Margaret Rhodes (1925–2016)
Author of The Final Curtsey
Works by Margaret Rhodes
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Elphinstone, Margaret
- Birthdate
- 1925-06-09
- Date of death
- 2016-11-25
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Relationships
- Queen Elizabeth II (cousin)
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom (employer) - Awards and honors
- Royal Victorian Order (Lieutenant)
- Short biography
- Margaret Rhodes, née Elphinstone, is the daughter of Sidney, 16th Lord Elphinstone, and his wife Lady Mary Bowes-Lyon, a sister of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In childhood, she was a frequent playmate of her first cousin, the present Queen Elizabeth II, and was a bridesmaid at her wedding. As an adult, she held several offical positions at court. In 1950, she married Denys Rhodes, a writer, and had four children. She published her autobiography, The Final Curtsey, in 2011.
Members
Reviews
Rhodes is the niece of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. and therefore first cousin to the Queen. In this memoir, which reads like a history of the 20th century, told with a back-room viewpoint so to speak. Her book is a quick light read, written in a captivating conversational style, and all the while portraying the Royal family from a personal perspective.
Among serious topics, she recounts some funny anecdotes such as when she was registering the Queen Mother's death, the registrar was filling in the form: ”At a certain point, she fixed me with a beady eye and asked, 'Right, what was the husband's occupation?' It seemed a superfluous question; however, after a second's hesitation, I answered, 'King'." … (more)
Among serious topics, she recounts some funny anecdotes such as when she was registering the Queen Mother's death, the registrar was filling in the form: ”At a certain point, she fixed me with a beady eye and asked, 'Right, what was the husband's occupation?' It seemed a superfluous question; however, after a second's hesitation, I answered, 'King'." … (more)
1 
VivienneR | 2 other reviews | Oct 17, 2017 |
VivienneR | 2 other reviews | Oct 17, 2017 | This is a fascinating "behind the scenes" account from someone close to the royal family. Without giving too much of the mystique away, Margaret Rhodes has managed to pen an intriguing and witty book, which ends with the reader begging for more. My only complaint about this book is that it is much too short.
This is a must read for anyone interested in the British Royal Family.
This is a must read for anyone interested in the British Royal Family.
Statistics
- Works
- 1
- Members
- 106
- Popularity
- #181,887
- Rating
- 3.4
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 5
I will only say that it does indeed read (as the author says in the Foreword) 'like a string of amusing anecdotes'. That does of course presume that you share the author's sense of humour. She is very much of her age and class.