This is the intimate and revealing autobiography of Margaret Rhodes, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and the niece of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Margaret was born into the Scottish aristocracy, into a now almost vanished world of privilege. 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. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin, Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Three years later the King and Queen attended her own wedding; Princess Margaret was a bridesmaid. 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. This is a fascinating account of a special life, with the author's family relationships to nobility and royalty, her long and special marriage, her children and grandchildren and a life lived to the full.
The Final Curtsey: A Royal Memoir by the Queen's Cousin
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Margaret Rhodes, first cousin to Queen Elizabeth, was a bridesmaid at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and three years later married Denys Rhodes, a grandson of the 5th Lord Plunket. The World War II years were spent at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, where she lodged while she worked for MI6. Margaret Rhodes was lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. She now lives in the Great Park in Windsor, although still regularly visits Balmoral and Sandringham.
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47 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By Lulu
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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The most remarkable feature of Margaret Rhodes's life, as she would certainly agree, is her relationship to the Royal Family; niece to Queen Elizabeth and therefore cousin to the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, both friends from nursery days onwards. Her own life, however, which includes a wartime spell in MI6 while living as a guest at the Palace, is certainly not without considerable interest in its own right. This vivid, conversational, unselfconscious account of life within the royal circle offers no scandalous, malicious or shocking revelations, but lots of captivating detail. She describes with affection the sheltered yet curiously down-to-earth life of the Scottish aristocracy, living it seems almost entirely out of doors, heavily dependent on shooting and fishing for entertainment and pathologically averse to printed matter in any form. Her own triumphs with gun and rod are related with innocent pride, and her account of married life in post-colonial (and sometimes dangerous) Africa and slightly less dangerous Devon with frankness and warmth. In her later years, widowed and, for someone in her position, not well-off, she becomes a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother. Stories of everyday life at Clarence House will delight ardent royalists, as will the generous selection of personal and family photographs, many of which provide informal and charming portraits of the author's aunt and cousins. Now in her mid-eighties, it is no surprise to learn that Margaret Rhodes is convinced that the last great adventure is still to come; apart from the undeniable privilege into which she was born she seems to have been blessed with a brave heart and a happy disposition. My only disappointment is that the book, at 152 pages, is too short.
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Considering my usual fodder is murder mysteries and thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'd certainly admit to being a royalist, and wasn't sure whether this would be any good but it's well written, totally unpretentious and an excellent read. Not a huge tome like some of the 'Royal' books and no major revelations but very good all the same - I thought the postscript from the author mentioning how she had seen The Kings Speech film was a lovely touch too. Highly recommended.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Rebecca
Format:Hardcover
A fascinating book, but very badly let down (as noted by other reviewers) by constant typographical errors which give the book a very amateurish feel and make for a frustrating read. Umbria Press clearly didn't believe in 'The Final Curtsey', or they would certainly have taken more care with its presentation. What a shame - and a considerable disservice to Margaret Rhodes.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
On the strength of an excellent write up in The Telegraph and being a keen royalist I purchased this book. What a waste of time! It is poorly written and I found frankly rather self indulgent. Having finished shortly before this the wonderful 1000 page biography on Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, this book came in at what I had expected to be a good complement on sharing a little more about this wonderful woman. The reality couldn't have been more different.
It is written as though for children and I found nothing new within its pages. Perhaps if I wasn't well read already about the Royals I may have found it more satisfying. Firstly, I had never expected a slim volume, large print and very little content. The book can easily be read in an hour or two. I finished it feeling I had learned little apart from what appeared unfortunately as if the writer was trying to make the most of her connection with Royalty. I don' believe this was her intention but comments like 'I didn't see the need for education as I was already well read' seemed a trifle bizarre.
Ultimately it was a massive disappointment and grossly overpriced. I am not suprised in the slightest to find it has already been drastically reduced.
