A woman who was a lady-in-waiting to and close confidant of Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth, is speaking out this week to discuss how the efforts surrounding World War II has prepared the monarch to handle the coronavirus pandemic.
Anne Glenconner, 87, was an attendant for the Queen during her coronation in 1953. She wrote about that and her decades-long friendship with Margaret, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 71, in her memoir “Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown.”
“We were brought up in the war,” Glenconner told Fox News. “This virus is very difficult. But the war helped us to be tough… This virus is very much like war except you can’t see where the enemy is. In the war, we knew it was Hitler. I think that’s what’s frightening about this enemy – you have no idea where it is.”
“But we will persevere,” she added. “We must follow the guidelines and wash our hands, stay home. I’ve also lived through the AIDS crisis. That was terrifying. My son got it in the ‘80s and in the early days, we had no idea how you contracted. We didn’t really know who got it, where it came from.”
Elizabeth was only 14 years-old when she gave her first speech publicly in 1940, when she addressed children all over the commonwealth, many of whom had been sent to live away from home during the war.
“Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers,” Elizabeth on the BBC’s “Children’s Hour.”
“My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you as we know from experience what it means to be away from those we love most of all,” she added. “To you, living in new surroundings, we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country.”
“Before I finish I can truthfully say to you all that we children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage,” Elizabeth said. “We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war. We know, every one of us, that in the end, all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.”
The Queen, 93, was part of the greatest generation, and her experience of living through World War II and it’s aftermath have undoubtedly prepared her for the months and years to come. We should all be sure to listen to the advice of the Queen and other members of her generation as we continue to go through this difficult time. If anyone has the wisdom to tell us what we should be doing right now, it’s them.
This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.
Read more at UpliftingToday.com:
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Respond After Learning U.S. Won’t Foot the Bill for Their Security
Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Issue Final Plea As They Officially Quit Royal Life Today
Dog The Bounty Hunter Announces Plans To Marry New Girlfriend Francie Frane – Says She’ll Be ‘The Last Mrs. Chapman’
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.