
George VI and Elizabeth
The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy
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Narrated by:
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Rosalyn Landor
About this listen
A revelatory account of how the loving marriage of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth saved the monarchy during World War II, and how they raised their daughter to become Queen Elizabeth II, based on exclusive access to the Royal Archives—from the bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen and Prince Charles
“An intimate and gripping portrait of a royal marriage that survived betrayal, tragedy, and war.”—Amanda Foreman, bestselling author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire
Granted special access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents’ letters and diaries and to the papers of their close friends and family, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to vibrant life. This deeply researched and revealing book shows how a loving and devoted marriage helped the King and Queen meet the challenges of World War II, lead a nation, solidify the public’s faith in the monarchy, and raise their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
When King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936, shattering the Crown’s reputation, his younger brother, known as Bertie, assumed his father’s name and became King George VI. Shy, sensitive, and afflicted with a stutter, George VI had never imagined that he would become King. His wife, Elizabeth, a pretty, confident, and outgoing woman who became known later in life as “the Queen Mum,” strengthened and advised her husband. With his wife’s support, guidance, and love, George VI was able to overcome his insecurities and become an exceptional leader, navigating the country through World War II, establishing a relationship with Winston Churchill, visiting Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington and in Hyde Park, and inspiring the British people with his courage and compassion during the Blitz. Simultaneously, George VI and Elizabeth trained their daughter Princess Elizabeth from an early age to be a highly successful monarch, and she would reign for an unprecedented seventy years.
Sally Bedell Smith gives us an inside view of the lives, struggles, hopes, and triumphs of King George VI and Elizabeth during a pivotal time in history.
©2023 Sally Bedell Smith (P)2023 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“Smith’s lively account reminds readers that at its finest hour—whatever the historic sins or abiding iniquities of the British Empire itself—the crown managed to stand for selfless leadership, resilience and compassion for its people.” —The New York Times
“George VI and Elizabeth is a vivid history that captures the courage of a couple whose actions saved a monarchy. It is also a largely unknown love story. Sally Bedell Smith’s reputation rests on her commitment to scholarship and access to previously undiscovered information. But it’s not enough to find it—you have to bring wisdom to it. This book is a deeply moving marvel.” —Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal
“Sally Bedell Smith takes us into the inner sanctum of the Windsors, giving us an intimate and gripping portrait of a royal marriage that survived betrayal, tragedy, and war. The product of meticulous research, George VI and Elizabeth is an unputdownable book.” —Amanda Foreman, bestselling author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire
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Story
The intimate story of a unique marriage spanning the heights of British glamour and power that descends into infidelity, manipulation, and disaster through the heart of the 20th century.
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He oughta be ashamed!
- By Just Penelope on 04-17-22
By: Andrew Lownie
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Princess Mary
- The First Modern Princess
- By: Elisabeth Basford, Hugo Vickers - foreword
- Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Princess Diana is seen as the first member of the British royal family to tear up the rulebook, and the duchess of Cambridge is modernizing the monarchy in strides. But before them was another who paved the way: Princess Mary.
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So many things I didn't know
- By Etoile NEOhio on 01-28-22
By: Elisabeth Basford, and others
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The Windsors at War
- The King, His Brother, and a Family Divided
- By: Alexander Larman
- Narrated by: Sophie Roberts
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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At the beginning of 1937, the British monarchy was in a state of turmoil. The previous king, Edward VIII, had abdicated the throne, leaving his unprepared and terrified brother Bertie to become George VI, surrounded by a gaggle of courtiers and politicians who barely thought him up to the job. Meanwhile, as the now-Duke of Windsor awaited the decree that would allow him to marry his mistress Wallis Simpson, he took an increased interest in the expansionist plans of Adolf Hitler. He may even have gone so far as to betray his country in the process.
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Well-written and very good narration!
- By Nancy on 08-15-24
By: Alexander Larman
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Do Let's Have Another Drink!
- The Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
- By: Mr. Gareth Russell
- Narrated by: Fiona Hampton
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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During her lifetime, the Queen Mother was as famous for her clever quips, pointed observations, and dry-as-a-martini delivery style as she was for being a beloved royal. Now, Do Let’s Have Another Drink recounts 101 (one for each year of her remarkable life) amusing and astonishing vignettes from across her long life, including her coming of age during World War I, the abdication of her brother-in-law and her unexpected ascendance to the throne, and her half century of widowhood as her daughter reigned over the United Kingdom.
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The Grandest of Grand Dames
- By clare grossman on 11-16-22
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Bertie: A Life of Edward VII
- By: Jane Ridley
- Narrated by: Carole Boyd
- Length: 22 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Entertaining and different, this is an enjoyable study of a flawed yet characterful Prince of Wales seen through the eyes of the women in his life. Edward Vll, who gave his name to the Edwardian Age and died in 1911, was King of England for the final 10 years of his life. He was 59 when at last he came to the throne. Known as Bertie, the eldest son of Victoria and Albert, he was bullied by both his parents.
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I cried when I finished
- By Silverthorne on 04-22-14
By: Jane Ridley
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Philip
- The Final Portrait
- By: Gyles Brandreth
- Narrated by: Gyles Brandreth
- Length: 17 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Philip—elusive, complex, controversial, challenging, often humorous, sometimes irascible—is the man Elizabeth II once described as her 'constant strength and guide.' Who was he? What was he really like? What is the truth about those 'gaffes' and the rumors of affairs? This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often much-misunderstood figure. It is also the portrait of a remarkable marriage that endured for more than seventy years.
