28 APRIL 1926 ‘THE NEW ROYAL BABY’ The Nursery World magazine was in its own infancy when Elizabeth was born.
In its first few decades especially, high society and the Royal family often featured in the weekly magazine’s pages, which at that time was widely read by nannies and their wealthy, upper-class families.
Writing to welcome the news of ‘The New Royal Baby’ in the issue of Wednesday, 28 April 1926, the ‘Editress’ said, ‘For a good many weeks now, wherever two or three women have gathered for tea or gossip, the health of H.R.H. the Duchess
of York – to whom most people refer as “The Little Duchess” – has been discussed. And now
the firstborn has arrived the prospects of the baby and the daily progress of the happy young mother are the subjects of good wishes on every side.’
The page features a prominent portrait of the Duchess of York – the future Queen Mother – said to be one of the last photographs taken ‘before the happy birth of her little daughter’.
The article’s closing sentence would turn out to be rather prescient – for at that time, the Duke of York, the Queen’s father who would become King George VI, was not first in line to the throne. (He became King when his older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson.)
The Editress writes, ‘Some day the Duchess of York may be Queen of England – the Prince of Wales always calls her “Queen Elizabeth” – but at no time will she be more in the thoughts of the British people than she is just now!’
‘CHRISTMAS AT SANDRINGHAM’
(4 DECEMBER 1935)
A double-page spread recounted in vivid detail how the young princesses spent Christmas at Sandringham with the King and Queen, George V and Queen Mary, the then-Princess Elizabeth’s grandparents.
‘The Duke and Duchess of York always join the Sandringham party, however, taking nine-year-old Princess Elizabeth and five-year-old Princess Margaret with them.’
It continues, ‘Now that Princess Elizabeth is growing up, she is expected to take part in the seasonable charity activities too... Her contribution to this year’s collection of hand-made garments for Christmas distribution among the poor is a grey ribbed scarf, beautifully knitted and finished for a child of her age.’
As for Christmas presents, ‘the proportion of toys is kept very small. The Duchess of York prefers her daughters to have things which are entertaining and educational rather than an amusement for the moment. Books and gramophone records of suitable musical and dramatic items are frequently chosen by members of the Royal Family. Both the princesses are now studying music, and there is a little white gramophone in the Royal nursery as well as a radio set.’
17 APRIL 1947 – CELEBRATING PRINCESS ELIZABETH’S
21st BIRTHDAY
The Nursery World marked the occasion with a photograph of the future Queen Elizabeth II riding a horse in the grounds of Royal Lodge, Windsor with her mother, the then Duchess of York, taken the previous summer.
‘Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth will be celebrating her twenty-first birthday on April 21 and readers will join us in wishing her Many Happy Returns of the Day.’
Elizabeth was on a tour of South Africa at the time, with her birthday ‘observed as a public holiday’, and was due to ‘review and take the salute of troops, ex-Service men and women and cadets’ in Capetown and attend a rally of youth organisations.
‘She will also be present at the ball for young people which is to be held at Government House.’
14 FEBRUARY 1952 – REPORTING THE DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI
Following the announcement of the death of Elizabeth’s father, George VI, on 6 February, The Nursery World highlighted the impact made by the King on the national psyche, despite his few years as monarch, in an issue published the day before the state funeral.
‘The passing of the King’s death last week brought a sense of grief and personal loss to millions of people in a way that can never have occurred before, even at the passing of the famous monarchs who have impressed their character upon a much larger period than his short but eventful reign of fifteen years.’
It was ‘nowadays...possible to travel all over the country and to all parts of the world in a comparatively short time’, which meant that ‘he had actually met and talked to many of his subjects, while others felt they knew him well from photographs, films and television, or from listening to his voice on the radio.’
The magazine featured a page with two photographs, one of the then Duke and Duchess of York with Princess Elizabeth as a toddler, and another with the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at the time of the King and Queen’s silver wedding anniversary in 1948 (below).
