Women of Style & Substance-The Queen Mother

Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon even from a young age was a young lady who had been tempered with a steely personality. This came to the fore during the First World War when her family home Glamis Castle was used to nurse injured soldiers back to health. This is also where Lady Elizabeth learnt to mix with all kinds of people from all levels of society, but with great instinct Lady Elizabeth learnt to listen to others and to give them her entire attention. This would hold her in good stead when it came to her role later in life.

During this time Lady Elizabeth ran errands for these wounded men, she did simple tasks such as rolling their cigarettes for them and writing to their families back home, as well as reading to them. Lady Elizabeth did all this when she was still a young teenager.

With the death of her eldest brother, it was left to this young girl to run Glamis Castle when her mother suffered a nervous breakdown, she did this with her customary common sense and grace. Even when the castle nearly burnt down Lady Elizabeth led the way in saving her family home from destruction.

When this young woman first met Prince Albert, she was not impressed though he fell instantly in love with this vibrant yet steely woman. In fact Lady Elizabeth's heart lay with another, James Stuart but upon learning of the young Princes love James Stuart stepped out of the frame, allowing Prince Albert the chance to win the hand of this fair maiden. He did so after she had refused him twice.

Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon did not love her husband, she placed duty to one's country above her own preferences. Though she did not love The Duke of York she came to love and respect him during their life together.

Personal happiness came to them both with the birth of their daughters Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, they had become 'we happy four.'

But their personal happiness would be disturbed with the arrival of Mrs. Simpson and her friendship with The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales would do the exact opposite of the young Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, he put his personal happiness over and above his duty to his country.

The young Duchess of York could not comprehend such selfishness and never forgave them for their dereliction of duty. This exposed her own husband to the glare of the media and Courtiers, some of whom had grave misgivings about the suitability of the Duke of York to become King due to his stutter.

The Duchess of York accompanied her husband to a speech therapist and in every possible way she encouraged and uplifted him, she was in essense his rock, and she would remain so throughout his short life. The Duchess gave her husband the one thing he had always lacked, a stable and loving home environment, where he could leave the troubles of the world behind him and find comfort and support within his family home.

As King and Queen they led the country during the terrible days of the Second World War. The Queen encouraged women into the work force and to keep the home fires burning. But she was also her husbands strongest advocate and supporter. She did not run when the bombs dropped as she famously said when asked about evacuating to Canada, "the children will not leave without me, I will not leave without the King and the King will never leave!"

It was this Queen who began what became known and accepted as the 'Royal walkabout.' The days were grave for England as bombs rained down on the populace and Hitler at that time seemed unstoppable. It did not faze Queen Elizabeth, and she met the challenges that faced her and her husband with steely determination.

The Queen dressed in her finest clothes and pearls when she visited those who had been bombed as she said when questioned about her style of dressing, "if they come to see me they would dress in their finest clothes why would I do less?" During these terrifying years The Queen displayed great grace under pressure and shored up her insecure husband as he carried out his Royal duties.

The Queen though was a woman of great strength of character and it was at her insistance that The Duke and Duchess of Windsor be sent overseas during these dark days for England. It was also at the Queen's insistance that Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor would be deprived of the title H.R.H. throughout her life.

Later in life the Queen Mother was perceived by the media as a rather sugary nature, this portrayal does a disservice to her true personality and hides the strength of her character.

The Queen Mother throughout her long life believed in service and had no time for those who put self above duty. This approach brought her into conflict with the late Princess Diana, neither woman understood the other.

But throughout her life The Queen Mother avoided familial confrontations though she tacitly supported her grandson Prince Charles throughout his affair with Mrs Parker Bowles.

In the Queen Mother we see a woman of quiet steel, of inner strength and of service. A woman who followed her own style which became uniquely her own. A woman with the nice smile which hid the toughness of her character and a woman who always remained true to her country and true to herself.

written by Marie

Sophie's Courage

You may not have heard the story of this brave little girl. So let me tell you about the strength of the human spirit to overcome all adversities.

Sophie Delezio was born in 2001 and lived a pretty normal life, so what makes Sophie different from millions of other children? Here is her story.

December 15, 2003 began like many other mornings. Sophie was dropped off at her Childcare Centre thats when Sophie's life changed forever.

What began as a normal day turned into a day of horror when a car crashed through the Childcare Centre and landed on Sophie and her friend Molly. Both girls were trapped as the car erupted into flames. People came from everywhere to evacuate the children to safety but little Sophie and Molly were trapped beneath the burning car.

Little Sophie suffered 3rd degree burns to over 80% of her body. Sophie also lost both her feet, some fingers from her hands and her right ear. Here is a description of how the surgeons saved what they could on Sophie's body.

"Working with a bio-engineered skin product developed in the US, Integra - comprising porcine, shark and bovine collagen - and a patch of skin about the size of a man's palm taken from the only unburnt part of her body, the scientists and surgeons succeeded where most others worldwide have failed...Using a combination of three technologies, Dr Maitz said, surgeons treated Sophie's wounds - some so deep that they had exposed bone and deep muscle tissue - in operations over several months."

