The Queen Mother spent her early childhood in St Paul's Waldenbury in Hertfordshire, having later moved to her family home, the wonderful medieval Glamis Castle, in Scotland, surrounded by enormous gardens. It is understood that Elizabeth absolutely worshiped the quiet life of the highlands, living with her family. It was not, however, to be the future of that young noblewoman. Her engagement to Prince Albert of Great Britain, son of King George V and Queen Mary, came to many as a surprise, even to her friends, who had thought she would marry to someone who gave her the quiet life she so much enjoyed.

Lady Elizabeth, four, is pictured with her younger brother David, three, with whom she had a very close relationship. One of their brothers, Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon, was killed at the Battle of Loos in France, during World War I. This event did disturb Elizabeth’s quiet life at Glamis Castle: the castle was transformed in a hospital for soldiers and, disturbingly enough, the war began on Lady Elizabeth’s birthday, 4 August 1914.

Aged 14, Lady Elizabeth was a simple countrywoman, although raised in the highest standards of rural aristocracy. Pictured here outside Glamis Castle, by this time she had met her future husband Prince Albert, for regularly the Royal Princes came to Glamis and the Bowes-Lyons were invited at the Court. The picture was taken the year World War I began, bringing to Europe the feared blood that the new weapons could create. Although too young to work as a nurse, Lady Elizabeth did assist some of the soldiers who went through Glamis.

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, 19, is pictured with her parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. This picture was also made in Glamis Castle, in 1919, the year Worl War I was over in Europe and in the World.

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