It is written as though for children and I found nothing new within its pages. Perhaps if I wasn't well read already about the Royals I may have found it more satisfying. Firstly, I had never expected a slim volume, large print and very little content. The book can easily be read in an hour or two. I finished it feeling I had learned little apart from what appeared unfortunately as if the writer was trying to make the most of her connection with Royalty. I don' believe this was her intention but comments like 'I didn't see the need for education as I was already well read' seemed a trifle bizarre.
Ultimately it was a massive disappointment and grossly overpriced. I am not suprised in the slightest to find it has already been drastically reduced.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I regret to say that I found this rather disappointing. The author had known the Queen Mother all of her life and I felt that there was not a great deal of information in the book. So much has been written about QEQM that I thought this would give a real insight into a very important lady; it did not. The book is rather thin and I felt it was written in a 'school-girlish' style. I am not sure it is good value for money.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Belfast Dave
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Margaret Rhodes has spent her entire life staying, playing and curtseying with and to the Royal Family, so her knowledge of their lives (public and private) is vast and intimate. She has had an independent and fruitful life outside of her Royal Family, and paints a colourful picture of both. Chronologically the book falls short and is in itself very short indeed, totalling 152 pages, but fans of the Royal Family will enjoy Margaret Rhodes' tales of a life spent upstairs and downstairs
Dont expect any shocking or intimate revelations the author is loyal to her Royal friends and family, and this is anything but a "kiss and tell all" kind of book. But it still includes a few "unknown", if not shocking, glimpses of the Royal characters' sense of humour and private personalities.
The core of the book, I believe, is the authors absolute respect and devotion to her Royal relations, a fact that has had an obvious influence over what is included in the book, and perhaps more importantly, what is not. A pleasant read, if not an intimate and revealing one.
Dont expect any shocking or intimate revelations the author is loyal to her Royal friends and family, and this is anything but a "kiss and tell all" kind of book. But it still includes a few "unknown", if not shocking, glimpses of the Royal characters' sense of humour and private personalities.
The core of the book, I believe, is the authors absolute respect and devotion to her Royal relations, a fact that has had an obvious influence over what is included in the book, and perhaps more importantly, what is not. A pleasant read, if not an intimate and revealing one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Final Curtsey
This was a charming book which shows that the Royal Family are indeed human beings. Like myself, Margaret was a traveller in her youth and she seemed unfazed by anything she had... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Frances Cameron
5.0 out of 5 stars
book
Lovely book, delightful, loving - full of pictures of the Queen as seen by her family - never seen another like it and enjoyed every minute of it - obviously a close relationship... Read more
Published 2 months ago by squirrel 59
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Wife loved it
A good honest read, kept my wife hooked and unable to put it down, I Recommend this one ,worth buying
Published 2 months ago by brian james gibb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved
A really good read. Light heated but funny. Plenty of stories and not a boring bit anywhere. easy reading but not easy to put down.
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. Ha Warmerdam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
Bought this for my mother, who loves anything royal. She has read the book, and found it very interesting, lots of facts not previously known
Published 3 months ago by Bonnie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most interesting
It gives an inside view of the Royal family, without being intrusive. I had wondered what staff the palaces had nowadays-now I have a better idea.
Published 3 months ago by Stella E. Dixon
4.0 out of 5 stars
INTERESTING
INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO LIFE ""ABOVE SATIRS"" WELL WRITTEN AND INFORMATIVE, A PEEP INTO THE PRIVILIDGED LIFE OF THE UPPER CLASESS
Published 3 months ago by 19FONTEINECOURT
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant read.
A lovely story though title could be somewhat misleading as not a great deal about the royals. A pleasant read.
Published 4 months ago by rooney
4.0 out of 5 stars
interesting insight
a look back at another world and very interesting for a mere commoner - would recommend it as an anthropological study!
Published 4 months ago by rachel legge
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought as present
No adverse comments so person must have enjoyed it Good service at a reasonable price. Will certainly use again OK
Published 5 months ago by Jmcmullan
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