New Book Says Queen Mother Backed Hugh Euston in 1943 Before Elizabeth Chose Philip
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 1
New Book Says Queen Mother Backed Hugh Euston in 1943 Before Elizabeth Chose Philip
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 1
Hugo Vickers’ new biography says the Queen Mother wanted Princess Elizabeth to marry Hugh, Earl of Euston — a Grenadier Guard officer — before Elizabeth ultimately chose Prince Philip.
Vickers says the Queen Mother favored an English aristocrat and actively placed Grenadier Guards around the young princess during the war, while society diarist “Chips” Channon recorded in 1943 that Hugh was seen as destined for the throne.
The book says Hugh later fell from favor as the royal family judged him too passive, and Vickers argues Lord Mountbatten helped remove him from contention by securing him an aide-de-camp post in India.
Elizabeth, by contrast, stayed committed to Philip despite family objections to his foreign background and rougher image; their engagement was announced in July 1947 and they married on Nov. 20, 1947.
Vickers portrays that choice as decisive for the monarchy, arguing Philip’s energy and modernizing influence helped move the House of Windsor forward in ways Euston likely would not have.
Was Elizabeth's choice driven by love or a strategy to save the monarchy?
What became of the English aristocrat the Queen Mother preferred over Prince Philip?
Was Prince Philip’s modernizing vision a blessing or a curse for the Crown's survival?