How lovely! I have to admit that I teared up a little at 'the final curtsy' moment. When visiting St George's Chapel in Windsor, just after the late Queen's stone had been laid, I did indeed give that Queen's resting place a curtsy myself.
I enjoyed this book but I know her son so there was additional interest. For a very long time we got very few well sourced comments about the Queen and royal life but she did allow Margaret Rhodes to speak out and reveal a few more personal things.
I do wish you would read audio books. You have the loveliest voice and it’s so pleasant on the ear. I enjoy your book readings. I especially love when I can throw in an ear bud and listen as I drive to work. My drive home and to work are now always in the dark and you are a companion for the 1/2 hour commute. Well done on another Royal book pick. I love the Royal Family and enjoy the peek behind the curtain.
@@thevintageread You are so welcome! I have said that before. I have seen some other comments stating that. I feel that you would be so wonderful for the WW2 era books. I love listening to those. The books about the female spies would be so in your wheelhouse! A smart and witty woman being read about by a smart and witty woman. How can that be bad?
Shauna, you make every book you review so enjoyable and makes me want more and more! Please keep up what you do better than anyone else could ever do! Feom the US, and a devoted Shaunaette!
Margaret Rhodes’ book is one of my favorite royal memoirs. She succeeded at giving us an inside look at the royal family without violating anyone’s privacy!
What an amazing story of childhood. Galloping around the grounds brought back memories of my Sister and I doing the same thing when we were younger. Those were the days when kids went out to play and didn't come in till the street lights turned on. Thanks for sharing this with us Shauna ❤❤
Yes that was the time..... During summers all the kids in the neighborhood spent days playing outside and in the evenings we all gathered to play "mother may I" and "Red light green light". All the parents would sit on lawn chairs and visit! Such awesome memories! Kids today have no idea how such simple activities were memory builders.....
My brothers and I would read on our beds until Mom came in and said, “it’s nice outside; go outside,” then lock the door behind us. We would find the neighborhood kids and play until dinner, then go back outside and play (during the summer) until the street lights came on, also. Quite frequently the neighbors would gather on our parent's porch and sing. That’s where I learned the lyrics to, “Moonlight Bay”, “My Blue Heaven,” and other songs of that genre. I had a great childhood and it sounds like you did, too.
As their Nanny Crawford’s principal job would have been to protect and safeguard Princesses Margeret and Elizabeth, almost no matter what. Writing anything at all about their childhoods was a huge breach of trust! I think that would have been the sticking point for both Queens Elizabeth.
Good evening from New Zealand, Shauna. LOVED the excerpts, the social history reflected in the snippets, the genteel manners, the tragic plane crash. Thank you for your pleasant, personable way of relating these insights.. I will definitely be buying this for a pleasant read over Christmas.....
I was a child when Marion Crawford’s book was published in instalments in my children’s magazine. It seemed so innocent that I was amazed when I later heard of the RF’s disapproval. But, as Shauna says, times have changed.
At 61, I feel like a little girl again feeling such excitement from being read a story that has captured my attention from the first sentence. I am going to have to purchase this one. I loved this teaser immensely. Thank you for introducing this book. You have a gift of reading in a way that makes the story come alive in my minds eye. The Queen Mother’s life had never caught my attention until this year. I’ve found her life’s story to be quite interesting. I only remember her death because she passed the day after my birthday. Thank you Shauna for introducing me to books that I would have never chosen to read had I not found your channel. Until your next video….Sip. 💙🩵💜
Thank you Shauna! I've almost finished "The Real Diana" so will add this to my list of 'must reads'. In fact I think I shall share my 'Christmas wish list' with my family 😂. This series is going to be great.
I'm happy that you gave us snippets of this book! We don't hear much from the Queen Mum's family relatives. It sounds very worth reading in its entirety. She also corroborates the stories by Little Princesses' governess, Marion Crawford. I think Crawfie got a bad rap. She loved those girls and her book was very complimentary.
It does seem delightful, glad to enjoy with you. Contemporary writers could take note. We don’t need dirt, we love hearing about ordinary days. The insights into their lives tied with news making days is lovely.
@thevintageread I appreciate what you do with book reviews. I know which ones I want to invest in. I read too slowly nowadays to use the library. Books are too expensive anymore to buy one and not like it. Blessings for your day and weekend and stay safe.