What is amazing is Sophie's spirit of survival. Through all the operations, skin grafts and learning to walk again, Sophie kept her beaming smile.

After spending months recovering and being able to keep her smile, as she inspired all those who came into contact with her that Sophie's life would be normal. Not so!

In May 2006 Sophie was hit by car when using a pedestrian crossing with her care giver and care dog. Once again Sophie suffered serious injuries as she was thrown 18 metres on impact with the car. Sophie suffered a broken jaw, broken shoulder bone, bruising to her head, broken ribs and her left lung was pierced, she lost a huge amount of blood.

What makes this story so amazing is Sophie's indomitable spirit, she did not point the finger at God, she didnt blame the drivers, she just kept on smiling. Sophie stole the heart of a nation and I hope her story will touch your hearts.

Here are the words of her mother, "She's just got that extra something special..The fact that she has to put on legs to take that first step does not faze her at all, and she'll do it with a smile on her face.We're very fortunate to have that personality in our daughter."

And her Doctor, "She just has this amazing inner spirit, to smile despite all adversities."

So the next time you think life can't get any worse? Think of Sophie and smile.

Post Script.

Sophie's friend Molly suffered burns to 40% of her body. This brave little girl underwent 18 operations, spent nearly 2 months in hospital. She is well on the road to recovery.

Sophie and Molly

Princess Diana-Her Troubled Life-Conclusion

What haunted Diana throughout her life was the knowledge that at one time she did stand a chance of winning the heart of her husband. Though Diana gained a Title it was Camilla who kept the Prince's heart and Diana became an inconvenient woman at the centre of this royal ménage a trios! An arrangement which unsettled the young Princess as she tried using all the wrong weapons to win the heart of her husband who in the end had come to resent her.

As Princess Diana gained the love and adulation of the world, she lost the love that mattered most to her, her errant and unfaithful husband.

As we have learnt Princess Diana was no angel, but neither was she a monster, she made her own mistakes within her empty marriage. But though these mistakes harmed her deeply she was not as has been reported, mentally unstable. There are no records of mental disturbance in her youth or her work as a nanny before she married into the Royal family.

The life of Princess Diana proved that though the institution of the Monarchy has lasted hundreds of years, the lifestyle of what was acceptable to the Edwardians, would not be acceptable in the twenty first century. In that modern women including Princesses wanted more than an empty title. They need a fulfilling role in life and a supportive partner. Princess Diana also forgot what the role of the Princess of Wales entailed and that was 'To Serve' the nation and support the Monarchy. Not as the 'star of the show' but as a working member of the Royal family.

None can truly lay all the blame at the Prince's door for the failure in their marriage. He could not guess that Lady Diana was emotionally needy, and highly strung. Or that she would suffer from bulimia/nervosa, both became victims of this insidious illness. Prince Charles had been spoilt by the accruements of Royalty where his every wish was guaranteed to be granted. A wife is not an extension of a coterie of staff, therefore compromise should have been reached between both husband and wife.

Though Charles and Diana entered the marriage with high ideals and expectations of each other, both would find themselves disappointed. For from the beginning of their relationship Lady Diana had led Charles to believe that she loved country pursuits and all that goes with it, hunting, fishing and shooting. And Prince Charles from the beginning had no intention of giving up the real love of his life, which was Camilla Parker Bowles.

So in truth both couples entered the marriage with a lie. Which would then be followed by deceit, betrayal and infidelities on both sides. This would have devastating consequences for their marriage and also the Monarchy.

Princess Diana was a very young 19 when she married her Prince. While Charles was a sophisticated and worldly man of the world who had always kept Camilla as his mistress. This would have brought untold humiliation to the young Princess in that all her inner circle knew about the affair including members of the Royal family who not only encouraged it they openly supported Charles dalliance with Camilla.

It is reasonable to say that Princess Diana felt and was indeed betrayed by many members of the Royal family. And even her own family failed to give her the support she needed, as her brother refused to house Diana on his estate at Althorp, which she would have used as a sanctuary against the ever prying press. A fact that Earl Spencer conveniently forgot as he gave his eulogy at her funeral.

The marriage may have stood a chance if Princess Diana had made some concessions to Prince Charles love of the outdoors and the country scene rather than try and bully him into becoming a 'city slicker'. But Prince Charles also should have made his own sacrifices that of letting go of his long-term relationship with Camilla. But as it is neither side would compromise, this led to their downfall, as their marriage disintegrated into press fodder.

Neither Charles or Diana had the capacity to look beyond the confines of their own internal warfare and recognise the consequences of their behaviour to their boys and to the Nation. Both failed in their duty. A closer look at recent history may have helped them both. When during the darkest pages of English history, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth with steeliness of heart and soul, strengthened the people of Britain to face their foe, Nazi Germany with fierce courage. The late King and Queen put duty above their own personal needs including their safety. Charles and Diana were unable to follow the lead of the Princes's Grandparents.

