Name Sakes, Part II
As I said in the beginning of this article that the Earl and Countess of Wessex have not told the public specifically about whom they named Louise after, and therefore this whole article is according to Buckingham Palace's statement demonstrating that the names are family names. The name, Elizabeth was a clear favourite for the baby, and it seems callous of me to say that they thus regard HM the Queen Mother over HM the Queen. However for the benefit of this article, I will be discussing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother only because I might at a later stage be given biographical sketches of the Earl and Countess of Wessex's parents
HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother of Great Britain and Ireland
HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was born The Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon on 4 August 1900. As the fourth daughter of Lord Glamis, later 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, the young Elizabeth spent her childhood at St Paul's Waldenbury in Hertfordshire, the country home of her parents. She was educated at home as was fitting for a girl in the time. Glamis Castle became a make shift hospital during World War I and the fourteen Elizabeth helped out with the large influx of patients. One of her older brothers, Fergus, was killed at the Battle of Loos in 1915.
Lady Elizabeth and her older sisters had been childhood friends of the children of King George V and Queen Mary. Lady Elizabeth even served as one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of their daughter, Princess Mary in 1922. So for insiders the January 1923 announcement of her engagement to HRH The Duke of York (Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George), came as no surprise. They were married on 26 April 1923 in Westminster Abbey. I cannot help felling sorry for the young couple who foresaw their role in the British royal family as an easy one. They had two children, Princess Elizabeth, born on 21 April 1926 at the Strathmores' London home, 17 Bruton Street, and Princess Margaret, born on 21 August 1930 at Glamis Castle. They soon settled in to a pleasant life as the Duke and Duchess of York. They were naively unaware of the turmoil that the British royal family was to find itself in. In January 1939 King George V died and on 11 December that same year, Edward VIII abdicated. Suddenly the Duke of York who had no desire for the throne was the King of England. Their coronation took place on 12 May 1937 and Queen Elizabeth became the first British-born Queen consort since Tudor times
For all Queen Elizabeth went on to achieve in her lifetime, I have always felt that these early years of King George VI's reign was to be her finest moment. She was a mountain of strength and support for her husband, when he needed it the most. This role of supporter continued during World War II where she together with King George VI and her daughters helped to uplift the British people and in the war's aftermath.
After the King's death, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother continued to undertake Royal duties for the next fifty years in support of her daughter, The Queen. She continued her public appearances until her death and the holding her patronages. However she understood the need for the young Queen Elizabeth to establish her household and moved out of Buckingham Palace in 1952, to Clarence House in St. James Palace. The Queen Mother also keen to pursue her love of the countryside and country sports in particular. She was an expert fisherwoman and enjoyed horse racing, especially steeplechasers. She was very unfortunate never to win the Grand National.
When the Queen Mother died in 2002 at the age of 101 thousands of people paid their respects to her, but for me the most poigent tribute was the vigil by her four grandsons showing their love and appreciation for a women whose influence will remain in the British monarchy for decade to come.
Mary Rhys-Jones
The Countess of Wessex's mother, Mary O'Sullivan, is the inspiration for the last name of Lady Louise Windsor. The Countess of Wessex's mother does not have the royal connections like our previous name sakes, but this does not make her in any way less remarkable.
Mary Rhys-Jones was born in 1934, to a family of mainly Irish shopkeepers and farmers. She was a charity worker and worked part time as a secretary to provide better for her children. As a young woman, she also once danced with Prince Philip at a society ball. She married Christopher Rhys-Jones in 1961 and raised two children, David and Sophie. Mrs. Rhys-Jones passed away on the 28th of August 2005 after a short illness.
I'm afraid that that is the extent of my knowledge of Mary Rhys-Jones. As she was a private citizen, I do not deem it fit to further research either. She appeared to been a well-ground, decent wife and mother and that in itself is something that is to be admired.