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Don't forget us

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Don't forget us

A loving letter to Princess Elizabeth from her father, King George VI

Shaun Usher
Apr 9, 2021
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Don't forget us

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20th November 1947: Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, walks up the aisle of Westminster Abbey, London, with her father King George VI, to marry the Duke of Edinburgh, styled Prince Philip in 1957. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

On the morning of 20th November 1947, at London’s Westminster Abbey, the 21-year-old future Queen of the United Kingdom, Princess Elizabeth, married Philip Mountbatten. They remained married until Philip’s death almost 74 years later, and had four children together. On the evening of their wedding, Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, wrote her a letter. She opened it on their honeymoon.


I was so proud of you and thrilled at having you so close to me on our long walk in Westminster Abbey, but when I handed your hand to the Archbishop I felt that I had lost something very precious. You were very calm and composed during the Service and said your words with such conviction that I knew everything was all right.

I am so glad you wrote and told Mummy that you think the long wait before your engagement and the long time before the wedding was for the best. I was rather afraid that you had thought I was being rather hard-hearted about it. I was so anxious for you to come to South Africa, as you knew. Our family, us four, the Royal Family must remain together, with additions of course at suitable moments!

I have watched you grow up all these years, with pride under the skilful direction of Mummy, who as you know is the most marvellous person in the world in my eyes, and I can, I know, always count on you, and now Philip, to help in our work.

You leaving us has left a great blank in our lives, but do remember that your old home is still yours and do come back to it as much and as often as possible. I can see that you are sublimely happy with Philip which is right, but don’t forget us is the wish of

Your ever loving and devoted,

Papa

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2 Comments
David Francisco
Sep 28, 2022

I find your books a pleasure to read!

David

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Claudia Mendoza
Apr 17, 2021

Thank you. Your mails have been bonds with the world, with my friends, with my family, with History and 'inévitablement' with my childhood and young years. I have offered one of your books to my daughter, who is far away from me as I am from my own mother, linked by feelings and words. Your choise this 9th of april has touched my heart, for I miss my father and know that King George's phrases could have been his, or any other father. But I am specially sensible to the closing circle of solitude that your choise makes evident, as Queen Elizabeth is now really alone.

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