After her divorce from Prince Charles, Diana felt that she would be free, but was she? Princess Diana had learnt to manipulate the press without understanding that she was holding the tail of a tiger which would eventually turn and devour her.

Much has been said about Princess Diana and her love life and there has been speculation that Diana had finally met a man who loved her in Dodi Fayed, but did he?

It is a known fact that Dodi Fayed was already engaged when he met Diana at the contrivance of his father Mohammed al Fayed. Dodi very quickly dumped his fiance as he trailed after the Princess at his fathers insistance. During this time Princess Diana was hurting badly over yet another failed romance this time with the heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.

There has been much speculation over the romance between Dodi and Diana is their some validity to the rumours of an engagement?

If Princess Diana truly loved Dodi then surely she would have wanted it to remain quiet and private. How many photo's exist of Diana with Hasnat Khan? None!

Princess Diana was not a stupid woman and she would have been well aware of the machinations of Mohammed al Fayed. A man who had been involved in political intrigues in the very seat of British Power The Tory Government. It was the scandal involving various Tory politicians in the 'cash for favours' which opened the door for Tony Blair's, Labour victory. If Henri Paul was a spy for MI6 it was to spy on his boss and not the Princess. Was Dodi the love of Diana's life? By all accounts, no. The man that captured her heart was always her ex-husband The Prince of Wales.

The mercurial, sensitive, loving, volatile, compassionate, contrary and yet luminous woman that was Diana who longed to be loved. Sadly she was not to find this love that she so desperately sought, as her life ended so tragically in the city of love, Paris.

Diana a woman who lived to love and be loved was to die literally of a broken heart.

Princess Diana-Her Troubled Life-Part 1

What was it about Princess Diana that touched so many hearts and led to a well pool of grief when she died so tragically at only 36 years of age?

Was it that she lived her life so publicly giving the illusion of being able to see within her soul? Yet her friends say she could be secretive.

Some say it was her air of innocence and vulnerability which made both men and women wish to protect her from life’s hurts. Yet her friends and family say she could be manipulative to a high degree.

From the beginning of the romance between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer the question needs to be asked, did Diana love Charles the man? A man who was haunted by his childhood, who had been severely bullied at school and was still full of insecurities about himself and his role in life? Or did she love the Title and the fact that it would put the Spencer dynasty in the history books.

Princess Diana upon marrying Prince Charles found herself plunged into a very sophisticated world of which she had no means of coping. For unlike Prince Charles or his then mistress Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles, both of whom were in their 30's and had lived life to the full. Princess Diana was a very young and naive 19 years old when she became engaged to the Prince.

Princess Diana described herself many times as 'a lamb being led to the slaughter' but was she entirely unkowing of the hold Camilla Parker Bowles still held over Charles? Before her engagement was announced the newspapers ran a headline which screamed ' A Blonde on the Train with Prince Charles'. This was in November 1980 before she became engaged to the Prince. Tina Brown in her book speculates that the blonde was Diana herself, hence Diana never mentions this incident in any books or interviews. This is difficult to believe in that Prince Charles was not wildly in love with the then Lady Diana why would he take the risk? Why the silence from Diana? If Princess Diana had acknowledged that she knew the 'blonde' was not herself then would she not lose her 'victim status'?

Was Lady Diana as trapped by her circumstance as the Prince himself? Neither being able to stop the train wreck which their marriage would become. Lady Diana Spencer belonged to a Noble Aristocratic family, which had served the Monarchy for many generations. Her own maternal Grandmother was Lady Ruth Fermoy who was Lady in Waiting to the Queen Mother. If Lady Diana had dumped Prince Charles a scandal would have ensued, something the Spencer family would do anything to avoid.

So the young Lady Diana Spencer married her Prince. Though the world wanted this marriage of Prince Charles to his young bride to be a modern romance that could have set the world on fire. Instead it blazed as an inferno within the marriage itself which would consume and destroy it.

The first salvo was fired by the Prince Charles 'set' when in a popular magazine Princess Diana was described as a 'bully' as 'hysterical' and was 'controlling and manipulative'. The story made the claim that it was Diana and not Charles who was destroying their marriage by her volatile and unpredictable behavior towards her beleaguered and confused husband. Many papers also ran with this story and described Princess Diana as a 'mad woman bent on destroying her marriage', and as 'the mouse that roared'. So was it unpredictable that Princess Diana would be smart enough to know where the leaks of her private life were coming from?

So began the 'War of the Wales' which played out in every tabloid newspaper, magazines and television documentaries. What was left untold were the casualities of this 'war'. The children of Prince Charles and Diana and the Parker Bowles children.

Princess Diana to her credit refused to be 'managed' by the Palace machinery. Unlike other members of the Royal family who stood back from the crowds and proffered their gloved hands for a handshake. Diana launched herself into the crowds, she hugged the children and disabled, shook hands with AID's sufferers and visited people who were on the outskirts of acceptable society. Diana was about to become 'The People's Princess'.

Part two will be concluded tomorrow