These books you review are wonderful in giving us personal glimpses of the reality of the BRF members lives. Unfortunately they are beyond my budget. However, in going to them on Amazon, some of the reviews do give different angles & opinions which makes it interesting to know
A friend cannot stand the Queen Mother on account of how she treated my friends grandmother. Her grandmother was a dresser for QM when she was still unmarried and living in Scotland. She meet and fell in love with one of the gardners. QM actually tried to stop the romance as she didn't want to lose her servant ! Sound familiar ? Of course the QM was wonderful to Margaret Rhodes ! Margaret Rhodes wasn't her servant but an aristocrat !
I am getting too many books at the same time. I am still 2 books behind! Now I will purchase this one! I have enjoyed every book so far! This sounds like a good book!
I enjoyed this book as it is a little hearted and goodness only knows there has been little levity lately. You mentioned the one crash of the airplane. I had watched a video on this recently and it was very sad with so many killed. I believe at that time he was known as the Duke of Kent.
I read this book! Wonderful book. I enjoyed seeing her interviewed many times with many royal documentaries and she’s such a sweet soul and such personal insight into the Queen‘s life.
How wonderful ,it gives me Downton Abbey vibes and I'm sure she worked for MI5, whilst lodging at Buckingham palace ,what a very interesting life she led ,wasn't she a bridesmaid for princess Margaret, and visa versa ,how sweet ,looking forward to this one shauna ❤
Once again I really enjoyed this book. It’s lovely to hear that the Queen had such a close friendship with her first cousin. I too wished that you could narrate books on Audible-perhaps you could make some enquiries. Thank you Shauna.
This vlog concept promises to be still more fun, Shauna. This particular book may be a good one to do in greater depth. Always enjoy your presentations so thanks again. Cheers and sip from Canada 🇨🇦
Thank you Shauna for reading Margaret Rhodes book, I have it and although I can barely read now as I have had 3 strokes in each eye due to high cholesterol at least I can listen to audiobooks and if the strokes were in my brain I would be dead! My left eye has a tiny bit of colour and light but no definition although looking on the bright side I only have to pay for one lens in my glasses! I did enjoy The Final Curtsey, Mrs Rhodes died before our late Queen and it is a testament to how caring and loving our Royal Family is that she was included in so much of her Aunt and Cousins's lives..
Choose to believe this or not, but when William, Prince of Wales was standing at attention behind his father the King, I saw something interesting happen. A single leaf appeared and fluttered down in front of William and landed on the ground on his right side. Im a believer in our loved ones sending signs from heaven. I've experienced it many times. For no reason at all, I thought it was from Queen Elizabeth ll, letting him know how proud she was of him. Shauna, thank you so much for reading that part of the book!! In my mind, it makes sense why I thought it was from her. He surely deserves to catch happy days, in my opinion.
Hello Shauna I'm so excited for this new series and loved this first installment🤗 Shauna now I know why I adore your sense of humour, you're a March born like me 😘😘. Have a lovely Aussie day 😂
Is it because the right people were born first or because they were born first that they were taught/shown the right ways to behave. They had more attention than the spares. Were the spares given more latitude because they were second best and the family wanted to make up for it?
@ Sorry this is not true. Anne was 4th in line of succession until the births of her brothers’ children pushed her down the list. If by some terrible turn of events her three brothers had died without issue (children), she would have become a rightful queen
Sorry Shauna by the Queen mother was the youngest daughter, Margaret Rhondes mother was an older sister of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. Elizabeth and her brother David were born in 1900 and 1902. The next youngest daughter was Rose born in 1890. Margaret's mother was Lady Mary born 1883 the second child/daughter.
I read this book and loved it! I, too, loved the "Chasing Happy Days" game - such innocence! I don't think there are many children today that would find pleasure in it the way these girls did. ...When I finished with the book, I sat down to write a letter to Mrs. Rhodes. I felt like I knew her, and I wanted to tell her how I enjoyed the book. I was devastated when I found she had died. I hope she knows how loved she still is.
Buy a swiss roll, spread a good quality jam on it. Put tinned fruit on top. Add juice and tablespoon of Sherry if required. Add cooling custard, leave to go cold. Whip fresh cream and put on top. Thats a version of English sherry trifle.
