A Queen's Childhood: Lilibet and Grandpa England

Queen Elizabeth II was said to have a privileged but happy toddler days. Her family maintained their charming London home at 145 Picadilly, while weekends were spent in their country house, Royal Lodge on the Windsor Castle grounds. The young princess had also caught the affection of her grandfather, King George V.

It was on these toddler days when her childhood name got stuck to the heart of the family.The very young Elizabeth had a hard time pronouncing Elizabeth, so she settled with Lilibet, and that what the name that endeared her to her family. Even the king got used to it and she, on the other hand, would call him Grandpa England.

In November 1928, King George V caught chill while attending the Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph. He disregarded the cold but it worsened into septicaemia. Everyone feared for his condition that his children were summoned to his bedside. The annual trip to Sandringham was cancelled and for the first time, he had to spend the holidays in London. Princess Elizabeth, who stayed up late on Christmas Eve, welcomed the carol singers to the country house and as they sang “Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind,” she excitedly called out, “I know who Old Man Kind is!” she thought the carolers were singing for her grandfather.

An operation proved successful and the king was advised to convalesce at the seaside town of Bognor Regis. He and Queen Mary stayed at Craigweil House for three months. The house was given at his disposal by its owner, Sir Arthur du Cros, for as long as he wanted to stay there. He  brought Lilibet with him and his doctors believed that having her beside him would hasten his recovery. It was one of the king’s happiest days and the grandpa-granddaughter tandem would spend time building sandcastles on the shoreline. 

Queen Mary observed how delighted the King was to have their granddaughter with them. He quickly recovered and he soon appeared in public with Lilibet. The crowd in the seaside flocked and cheered them. He nodded before them and she waived brightly. 

King George V returned to London to carry on with the usual state affairs. But he maintained close contact with his granddaughter. Lilibet would always draw back the curtain of their front window hoping she would see Grandpa at Buckingham Palace, which stands opposite the park facing 145 Picadilly. The Duke of York would lift up her daughter , and the king, wearing binoculars would also look towards his son’s house to see if his granddaughter was there. 

The King brazenly spoiled Elizabeth. He would let her sweep food off her plate to feed a pet or creep beneath the sofa to look for her hairclip. At Sandringham for Christmas, George and Elizabeth would play horse and groom.  While the king was feared by his own children, he turned out to be a dotting, loving grandpa to sweet young Lilibet.