty was drawn across her life.”

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice portrayal of royal life and times in a changing age. It is rather slanted in favor of the British royal family but that is to be expected. It is a world far removed from my life and seems enchanted.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is written trying to be very gentle with and positive about the royal family. And it still makes it abundantly clear that they are, at best, toxic, emotionally stunted, and completely detached from regular people. At worst, narcissistic and outright abusive.