You can have different relationships with different people. My mom and dad were considered fabulous by people and relations, however, we kids saw an entirely different side of them. They did uave their good points. But life was not y easy. I would assume the same can be said of everyone.
May I just add that removing the anthers from your lilies will preserve its life a bit longer. 😉 And for anyone with cats, lilies are extremely poisonous to them. Particularly the anthers.
Fun fact, Canon John Ovenden, who was the Chaplain at Windsor Castle who prayed over the Queen Mum is the father of the wonderful singer Julian Ovenden. I love to YT the Proms and watch Julian perform. I am a nerd. 🤓
I was surprised you didn't get a call to join QC for a book chat while she was in Oz.... I think she MUST have heard of you. Have you had any contact from the Palace? You'd make an excellent ambassador for Literacy in the Commonwealth. IMO,
While I think that Harold, Princess Margaret and "Randy Andy" were and are not Monarch material, King George V and King George VI were spares and were very good kings.
How lovely! I have to admit that I teared up a little at 'the final curtsy' moment. When visiting St George's Chapel in Windsor, just after the late Queen's stone had been laid, I did indeed give that Queen's resting place a curtsy myself.
😘❤
How lovely! 😊
It is a wonderful gift to have someone share a book with you. The bonus is learning more about the British Royal Family. I miss Queen Elizabeth II.❤
I miss her too.
@@thevintagereadI love these shows. You make the royals seem so real❤
❤😊
The more I learn about Queen Elizabeth ll , the more I miss her! ❤
Oh! I am so happy I caught this premiere!❤ You are truly a breath of Fresh Air amongst the miasma of gossip stench.
Have a good evening/day, All❤
Thank you for watching! 💕
I enjoyed this book but I know her son so there was additional interest. For a very long time we got very few well sourced comments about the Queen and royal life but she did allow Margaret Rhodes to speak out and reveal a few more personal things.
I do wish you would read audio books. You have the loveliest voice and it’s so pleasant on the ear. I enjoy your book readings. I especially love when I can throw in an ear bud and listen as I drive to work. My drive home and to work are now always in the dark and you are a companion for the 1/2 hour commute. Well done on another Royal book pick. I love the Royal Family and enjoy the peek behind the curtain.
That’s so kind of you to say!
@@thevintageread You are so welcome! I have said that before. I have seen some other comments stating that. I feel that you would be so wonderful for the WW2 era books. I love listening to those. The books about the female spies would be so in your wheelhouse! A smart and witty woman being read about by a smart and witty woman. How can that be bad?
Thank you for reading this book it’s a absolute pleasure listening to you ❤
This will be lovely. A cousin of QE11 no less!
It is a lovely book, very similar to Stephen Barry!
Shauna, you make every book you review so enjoyable and makes me want more and more! Please keep up what you do better than anyone else could ever do!
Feom the US, and a devoted Shaunaette!
😘💕🙌
Loved it 😊. What a charmed life they enjoyed as children 🤗
They did! 💕
Margaret Rhodes’ book is one of my favorite royal memoirs. She succeeded at giving us an inside look at the royal family without violating anyone’s privacy!
@@lydiaknight70
We don’t always need shocking details to enjoy a book. It’s nice to just get to know another person this way.
Kick the tin was a game we played in the street, it's funny to imagine the royal family playing it, especially the adults.
Princess Margaret sounds like she was such a fun person to be around! Keeping people up with singing probably became a very happy memory!
❤ love these, its so relaxing, with a cup of hot chocolate, now that winter's here, and enjoying being read to, perfect therapy 😊❤
It sounds very cosy!
Isn't it perfect therapy! Shauna does such an amazing job with her reading!
Thanks shauna. Love this short book snippets. Well done...sip
Glad you liked it! SIP
What an amazing story of childhood. Galloping around the grounds brought back memories of my Sister and I doing the same thing when we were younger. Those were the days when kids went out to play and didn't come in till the street lights turned on. Thanks for sharing this with us Shauna ❤❤
That is awesome!
Yes that was the time.....
During summers all the kids in the neighborhood spent days playing outside and in the evenings we all gathered to play "mother may I" and "Red light green light". All the parents would sit on lawn chairs and visit! Such awesome memories! Kids today have no idea how such simple activities were memory builders.....
