| Fact: Queen Mary died on 24th March 1953, a little | | | | 26-year-old woman at the centre of everyone's |
| over 2 months before the Coronation of her beloved | | | | attention. She may have been surrounded at this |
| granddaughter. But did you know that the indomitable | | | | crucial time in her life by a never ending retinue of |
| Dowager Queen DID indeed witness the crowning of | | | | Government ministers, aides and dress designers, all of |
| Elizabeth II... | | | | whom were desperate to ensure that nothing would |
| Even at the age of 85 Queen Mary was still a force | | | | go wrong when the day arrived on which she would |
| to be reckoned with. Despite failing health caused by a | | | | fulfil her destiny and become "Her Majesty Queen |
| recurrence of gastric problems, King George V's | | | | Elizabeth The Second". But this shy and studious |
| widow told those around her that her "dearest wish" | | | | young woman still had time for those most important |
| was to live long enough to attend the Coronation | | | | to her, namely her family. |
| ceremony due to take place on June 2nd. | | | | One person in particular was a source of especial |
| It was not to be. According to the announcement | | | | concern: her ailing grandmother, Queen Mary. |
| posted outside Marlborough House, the London home | | | | With no fuss or public announcement, Elizabeth left her |
| in which she spent her widowhood: "While sleeping | | | | home to travel to Marlborough House for what was to |
| peacefully Queen Mary died at twenty minutes past | | | | be a uniquely private and emotional visit to her dying |
| ten o'clock". | | | | grandmother, a woman who had devoted her life to |
| Queen Elizabeth II is often portrayed as a woman who | | | | upholding the traditions of monarchy. |
| holds no store by emotion. Not for her the public | | | | Within the old Queen's private rooms, and without the |
| displays of love for her children, a la Diana, Princess of | | | | fanfare that would herald this very moment in the |
| Wales. | | | | majestic surroundings of Westminster Abbey just |
| But there is another side to our monarch, a side which | | | | weeks later, the future monarch reportedly held the St. |
| is frequently on show to those closest to her. And it | | | | Edward's Crown in her hands before placing it gently |
| was this side which helped bring to fruition the last | | | | on her head. |
| wishes of a dying woman. | | | | And so it was that Queen Mary did indeed see her |
| The months leading up to the Coronation were a | | | | beloved Elizabeth crowned. |
| frenetic time for the Royal Family, not least for the | | | | |