The author traces the Queen Mother's formative years, her family life in the palace environment, her growing adoration and ascension to the British throne, how she arranged aid to Stalingrad and was ultimately named an honorary citizen of that city, and other little-known details from the life of the Queen and her circle.


With a foreword by Yuri Fokin, Russia's ambassador to the UK in the period 1997-2000, who was personally acquainted with the Queen Mother, the book will undoubtedly appeal to the British public and to anyone interested in Russian-British relations and the two countries' World War II history. Illustrated with photographs from private collections and from the Battle of Stalingrad Museum, some of which readers will see for the first time.


Published with the support of the Institute for Literary Translation, Russia.


Translated from the Russian by Christopher Culver.


Proofreading by Emma Lockley.