My brothers and I would read on our beds until Mom came in and said, “it’s nice outside; go outside,” then lock the door behind us. We would find the neighborhood kids and play until dinner, then go back outside and play (during the summer) until the street lights came on, also. Quite frequently the neighbors would gather on our parent's porch and sing. That’s where I learned the lyrics to, “Moonlight Bay”, “My Blue Heaven,” and other songs of that genre. I had a great childhood and it sounds like you did, too.
As their Nanny Crawford’s principal job would have been to protect and safeguard Princesses Margeret and Elizabeth, almost no matter what. Writing anything at all about their childhoods was a huge breach of trust! I think that would have been the sticking point for both Queens Elizabeth.
Yes. She was their governess and was completely "blanked" by the entire family after spending 17 years with them.
"Catching Happy Days"....what a lovely way to spend the day!
It certainly is!
Loved this. A Ray of sunshine in a rather miserable day. Thank you Shauna. You read so beautifully!
👏👏👏👏 sitting back with coffee, the book reading is just the right thing to enjoy with the coffee. Thank you Shauna❤️🌹🐝
Perfect! 😊🙌💕
I love your voice 🇨🇦❤️
Good evening from New Zealand, Shauna. LOVED the excerpts, the social history reflected in the snippets, the genteel manners, the tragic plane crash. Thank you for your pleasant, personable way of relating these insights.. I will definitely be buying this for a pleasant read over Christmas.....
So glad you enjoyed it!
I'm so excited for The Little Princesses! It's a love letter to the family. Great choice!
What an interesting slice of the real life of this fascinating Family. Amazing how big this Family is.
Thanks for thus Shauna, you tell it so well.
This is when I absolutely enjoy you Shauna. You’re wonderful at these book reviews. 👏🏽
I was a child when Marion Crawford’s book was published in instalments in my children’s magazine. It seemed so innocent that I was amazed when I later heard of the RF’s disapproval. But, as Shauna says, times have changed.
Great Snippet!❤
At 61, I feel like a little girl again feeling such excitement from being read a story that has captured my attention from the first sentence. I am going to have to purchase this one. I loved this teaser immensely. Thank you for introducing this book. You have a gift of reading in a way that makes the story come alive in my minds eye.
The Queen Mother’s life had never caught my attention until this year. I’ve found her life’s story to be quite interesting. I only remember her death because she passed the day after my birthday.
Thank you Shauna for introducing me to books that I would have never chosen to read had I not found your channel. Until your next video….Sip. 💙🩵💜
What a wonderful way to start my day. Thank you Shauna. Sip.🌹❤️
You’re very welcome! 🥰
Thank you Shauna! I've almost finished "The Real Diana" so will add this to my list of 'must reads'. In fact I think I shall share my 'Christmas wish list' with my family 😂. This series is going to be great.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!
O Shauna, i now finally know something i can put on my Christmas wishlist ;-). Thank you again for a lovely snipped review of this book. Sip!
Hope you enjoy it!
That was a lovely read, Shauna. Such a different side of the Queen Mother.
The young princesses had an idyllic childhood.
I so enjoyed this reading, thank you Shauna. Giggled a lot throughout as I could envisage it all.
Good morning(for me), Shauna!❤
Good morning to you too! 😊
After dinner games would be a blast! My friend and her husband every evening after sinner play Yahtzee. Such a great bonding time!
Sounds like fun!
I look forward to it!
I'm happy that you gave us snippets of this book! We don't hear much from the Queen Mum's family relatives. It sounds very worth reading in its entirety. She also corroborates the stories by Little Princesses' governess, Marion Crawford. I think Crawfie got a bad rap. She loved those girls and her book was very complimentary.
It does seem delightful, glad to enjoy with you. Contemporary writers could take note. We don’t need dirt, we love hearing about ordinary days. The insights into their lives tied with news making days is lovely.
Wonderful news first thing in the morning! Love to hear another book with your commentary ❤️❤️❤️
Yay, thank you!
Good morning with my cup of tea.
Morning!
@thevintageread I appreciate what you do with book reviews. I know which ones I want to invest in. I read too slowly nowadays to use the library. Books are too expensive anymore to buy one and not like it. Blessings for your day and weekend and stay safe.
I really love this book. So happy that you are sharing it with us. Love your insights.
These books you review are wonderful in giving us personal glimpses of the reality of the BRF members lives. Unfortunately they are beyond my budget. However, in going to them on Amazon, some of the reviews do give different angles & opinions which makes it interesting to know
Sounds like a wonderful book.
