How King George VI and Queen Elizabeth saved the monarchy
George VI should never have been king. But when Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, his younger brother - shy, sensitive, and afflicted with a stutter - found himself on the throne. Only with his confident wife Elizabeth's support, guidance, and love, was he was able to overcome his insecurities and become the exceptional leader the British needed in this, their darkest hour. Not only did they steer the monarchy out of crisis but the royal couple also raised their daughter Princess Elizabeth to become a beacon of inspiration, devotion and duty.
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'George VI and Elizabeth is a vivid history that captures the courage of a couple whose actions saved a monarchy. It is also a largely unknown love story. A deeply moving marvel' Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal
'Sally Bedell Smith takes us into the inner sanctum of the Windsors, giving us an intimate and gripping portrait of a royal marriage that survived betrayal, tragedy, and war. Unputdownable' Amanda Foreman
PRE-ORDER THE PAPERBACK NOWA revelatory account of how King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's loving marriage unexpectedly saved the monarchy during World War II, and how they raised their daughter to become Queen Elizabeth II, based on exclusive access to the Royal ArchivesFrom the bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen and Prince Charles___________Granted special access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents' letters and diaries and to the papers of their close friends and family, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to vibrant life. This deeply researched and revealing book shows how a loving and devoted marriage helped the unexpected King and Queen meet the challenges of World War II, lead a nation, solidify the public's faith in the monarchy, and raise their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. From the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, to King George VI's fierce leadership as we navigated World War II, this is the definitive account of not only the man behind the throne, but the woman - and the marriage - that made his reign so successful. Forming relationships with Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, and inspiring the British people with their courage and compassion during the blitz, George VI and Elizabeth also raised their daughter Princess Elizabeth. It was from her parents' leadership that she spent her childhood learning, watching, and preparing to become the future queen. In this deeply personal account, Sally Bedell Smith gives us an inside view of the lives, struggles, hopes, and triumphs of King George VI and Elizabeth during a dramatic time in history.
