On 4 August 1999, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother celebrated her ninety-ninth birthday! The Queen Mother's life thus tells in its own distinctive way the story of the twentieth century, and as the years pass, she is increasingly venerated as "a beloved national institution." Forbes, a British journalist specializing in the royal family, offers a pictorial biography that, as engrossing as its abundant illustrations prove to be, boasts accompanying lively text that does not suffer in comparison. Born an earl's daughter into a very distinguished Scottish family, Queen Elizabeth bolstered her husband, the shaky George VI, upon his sudden succession to the throne in 1936, bolstered the monarchy itself after the shattering abdication of Edward VIII that brought her and her husband to the throne in the first place, and bolstered Britain during the dark days of World War II. Since the king's early demise in 1952, the Queen Mother has continued to contribute her particular charm and buoyancy to British public life and the good of the House of Windsor.Brad Hooper--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.