❤So lovely 😊 I loved it 🎉 thank you
Thank you! 😊
88
A friend cannot stand the Queen Mother on account of how she treated my friends grandmother. Her grandmother was a dresser for QM when she was still unmarried and living in Scotland. She meet and fell in love with one of the gardners. QM actually tried to stop the romance as she didn't want to lose her servant ! Sound familiar ? Of course the QM was wonderful to Margaret Rhodes ! Margaret Rhodes wasn't her servant but an aristocrat !
We should all play "catching happy days"!! I love that so much!!
Your knowledge from vast & varied reading, shines through in your reasoned analysis, in all your videos. This was so interesting!
You’re so kind to say.
I am getting too many books at the same time. I am still 2 books behind! Now I will purchase this one! I have enjoyed every book so far!
This sounds like a good book!
Can't wait 😊❤
I enjoyed this book as it is a little hearted and goodness only knows there has been little levity lately.
You mentioned the one crash of the airplane. I had watched a video on this recently and it was very sad with so many killed. I believe at that time he was known as the Duke of Kent.
I read this book! Wonderful book. I enjoyed seeing her interviewed many times with many royal documentaries and she’s such a sweet soul and such personal insight into the Queen‘s life.
Friday book time. Hurrah. Thanks Shauna.
You are so welcome!
How wonderful ,it gives me Downton Abbey vibes and I'm sure she worked for MI5, whilst lodging at Buckingham palace ,what a very interesting life she led ,wasn't she a bridesmaid for princess Margaret, and visa versa ,how sweet ,looking forward to this one shauna ❤
MI5???!! 😱
@@thevintagereadcould of been MI6,,in the war ,im sure or have I got the wrong woman 🤣🤣🥰😊
Thank you ShaunaI enjoy listening to your reading of the books. you have a gift 💐
Oh wow what a great surprise- gridlocked on the M25 and in despair til found your content. Ty for rescuing me 👍👍👍
Any time!
🥰💜🌈☀️. So excited for a new book! I just love your content so much. All of it! ‘Sip!’ ☕️
Once again I really enjoyed this book.
It’s lovely to hear that the Queen had such a close friendship with her first cousin.
I too wished that you could narrate books on Audible-perhaps you could make some enquiries.
Thank you Shauna.
I feel I am going to enjoy this series. I’m always looking for good reads🥰❤️
Thanks Shauna, for the break from those other ones😳
Love this, Shauna and you’re so great at it!
We used to play “Kick the Can” when I was a child. I can’t remember how it went though. It was easy to find a tin can in those a days.
Great choice of book, Shauna! I remember it coming out, but I never read it. There are some interesting snippets that we haven't heard before.
This vlog concept promises to be still more fun, Shauna. This particular book may be a good one to do in greater depth. Always enjoy your presentations so thanks again. Cheers and sip from Canada 🇨🇦
My older sisters used to play that game with their neighborhood friends except here in Ottawa it was called Kick the Can!
We played that in Norway too.
This book sounds delightful
Thanks for sharing! Love from Florida ❤
I thoroughly enjoyed watching you as always! But you’ve made me want to get my hands on a copy now! Thank you for keeping me going…..sip!
Lovely! Thanks, Shauna.
Thank you Shauna ! I did catch an interview with Margaret’s daughter discussing this book … definitely enjoyed the snippets you shared with us❤
I’m glad to be back to your book reviewing. You have such a gift, Shauna. Thanks for sharing!
Catch in happy days sounds beautiful. Thanks Shauna.
That was a lovely appetizer! Thank you ❤
Thank you Shauna for reading Margaret Rhodes book, I have it and although I can barely read now as I have had 3 strokes in each eye due to high cholesterol at least I can listen to audiobooks and if the strokes were in my brain I would be dead!
My left eye has a tiny bit of colour and light but no definition although looking on the bright side I only have to pay for one lens in my glasses! I did enjoy The Final Curtsey, Mrs Rhodes died before our late Queen and it is a testament to how caring and loving our Royal Family is that she was included in so much of her Aunt and Cousins's lives..
