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Thus during this period the young Elizabeth
Bowes Lyon took her turn at helping those who had suffered,
and indeed in 1915 one of her brothers, Fergus, was killed at
the Battle of Loos.
On April 26th 1923, Elizabeth married The Duke
of York in Westminster Abbey, London, and soon after the Royal
couple returned to Glamis to spend part of their honeymoon
there. The Princess Margaret Rose, their younger daughter,
was born at Glamis in 1930.
The Queen Mother had numerous Scottish connections,
which included being given the Freedom of all four major cities,
starting with Glasgow in 1927. In addition, she had very proud
connections with the armed forces from north of the border,
and was Colonel-in-Chief of The Black Watch for 65 years.
She was also Colonel of the London Scottish Regiment, The
Black Watch of Canada, and The Toronto Scottish Regiment as
well as President of The Royal British Legion Scotland.
After becoming Duchess of York, and later as
The Queen and then Queen Mother, she spent many of her holidays
either at Glamis, on Deeside at Balmoral and Birkhall, or
later after widowhood at The Castle of Mey in Caithness. Scotland
always seemed to beckon when relaxation was needed for she
called it her home!
It was at Mey that Queen Elizabeth devoted much
of her talents to restoration and gardening. At all her homes
the garden featured strongly and her enthusiasm for gardening
was demonstrated brilliantly at Mey where she transformed
an unreceptive site into a unique and practical garden.
Within the many organisations with which
The Queen Mother was associated in Scotland, there was often
an overriding theme of support for those who freely gave service
to others, and it was this close interest in voluntary service
that took the admiration of so many Scots. Her well-known
humour combined with the extraordinary ability to bring happiness
to other people’s lives ensured that she remained a
truly great ambassador for her native land throughout her
life.
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