Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

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Amidst the glut of royal biographies recently released or republished, “Do Let’s Have Another Drink: The Singular Wit and Double Measures of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother” by Gareth Russell has managed to create a book that could spawn a thousand copycats about other famous characters. You don’t need to be a royalist or a monarchist to enjoy this book, it is the perfect story for anyone interested in the history, culture, and traditions of the House of Windsor. I found it to be incredibly insightful, with relevant information on all that has happened within the family throughout The Queen Mother’s life. Anyone who reads it will not only feel like they know her better but will also have a renewed interest in this iconic family. Bertie, later George VI, would need her strength and support. She helped him find a way to conquer his stammer. She stood steadfastly by him through his early days as King and throughout WWII. She became the well loved face with which people could connect. And she was there when her daughter became Elizabeth II. She could be feisty and demanding. She could hold a grudge with the best cat, as both The Duke and Duchess of Windsor would learn. She was also sensitive to her own shortcomings but she never let it stand in her way. Her loyalty was unassailable. For fans of The Crown and featuring new revelations, never before published, and colourful anecdotes about the woman the high society photographer Cecil Beaton once described as 'a marshmallow made on a welding machine', Do Let's Have Another Drink is a delightful celebration of one of the most consistently popular members of the Royal Family. For fans of The Crown and Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret, a deliciously entertaining collection of 101 fascinating and funny anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother—one for each year of her life. The book’s title – Do Let’s Have Another Drink– comes, of course, from the Queen Mother’s legendary drinking habits. Russell recounts a boozy lunch she shared with Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster – and, according to the Queen Mother, a very good pianist. When her equerry came to retrieve her late in the afternoon, he found the worse-for-wear pair belting out a rendition of Lonnie Donegan’s My Old Man’s a Dustman. “I think my drink was spiked,” she later claimed.

My Thoughts: I found this book very enjoyable and different from any other biography I have read. It was written in such a unique way that I found myself saying just one more section, one more section… The Queen Mother was keen on a sing-song. Noël Coward was an occasional weekend guest at Sandringham, and the two of them duetted to Coward’s greatest hits. “I do love her,” he confided to his diary, after she agreed to come to lunch at Firefly, his Jamaican villa. She liked gay men around her – Cecil Beaton was another friend, although he fell from favour after the publication of his diaries revealed snide remarks about her weight – and she was known for having a preponderance of homosexuals on her household staff. During the debates over decriminalising homosexuality in the 1960s, one crusader asked her to send a moral message to the nation by firing her gay servants. She replied that if she did that, she would end up having to go self-service.This book give a flavour of one of the last Edwardians, who lived a life of service. She & her husband brought up Elizabeth II, who also turned out to be an extraordinary monarch exemplifying life long service. We’re two old dears, really, aren’t we, William? But we have had some fun’, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1900-2002) in conversation with her long-serving footman Billy Tallon. I've got many uncomfortable feelings about the monarchy but, I heard Gareth Russell on the Savage Lovecast and was fascinated by the history he shared and requested this ARC. It was certainly an interesting read. With 101 anecdotes that span the 101 years of the Queen Mother's life, it was like walking through history through the narrow (euro-centric, aristocratic) window of one person's life. It was also like reading a lot of gossip about a lot of people I had never heard of (and a few I had). A warm, funny, and above all, sympathetic picture of a remarkable woman… Russell’s ‘skimming-stone’ biography has managed to capture both the laughter and the wisdom – I raise a glass to him’ Daily Telegraph, Four star review

Bertie had to propose three times before she accepted. Unlike Princess Diana she knew what she was getting into marrying into the royal family even though at that time Bertie was the second son and not in line for the throne. There are a few typos in this book, including this quote by Churchill: “ Battle of Britain during the worst days of the Blitz, when the RAF’s victory prompted Churchill’s famous remark, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed to so many by so few.” There are plenty of funny stories about encounters with the Queen mum, most revolving around her love of a "little drinky-poo" (or twelve) before, during, and after lunch. Many people who had meetings with the Queen mum missed later appointments as she convinced them, quite cheerfully, to just have one more. Her kindness to servants who were employed long after they ceased to be able to perform their duties was also mentioned, as was her willingness to take the blame when things went wrong (so people wouldn't lose their jobs). The criticism of her weight gain was mentioned all throughout the book, but it never seemed to dampen her love of good food and drink, nor dim her cheerful good humor. The book is a fascinating look at the entire twentieth century and events that Elizabeth witnessed first-hand. A particularly poignant scene describes how she was interviewed by a historian about her recollections of Tsar Nicholas II's mother Marie, since Elizabeth was "the only person left alive who remembered her." All in all, a very entertaining book about a formidable woman.For fans of The Crown and featuring new revelations, never before published, and colourful anecdotes about the woman the high society photographer Cecil Beaton once described as ‘a marshmallow made on a welding machine’, Do Let’s Have Another Drink is a delightful celebration of one of the most consistently popular members of the Royal Family. Elizabeth supported her husband through his stammer that made it difficult for him to give public speeches. His ill health also made it necessary for her to be close by his side. She was unfailing during World War I refusing to leave London to be safe in the countryside. She and their children stayed put to brave the war just as the other people of England did. She believed in solidarity with the people. A biography written in a new format which makes it interesting and chatty, sees the lady from a more human and emotional view. I really enjoyed this book. It’s one for skipping through, enjoying the snippets of gossip, the little bits of delicious old feuds and long forgotten times. Like all large families, Royals too have family problems and complications. It appears she attempted to be the peacemaker for her grands. Reference is made to her habit of drinking a little too frequently and loving to shop. It doesn’t sound like an enjoyable life to me, but Elizabeth the Queen Mother appeared to have a grand life.