Thanks for reading this, the book sounds good, I've ordered it
Thanks Shauna , l always look forward to these evenings . ❤️
Choose to believe this or not, but when William, Prince of Wales was standing at attention behind his father the King, I saw something interesting happen. A single leaf appeared and fluttered down in front of William and landed on the ground on his right side. Im a believer in our loved ones sending signs from heaven. I've experienced it many times. For no reason at all, I thought it was from Queen Elizabeth ll, letting him know how proud she was of him. Shauna, thank you so much for reading that part of the book!! In my mind, it makes sense why I thought it was from her. He surely deserves to catch happy days, in my opinion.
And one more thing: please explain your delightful artwork behind you-especially the handsome couple😊
❤That was so enjoyable thank you ❤
It brought tears to my eyes when you read the part about Prince George, the Duke of Kent being killed, even though I am well aware of the history 🙏❤
Hello Shauna I'm so excited for this new series and loved this first installment🤗 Shauna now I know why I adore your sense of humour, you're a March born like me 😘😘. Have a lovely Aussie day 😂
Hi Shauna,you know you've hit a nerve when all the nasty people start commenting,❤❤❤ your channel from Kathleen from N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
Yes I keep telling myself that! 😂💕
Hi Shauna I’ve read this book throughly enjoyed it lovely photographs a the end of the book which was such a treat
Wonderful!
This good sounds like great fun! Thanks for sharing.
So looking forward to this book.
Is it because the right people were born first or because they were born first that they were taught/shown the right ways to behave. They had more attention than the spares. Were the spares given more latitude because they were second best and the family wanted to make up for it?
Great point to debate! What you say does make sense.
Princess Anne was also a spare as was Prince Edward. Until Prince William was born. They didn’t turn out like Andrew
@ Anne was not a spare. She could never be queen.
@ Sorry this is not true. Anne was 4th in line of succession until the births of her brothers’ children pushed her down the list. If by some terrible turn of events her three brothers had died without issue (children), she would have become a rightful queen
@@SuzieQDevon you’re right. I forgot about that.
Thank you,Shauna
Thank you for sharing ❣️
Sorry Shauna by the Queen mother was the youngest daughter, Margaret Rhondes mother was an older sister of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. Elizabeth and her brother David were born in 1900 and 1902. The next youngest daughter was Rose born in 1890. Margaret's mother was Lady Mary born 1883 the second child/daughter.
I think I said the Queen Mother was the younger sister? 😂
Hi Shauna, do you keep all the books that you read/review?
I enjoy your channel and humor immensely
I have this book and it is great!
I read this book and loved it! I, too, loved the "Chasing Happy Days" game - such innocence! I don't think there are many children today that would find pleasure in it the way these girls did. ...When I finished with the book, I sat down to write a letter to Mrs. Rhodes. I felt like I knew her, and I wanted to tell her how I enjoyed the book. I was devastated when I found she had died. I hope she knows how loved she still is.
Buy a swiss roll, spread a good quality jam on it. Put tinned fruit on top. Add juice and tablespoon of Sherry if required. Add cooling custard, leave to go cold. Whip fresh cream and put on top. Thats a version of English sherry trifle.
Good morning ❤❤❤
Hi Ellen ( I thought you would like the horsey bits! ) 😊💗
You can have different relationships with different people. My mom and dad were considered fabulous by people and relations, however, we kids saw an entirely different side of them. They did uave their good points. But life was not y easy. I would assume the same can be said of everyone.
Get large mushrooms, slice stilton and put them in the oven for 10 minutes. Check if melted and browning. Delicious as a starter.
May I just add that removing the anthers from your lilies will preserve its life a bit longer. 😉
And for anyone with cats, lilies are extremely poisonous to them. Particularly the anthers.
I have this book, but haven't finished reading yet ❤
Fun fact, Canon John Ovenden, who was the Chaplain at Windsor Castle who prayed over the Queen Mum is the father of the wonderful singer Julian Ovenden. I love to YT the Proms and watch Julian perform. I am a nerd. 🤓
❤
Excellent Shauna ❤👍🙏
Thanks for listening
Shauna😂😂😂I thought the same thing about Margaret’s habit of annoying people with her singing!
I was surprised you didn't get a call to join QC for a book chat while she was in Oz.... I think she MUST have heard of you. Have you had any contact from the Palace? You'd make an excellent ambassador for Literacy in the Commonwealth. IMO,
While I think that Harold, Princess Margaret and "Randy Andy" were and are not Monarch material, King George V and King George VI were spares and were very good kings.