Definition: anglophile, a person who is fond of or greatly admires England (or Britain) and its culture…and that is definitely me.
I have written before how as a child, I saw a photo of Queen Elizabeth II on the cover of Life Magazine, asked my mother many questions, and after that, whenever she took me to the library, I would search for books about kings and queens.
It was actually a wonderful way to stimulate reading in a young person, and for me to LEARN about history. When others were falling in love with Elvis, I was writing to Queen Elizabeth and ACTUALLY getting a response: a normal sized envelope with stationary inside containing the royal crest, and a typed answer to my letter, SIGNED by a lady-in-waiting to the queen: LADY ROSE BARRING. Much later, I looked her up online, and yes, she was a real person, whose name I never forgot.
After that first letter, where I was asking to be a penpal of Prince Charles, now the King of England…I aim high…, I wrote more. QE2 was often in the news, so when I learned she was pregnant again after Charles and Anne, and that if the baby was a boy, and she would name him Andrew. …I eagerly awaited the birth: it was a boy, he was born on my birthday!! and she named him Andrew. Back in Chicago, I was ecstatic. For very early in my life (why I really do not know) I fell in love with the name Andrew. So when talking a girlish walk with my Aunt Marge Murray, who I greatly admired, that Andrew would be the name for my first son….”Oh no,” she said, “they will call him Andy Pandy.” But that never happened!
And crazy as it my seem, when dating my husband, I made him promise that when we had a son, we would name him Andrew. He agreed, and most of you know that amazing history.
But now there is sadness in life, no matter who you are. And there is irony, for there was whisperings that Andrew was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite child….maybe because he was born during a time when her life was more settled, when she had more time to hold him, nurse him, be his mother. Maybe.
FINAL THOUIGHT
I wish I could take a photo of those amazing notes on beautiful stationery that I received from Buckingham Palace…but they were all destroyed in a flood in our basement, when MY ANDREW was a newborn. Yes, John and I lost love letters and momentous of times early in our marriage. I lost the collection of papers from my teaching years…all these things that are precious to you and you just cannot live without.
Except that you can. But one thing you cannot live with is scaring your reputation. I am grateful that QE2 if gone and does not have to watch her ANDREW bring scars to the monarchy. I cried when I lost my letters. She would cry watching her son step so far away from the child she loved and cared for. Thanks for reading.
8 Responses
It always made me a little sad that he was called her favorite child. Wonder what Charles, Anne, and Edward thought about that? This whole thing should be interesting to watch. I’m also an anglophile and have been for years. Their history is always fascinating and this particular era should be no exception.
Wow, love this Laurie. You, Me and Carol could start a society. I think She loved Andrew, because he came at a time when
she had more time to play with him, be with him. Things were more settled in her live…or maybe Phillip was more attending.
We will never know. It is hard to live in the spotlight and Andrew sure messed it up!
I am an Anglophile, too. don’t know where this family went wrong, but I don’t think much of William, and seems like he’ll be in charge sooner vs later. Pretty sure he’ll be the last, though.
Thanks, Carol. I love the history, the ceremony. I loved QE2 and actually cried when she died. But my final statement,
I NEVER WORSHIPED MOVIE STARS. They truly do not have much to give. But loving the Queen of England ment history and
reading way back in time. Now THAT served a purpose in my life. We would have fun discussing all of it, Beth
Such an interesting topic… the whole monarchy thing. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be born into “royalty.” I feel there would be so much pressure to be “perfect.”
Hi Mona, you are approaching this subject with so much sense. Your feet are on the ground. I always wanted to give this a try (being a princess)
but of course I was so YOUNG and now I know how difficult it can be. Thanks for reading, Beth
While you were interested in history and writing letters to the Queen, I was writing letters to Donny Osmond alerting him to the house for sale next door. Great post!
I LOVE THAT! We all have our fantasies Lynn. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing yours, Beth