Queen Elizabeth II's mother, the Queen Mother, was "very camp," a royal historian says.
@credit socialmedia
"The Queen Mother was performative and delectable," author Gareth Russell told Page Six. He said, "She loves to perform." Her life was wink-wink-nudge-nudge campy.
@credit socialmedia
The Queen Mother expired in 2002 at age 101 and was a popular queen. Her brightness and good humor attracted the public. Russell says she was a big drinker.
@credit socialmedia
He said she probably handled her drinking well. "Interestingly, there are few reports of her being unstable or slurring her words, yet others around her were devastated by attempting to keep up."
@credit socialmedia
If there were no royal appointments, a typical day included three drinks. Before lunch, throughout lunch, and during dinner.
@credit socialmedia
William Tallon, nicknamed Backstairs Billy, poured her drinks. Tallon was a royal servant from 1960 to 2002. Reginald Wilcock, a Buckingham Palace footman, was his on-and-off lover for 30 years.
@credit socialmedia
Russell tells of the Queen Mother seeing Tallon and Wilcox dispute and requesting, "Would one of you old queens offer this old queen a drink?"
@credit socialmedia
Author: "She had a wicked sense of humor." She admired Billy's campy imitation and championed gay people at the time. Russell emphasizes that homosexuality was outlawed at the time.
@credit socialmedia
The Queen Mother loved and cared for her oldest grandchild, King Charles. Russell doesn't think she would have approved of Harry and Meghan skipping royal obligations.
@credit socialmedia
Russell: "She said during Prince Harry's baptism that she hoped he and his brother would put the country first." "Generationally, she couldn't grasp it."