Biographer discusses British royal family, its marriages, female leadership at event

Emily McCauley, Spectrum Editor

Sally Bedell Smith, biographer for the British royal family, shared her extensive knowledge at Agecroft Hall & Gardens on Thursday, March 7. People gathered in the Williams Room, attending Bedell Smith’s discussion and conversing about her latest biography, “George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy.”

“The perspective that I bring on my writing as a biographer is digging deep, being fair, judiciously making assessments of people,” Bedell Smith said. “Finding new perspectives, new angles and deepening people’s understanding through that.”

The event was hosted by the Richmond Branch of the English-Speaking Union and Bedell Smith spoke about her unique experience studying the British royal family and shared stories and facts from her eighth biography.

“This book shines a light on what is less well known,” Bedell Smith said.

Bedell Smith dove into the history of the marriage and lives of George VI, also known as Bertie, and Elizabeth, also known as The Queen Mother, as they raised their daughters and ran the United Kingdom, she said.

George VI’s stutter began when he was about 7-years-old and the impediment caused him to be treated differently by his parents and nannies, according to Bedell Smith. As Bertie grew up to be the King, Queen Elizabeth was a strong woman to have leading by his side and their influence trained Queen Elizabeth II well.

When her father died, Queen Elizabeth II began her reign with strength immediately and became the longest reigning female monarch, according to Bedell Smith. This was a reflection of how her parents prepared her and the examples they set during their reign.

Bedell Smith noted Queen Elizabeth II once said, “My whole life, whether long or short, will be devoted to your service.” 

To write her book, Bedell Smith spent three months studying in the British royal archives at Windsor Castle with unrestricted access to documents, she said.

“There is nothing like the royal archives; it has a sort of magic when you go up this steep medieval staircase,” Bedell Smith said.

Queen Elizabeth II was protective of how her parents, George VI and Elizabeth, were portrayed, so she felt it was a real vote of confidence that she was given the permissions and opportunity to read through the royal archives and write these biographies about them, Bedell Smith said.

She wrote Queen Elizabeth II a thank-you letter about how helpful everybody in the royal archives were and how appreciative and privileged she felt, Bedell Smith said. 

Bedell Smith received a letter back from the Queen’s private deputy secretary stating, “We have laid your letter before the Queen and she was gratified and she sends you her very best wishes.”

Bedell Smith also received letters expressing thanks from the King, the Queen, Princess Anne and Prince William.

Bedell Smith was glad to know the King and Queen had her book in hand and inspected it, she said.

The ESU was founded in the U.S. in 1920 and is about making connections and friendships, according to Ellen LeCompte, president of the Richmond branch of the ESU and a friend of Bedell Smith. 

LeCompte admires how Bedell Smith has made her way in a man’s-world, she said.

“The palace checked her out and they saw the quality of her research and the fairness of her presentations and so they were comfortable,” LeCompte said.

LeCompte and Bedell Smith have been involved in some of the same circles of people; many related to the royal family and many related to the ESU, LeCompte said. 

“The ESU is very plugged into those circles,” LeCompte said.  

LeCompte expressed how English is the working language of the world and how the ESU’s goal is to encourage global understanding through the use of the English language, she said. 

Agecroft Hall & Gardens was thrilled to partner with the ESU to host Bedell Smith and her book talk, according to Anne Kenny-Urban, the executive director at Agecroft Hall & Gardens. 

“We were so excited because it’s a perfect combination,” Kenny-Urban said. “I think there is a great love for the Queen Mother so people are particularly excited — people love a king but they knew Queen Elizabeth for many more decades.”

It’s incredible that Bedell Smith had access to the royal archives that many people have not had the privilege of, so attendees are getting an inside first-look at information, Kenny-Urban said. 

Kenny-Urban wanted attendees to learn something but also to have fun and enjoy listening to Bedell Smith’s stories, she said. 

“Female voices have not had equal air time as male voices over time, and we need the voices of both genders in history to understand it,” Kenny-Urban said. “There will be very important male biographers, and it’s wonderful to have very important female biographers and see where they converge and see where they differ and look at all those different perspectives.”

Kenny-Urban is excited to do more with the ESU, she said.

Attendee and Richmond local Carrie Rhodes said it felt like she was meeting a celebrity when meeting Bedell Smith and attending her talk.

Rhodes and her mother enjoyed the conversation, refreshments and purchased books autographed by Bedell Smith. 

Rhodes has been following the royal family since she was a little girl and feels a love for them had been instilled by her British grandmother, she said.

She enjoyed learning more about the Queen Mother and George VI and their relationship, Rhodes said. 

“You always hear about the king and what they do, but then you don’t hear about the support that the king had, so it’s just turning the tables of what she did for him and the support she was for him as his wife and partner throughout that,” Rhodes said.