of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the last queen consort of Ireland
and empress consort of India
.
Born into a family of Scottish nobility as The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she became Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon when her father
inherited the Earldom of Strathmore and Kinghorne
in 1904.
"We'd have to go self-service."
:After a Tory|Tory minister advised her not to employ homosexuals
:Reported November 10, 2002 in The Observer|The Observer
"Whatever would American tourists think?"
:Admonishing a group of London teenagers she saw throwing stones at a car.
"Is it just me or are pensioners getting younger these days?"
:To a group of pensioners. (At age 90)
"Is that wise, darling? Remember you have to reign all afternoon."
:To the Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen, who was contemplating having a second glass of wine at lunch.
"I hadn't realised I enjoyed that reputation. But as I do, perhaps you could make it a large one."
:To her host who blurted out "I hear you like gin" during an engagement at which she was supposed to be offered a cup of tea.
"The chopper has changed my life as conclusively as it did Anne Boleyn|Anne Boleyn's."
:To a pilot after having decided that helicopters were a useful convenience.
"Oh, I understand that perfectly. That's how we feel in Scotland too, but the English won't allow it."
:On a 1947 tour of South Africa|South Africa, in reply to an Afrikaner|Afrikaner who said "I don't think much of royalty. I think South Africa ought to be a republic."
Canadian veteran: Are you Scotch or English?Elizabeth: I'm Canadian!
"I wouldn't if I were you, Noel; they count them before they put them out."
:To Noel Coward|Noel Coward, when he showed interest in the guardsmen at a gala function.
"When one of you young queens has finished, can you bring this old queen a drink?"
:To her largely homosexual personal staff