I thought from the somewhat comical cover, that the book might be less substantial and focus more on the quips and (perhaps) public gaffs that the Queen Mother was known for. Instead, the book was a very in-depth look at the life of the woman who was born while Queen Victoria was still on the throne and died a century later. Not only are well-known sources quoted, but also people who knew or met the Queen Mother and also private letters and diaries were consulted to form a more rounded picture of the QEII's mum -- warts and all. As Queen of England and later the Queen Mother, we see her tenacity and humorous side emerge as Elizabeth could be herself. She was a lover of life, and even though she had feuds with members of her family, such as Wallis Simpson and Princess Diana, she truly loved and fought for her family until the very end of her long life. With the new season of The Crown out today (hello, season 5), there is no better time to chat about this book. The Queen Mother does not play a prominent role in the series, but she certainly was an anchor of the British Royal Family for more than half a century. Gareth Russell is a talented historian, and this is not his first royal biography. ( Young and Damned and Fair, covering Catherine Howard’s life, is one of the best bios I’ve read.) If you are at all interested in the modern British Royal Family or The Crown, Do Let’s Have Another Drink by Gareth Russell is a must-read! 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. Featuring new revelations and colorful anecdotes about the woman Cecil Beaton, the high society photographer, once summarized as “a marshmallow made on a welding machine,” Do Let’s Have Another Drink is a delightful celebration of one of the most consistently popular members of the royal family. Do Let’s Have Another Drink!: The Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Gareth RussellOverall, the book was well written and entertaining. I learned some new things and still remain skeptical of all things monarchical. The King, George V, disliked Ann Margaret for her second daughter's name and suggested that Margaret Rose was more in keeping with Scottish princesses. However Queen Elizabeth was able to use the name when her daughter was born. I think if you knew who and when the author was talking about you would be fine, for example the Abdication Crisis, Princess Margaret’s affair with Group Captain Townsend, her husbands early death, if you didn’t, then you would be floundering a bit. With the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II, the royal family has been in the news once again. While fascination with the royal family rarely wanes, the younger generations tend to grab all the headlines. The Queen Mother, who died in 2002 at the age of 101, led a fascinating life where she encountered many of the well-known people of the day. She, like her daughter, had a great belief in "doing one's duty" and continued to participate in royal duties until just a few months before her death. This book takes a look at her life, decade by decade, to show the woman who tried (not always successfully) to avoid publicity.

Russell’s “skimming-stone biography” has managed to capture both – the laughter and the wisdom. I raise a glass to him. Gareth Russell’s survey avoids both of these traps. Described by the author as “a skimming-stone biography,” it tells its story in 10 chapters, one for each decade of the Queen Mother’s life, and 101 gossipy anecdotes. By the end, as the last pieces in the jigsaw fall into place, we have a warm, funny, and above all sympathetic picture of a remarkable woman, one who throughout her long life managed to combine self-indulgence with a powerful sense of duty – both traits which are out of fashion today. Wonderful prose, telling stories that are hilarious and moving by turns. Immensely enjoyable’ Suzannah Lipscomb Aside from the funny incidents referred to later in the book, the overall biography was top notch and I learned new kernels of information. For instance, in 1966 she had cancer resulting in a temporary colostomy. I never heard this anywhere before! So, the cover of this book is somewhat misleading because this is actually a quality biography with fresh, interesting and yes- often comical anecdotes. So if you're thinking this is some quirky take on The Queen Mother, know that you're in for an exceptionally good biography of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

First line: When Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born in the summer of 1900, Queen Victoria was the British monarch. I have long admired this wonderful woman and wish I could have met her before she passed away. Along with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, the world has lost two beautiful icons. May God rest their souls. As one might expect from the book’s title, alcohol figures prominently, recalling one equerry’s description of the Queen Mother as not an alcoholic, exactly, but “a devoted drinker’. Once, at a dinner in Hillsborough Castle, she responded to the loyal toast by inviting everyone to raise their glasses not only to “the people of Northern Ireland”, but to each of the six counties – one after another. By the end, says Russell, guests were swaying on their feet, while one old general staggered off to throw up in the Entrance Hall’s umbrella stand. The Queen Mother remained clear-headed throughout. 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 member of the Royal Family. She was also famed for her fondness for 'drinky-poos' - usually a gin and Dubonnet or three. Now, Do Let's Have Another Drink recounts 101 biographical vignettes - one for each year of her long, remarkable life, including her coming-of-age during World War I, the abdication of her brother-in-law, the truth about her tragic nieces and her relationship with her two daughters over half a century of widowhood. The Queen Mother was 101 when she died, having been born in 1900. She grew up in Glamis Castle, Scotland, and married Prince Albert (Bertie), in 1923. Following the Abdication crisis of 1936, Prince Albert was crowned King George VI, and Elizabeth was crowned as Queen Consort. King George VI died fifteen years later, at which point his daughter Elizabeth, became Queen Elizabeth II, and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon became known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.