The Complex Relationship Between Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Her Daughter Queen Elizabeth II

Some people have suggested that Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was jealous of her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, after the latter ascended to the throne in 1952. However, this notion oversimplifies a relationship that was marked by both support and complexity. The key figure in this historical account was Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who was extremely upset upon Princess Elizabeth's ascension because of the recent loss of her husband, King George VI.

Initial Support and Pride

Immediately after King George VI's passing, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was initially supportive and proud of her daughter's new role as Queen.

“The Queen Mother was initially supportive and proud of her daughter's new role as Queen. However, some biographers and historians have suggested that she may have felt a sense of loss and displacement.”

Feelings of Loss and Displacement

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's unease likely stemmed from having enjoyed a public role during her husband's reign and from her familiarity with being a prominent figure in the royal family. The sudden shift in her status could have been challenging for her to accept, especially without expecting to become Queen herself.

Supportive Role Throughout the Reign

Despite the initial feelings of adjustment, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother remained a devoted supporter of her daughter. She often participated in royal duties and maintained a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, providing guidance and support.

Contradictory Views on Personality and Actions

Biographers and historians have also noted that Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had a strained relationship with certain individuals, such as Wallace Simpson, and had negative views of her brother-in-law. These personal conflicts do not necessarily indicate any jealousy towards her daughter's position as Queen.

“The Queen mother believed that becoming King contributed to her husband's early death. She despised Wallace Simpson and her brother-in-law. These personal feelings do not suggest that the Queen Mother craved her own Queenly status.”

A Grieving Widow and a Sidelined Wife

Given that Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was the wife of King George VI, her role transitioned from a supportive wife to a more peripheral figure upon the ascension of her daughter. It is important to bear in mind that she was not born into royalty; she married into it, and her expectations were not to become Queen.

“Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was a grieving widow trying to support her suddenly hugely busy daughter with a young family. Neither her position as King's wife nor her resentment towards Wallace Simpson indicates that she craved her Queenly status.”

There was a natural adjustment period where Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had to adapt to a role that was closer to that of a supportive figure to her daughter, rather than a ruler in her own right.

Conclusion

The relationship between Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II was marked by a mix of support, pride in their daughter's achievement, and adjustment to new roles. It would be an oversimplification to label The Queen Mother's feelings as pure jealousy. Both were intelligent and influential women navigating the complex dynamics of the British monarchy.