The
Queen Mother's Century
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The
Queen Mother's Century
|
|
The 20th century has seen some of the human race's greatest achievements and greatest tragedies and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has seen all of them happen.
When she was born in London on 4 August 1900, mankind was still trying to master flight, and boats and trains were the fastest ways of seeing the world. Yet in the last 99 years Her Majesty has witnessed two World Wars, seen undreamed advances in technology, medicine and science and watched man walk on the moon. This has been a century of possibly the greatest changes we as a world have ever experienced.
Born Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon to parents Lord and Lady Strathmore, Her Majesty spent much of her childhood at the family home of St Paul's Walden-Bury The First World War broke out on her birthday and the horrors of this conflict directly affected her family Her elder brother Fergus was killed and brother David was wounded. She had known her future husband Prince Albert (later to become king George VI) since childhood, but it was not until January 1923 that they decided to marry and Westminster Abbey was the venue for this royal wedding. The couple had two daughters, Princess Elizabeth born in 1926 and Princess Margaret in 1930.
The abdication crisis of 1936 thrust Prince Albert into the role of sovereign and his wife became Queen Consort. The coronation took place on 12 May 1937.
During the Second World War. The King and Queen refused to leave London and their home Buckingham Palace was hit nine times during airraids.
The King's ill-health finally caused his death in 1952 and his daughter Princess Elizabeth became Queen. After a period of mourning and sorrow, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother continued her life of public duty which she still fuldfils to this day. Her Majesty enjoys relaxing with her family at Balmoral and has always enjoyed horse racing and fishing.
Despite a hip replacement operation, Her Majesty continues to fulfil her public engagements and has won the affection
and admiration of people across the world with her outstanding warmth, charm and spontaneous smile. Entering her 1 00th year, Her Majesty's world-wide popularity remains undiminished and we wish her well for the future.
Post Fiji, along with 9 other countries, will release this omnibus issue on 18 August 1999 to commemorate The Queen Mother's Century. The issue, which includes a set of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet depict the following:
HM The Queen Mother, Colonel-in-Chief The Light Infantry.
HM The Queen Mother and Prince Charles at Clearance House on her 86th Birthday.
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon 1923. End of World War 1 - Armistice Day
| Title | The Queen Mother's Century |
| Values | 13¢, 63¢, 81¢, $3.00, Souvenir Sheet - $2.00 |
| Designer | Derek Miller |
| Printer | Cartor Security Printing Ltd |
| Process | Lithography |
| Stamp Size | 30 x 48 mm |
| S/S Size | 145 x 70mm |
| Stamp Format | Landscape |
| Perforation Gauge | 13 per 2cm |
| Paper | CA Watermarked |
Period of
sale - Unless stock is exhausted earlier, the stamps will remain on sale
at
the Post Office and Philatelic Bureau until 17th August, 2000.
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