The Final Curtsey

This is the intimate and revealing biography of Margaret Rhodes, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and the neice of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Margaret was born into the Scottish aristocracy into a now almost vanished world of priviledge. Royalty often came to stay and her house was run in the style of Downton Abbey. In the Second World War years she 'lodged' at Buckingham Palace while she worked for MI5. In 1990 she was appointed as a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother, acting also as her companion, which she describes in touching detail. In the early months of 2002, she spent as much time as possible with her ailing aunt and was at her bedside when she died at Easter that year. The next morning she went to Queen Elizabeth's bedroom to pray, and in farewell dropped her a final curtsey. This is an entralling account of a special life and a unique insight into the intimate moments of the British Royal family full of anecdotes, fascinating characters and personal photographs.