It quotes the King’s last Christmas message, ‘the last time that we heard the King’s voice in our own homes’. ‘“We are living in an age that is often hard and cruel,” he said, “and if there is anything that we can offer to the world today perhaps
it is the example of tolerance and understanding that runs like a golden thread through the great and diverse family of the British Commonwealth of Nations.” That was an example that he set before us and that we can expect to be followed by our new Queen, who in so many ways typifies the young people of today, combining the duties of parents with a readiness for social work and public activities and of everything of interest which the modern world has to offer.’
28 MAY 1953 – QUEEN ELIZABETH II’s CORONATION
This issue dedicated several pages to the forthcoming coronation, including a two-page feature by Sir Gerald W. Wollaston, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, ‘which was specially written to help us in telling children about this great event’.
The article gives an incredibly detailed account of how the ceremony would unfold, including the processions that take place as the Queen ‘passes up the Abbey’, and the words that would be spoken during it.
‘Many think of the Coronation merely as a pageant, the most magnificent of those State ceremonies which we in this country stage with, perhaps, unrivalled dignity. But it is not in essence a pageant, it is a religious ceremony in which the Queen is dedicated to the service of God and to the people.’
It ends, ‘In her broadcast on Christmas Day Her Majesty asked for the prayers of all her subjects on this great and solemn occasion. It is indeed a fitting request, and all those who are present in the Abbey or are able to follow the ceremony in their homes will surely comply with it. Those who will witness the Royal drive through many miles of London streets will acclaim the Queen and her husband with that enthusiasm which will assure them that the Sovereign is, indeed, firmly in the hearts and affections of all her subjects.’
PRINCE CHARLES AND PRINCESS ANNE
The same issue gave a glimpse into the lives of ‘The Royal Children’, whose nursery was in the ‘pleasant second-floor rooms at Buckingham Palace’. Prince Charles and Princess Anne are ‘being brought up on modern lines without any undue fuss
or formality’.
The article features photographs taken in the grounds of Balmoral, with Prince Charles, then four, in his car and three-year-old Princess Anne ‘giving her doll an outing’ in a very traditional-looking pram. ‘The Queen likes the children to be out-of-doors as much as possible, and they spend many happily-engrossed hours in the wooded gardens of the palace, with the miniature lake and the waterfowl that Prince Charles loves to feed with stale bread.’ They have ‘a white rabbit called Harvey’ and a ‘Corgi terrier, Sugar’.
‘Prince Charles delights in riding his tricycle along the garden paths, while Princess Anne industriously wheels out her dolls in the battered little dolls’ pram that once afforded the Queen and Princess Margaret equal pleasure.’
Charles is described as ‘a sturdy, active boy with an extremely inquiring mind and marked intelligence...He loves to “play a tune” on his trumpet or thump his drum energetically’. The Queen has taught him ‘the three Rs and he can spell out many of the words in his favourite books, which include Peter Rabbit and Babar the Elephant’.
While Anne and Charles are ‘too young’ to take part in the Coronation ceremonies in Westminster Abbey, they will ‘enjoy watching the processions and the pageantry’. Prince Charles will be present at part of the Coronation service in the Abbey and both he and Princess Anne were expected to join the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the evening of Coronation Day.
How Nursery World covered the Queen’s Jubilees
Nursery World’s Silver Jubilee cover stars (2 June 1977)
2002
Golden Jubilee (12 June 2002): Flag-flying children at Shotley Bridge Nursery School, near Consett, Durham, got into the spirit of the Queen’sGolden Jubilee when they held their own garden party.
2012
Diamond Jubilee (11 June 2012): Children from Hatton Hill Day Nursery in Windlesham, Surrey marked the Queen’s 60-year reign.
2022
Platinum Jubilee (1 June 2022): Children at Gateways School performed a concert for parents as part of their Platinum Jubilee celebrations, with songs The Wheels on the Carriage go Round and Round, How Much is that Corgi in the Window and Crowns, Shoulders, Knees and Robes.