By: Gyles Brandreth
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Fortune's Children
- The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt
- By: Arthur T. Vanderbilt II
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Written by descendant Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, Fortune's Children traces the dramatic and amazingly colorful history of this great American family, from the rise of industrialist and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt to the fall of his progeny - wild spendthrifts whose profligacy bankrupted a vast inheritance.
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The Rise and Fall of the Gilded Age
- By Hilary on 10-22-14
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Jennie
- The Life of the American Beauty Who Became the Toast—and Scandal—of Two Continents, Ruled an Age and Raised a Son—Winston Churchill—Who Shaped History
- By: Ralph G. Martin
- Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt
- Length: 26 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Sourcebooks is bringing the internationally acclaimed New York Times bestseller back for a new generation of listeners. Jennie Churchill was not merely Winston’s mother. She was the most captivating and desired woman of her age. Originally from Brooklyn, Jennie became the reigning queen of British society. Beautiful and defiant, she lived with an honesty that made her the talk of two continents.
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Excellent
- By appreciative reader on 02-13-23
By: Ralph G. Martin
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The Queen
- Her Life
- By: Andrew Morton
- Narrated by: Andrew Morton, Judy Bennett
- Length: 14 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth has had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth has been a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain.
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Loved it! I love anything about the Queen and this fulfilled all I was hoping Fot
- By Margaret I. on 04-10-23
By: Andrew Morton
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The Sphinx
- The Life of Gladys Deacon - Duchess of Marlborough
- By: Hugo Vickers
- Narrated by: Hugo Vickers
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the most beautiful and brilliant women of her time, Gladys Deacon dazzled as much as she puzzled the glittering social circles in which she moved. Born in Paris to American parents in 1881, she suffered a traumatic childhood after her father shot her mother's lover dead. Educated in America, she returned to Europe, where she captivated and inspired some of the greatest literary and artistic names of the Belle Époque.
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Lovely and compelling.
- By Gudrun D Whitehead on 03-25-20
By: Hugo Vickers
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Grandmama of Europe
- The Crowned Descendants of Queen Victoria
- By: Theo Aronson
- Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt
- Length: 16 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Although rarely documented as the warmest of monarchs and often criticized for her surly attitude to motherhood, Queen Victoria did successfully heir nine children. By the late 19th century, she had over 30 surviving grandchildren. In this comprehensive delve into Victoria's offspring, Theo Aronson describes the intersection of cultures as princesses with British upbringings experienced the courts of Spain, Romania, Greece, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
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Informative History
- By Joie Bostwick on 01-25-25
By: Theo Aronson
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Victoria: The Queen
- An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire
- By: Julia Baird
- Narrated by: Lucy Rayner
- Length: 21 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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When Victoria was born, in 1819, the world was a very different place. Revolution would threaten many of Europe’s monarchies in the coming decades. In Britain, a generation of royals had indulged their whims at the public’s expense, and republican sentiment was growing. The Industrial Revolution was transforming the landscape, and the British Empire was commanding ever larger tracts of the globe. In a world where women were often powerless, during a century roiling with change, Victoria went on to rule the most powerful country on earth with a decisive hand.
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Masterpiece!!
- By DKSTRYKER on 01-07-24
By: Julia Baird
What listeners say about George VI and Elizabeth
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- Barbara
- 11-11-23
Wonderful
This book is well written and the descriptions of the characters are well done. The beginning was a bit tedious when telling about the Queen Mother’s upbringing but suppose that was how life was. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy history.
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- dkryan
- 05-12-23
Wonderful biography!
Relates all the fascinating events surrounding George VI and Elizabeth, from their courtship, to the abdication, to the war years. Very enjoyable book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 05-27-23
Excellent
Really enjoyed this book - factual, excellent writing and audio. One of Thebes I have read about members of the Royal Family.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Nancy
- 04-15-23
Great telling of their lives
Really a very good book! I've read a good amount about the Windsor royal family and this book gives a summary of their legacy to their nation and to the world, especially their stand against their WW2 foes!
Well written, excellent narration, highly recommended!
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7 people found this helpful
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- BookFan
- 01-12-24
Covered the relationship from the start to the king’s death
The author’s descriptions paint vivid pictures so that it’s possible to imagine you can almost see the scene. Nevertheless, the details sometimes were too much to hold my attention. Overall, I enjoyed the book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- brian
- 05-03-23
Have been fascinated by the Royal family.
American, but, very interested in the British Royal Family, and with George Vi's grandson becoming the UK's next king Saturday, figured I'd start learning more about him and his wife, and others. Both author and narrator are a team I'm familiar with, and both are once again in fine form here. A must-have for history geeks, or fans of the UK's current royal family.
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- jcbird
- 05-22-24
Very good book
This book did a great job explaining the lives of King George VI and his wife. I very much enjoyed the detail. I would highly recommend.
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- Mary Anne Lowry
- 04-16-23
Enjoyed very much
I enjoyed listening to this book. It was beautifully written and recorded. I loved learning about how they began their relationship and seeing their love for one another got them through tests and trials plus a war. Their love is what fairy tales are made from.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Sadie's Mom
- 04-05-24
The reality and humanity of the telling of this life story was brought out in a very pleasant and entertaining manner.
I enjoyed the way their story was told. Not sad, or boring, as many biographies are. I felt part of the story; a witness to history.
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- Mark Haynie
- 10-03-24
love this book!!!!
Just what I wanted. Narrator was delightful.
A great couple biography about a great couple during abdication, WWII and rebuilding,
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