Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II had four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
As the world mourns the passing of the Queen who died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8 at the age of 96, we remember her moving messages about motherhood. Queen Elizabeth was a mother to four children and she also had eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The late monarch clearly knew a thing or two about raising a (big) family. Her Majesty gave birth to her eldest child, 73-year-old King Charles III, when she was 22 years old. Later, she and her husband Prince Philip welcomed their only daughter, Princess Anne (Princess Royal) in 1950. Then came Prince Andrew (Duke of York) in 1960 and Prince Edward (Earl of Wessex) in 1964, reports Elle UK. During her historic 70-year reign, she mentioned many wonderful pearls of wisdom when it came to being a mother.
When New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met the queen in 2018, while she was pregnant, she gave her a great piece of advice. "One of the things on my mind, alongside being a new prime minister, was being a prime minister and a mom, and when you think about leaders who have been in that position, there was Benazir Bhutto. There was myself. Before that, there was the queen. There were so few to look to," Ardern told CBS News partner network, BBC News. "So I said to [Queen Elizabeth II], 'How did you manage?' And I remember she just said, 'Well, you just get on with it.' And that was actually probably the best and most factual advice I could have," Ardern said.
Here are some others:
1. Wedding anniversary speech in November 1972
"If I am asked what I think about family life after 25 years of marriage, I can answer with equal simplicity and conviction, I am for it."
2. The night before the Queen Mother's funeral, April 2002
"At the ceremony tomorrow I hope that sadness will blend with a wider sense of thanksgiving, not just for her life but for the times in which she lived—a century for this country and the Commonwealth not without its trials and sorrows, but also one of extraordinary progress, full of examples of courage and service as well as fun and laughter. This is what my mother would have understood, because it was the warmth and affection of people everywhere which inspired her resolve, dedication, and enthusiasm for life."
3. Coronation Day, June 1953
"Although my experience is so short and my task so new, I have in my parents and grandparents an example which I can follow with certainty and with confidence. As this day draws to its close, I know that my abiding memory of it will be, not only the solemnity and beauty of the ceremony, but the inspiration of your loyalty and affection. I thank you all from a full heart."
4. Princess Diana tribute, September 1997
"In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys."
5. Golden Jubilee, June 2002
"Our children, and all my family, have given me such love and unstinting help over the years, and especially in recent months."
References:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/queen-elizabeth-ii-advice-to-new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern/
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/g41289156/queen-motherhood-quotes/
Getty Images | Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive
