Alathea's parents were estranged and her mother had a limited role in her life, and this often discussed by Alathea in her diaries as she sought (and found) emotional comfort from others.
Although life at Cumberland Lodge could be staid and dreary -- the rosary was said every night -- as Alathea lived with her elderly grandfather and his spinster sister, but as she was two and a half years older than Princess Elizabeth, she was often invited to Windsor Castle where Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret lived for the duration of the war.
It was at Cumberland Lodge when Alathea began to confide her thoughts in a diary. She continued that tradition until 2001. The diaries for 1940-1945 were published by Hodder & Stoughton with the title The Windsor Diaries. Atria will publish a U.S. edition in May 2021. I ordered the UK paperback edition from Amazon.
She married the Hon. Edward Ward, younger son of the 2nd Earl of Dudley in 1953. As her marriage was childless, she left her diaries to her nephew, Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, Bt. His wife, Lady Isabella, who edited the diaries, wrote: "The diaries were Alathea's greatest friend. She confided in them completely ... a perfect confidante."
Her friendship with Queen Elizabeth II continued until she died in 2001.
Alathea's diaries offer new insight into the lives of the two princesses during the war and their relationship with their parents and their social circle. Alathea was very much a part of this circle, often spending time with the princesses at French lessons and dancing classes. There were also invitations to tea and movies at Windsor. She also joined the princesses in their Christmas pantomimes.
She was very much conscious of her social position and had often dreamed of a grand marriage. She had a distant relationship with her parents and rarely saw her younger sister, Elizabeth Anne, who was ten years her junior.
What makes The Windsor Diaries so special is Alathea's observation of the people and events around her. She relished the familial feeling that she experienced when she was with the Royal Family. She had a crush on Hugh Euston (the earl of Euston), the heir to the Duke of Fitzroy. On May 24, 1941, she wrote: "I saw my darling Hugh E. After tea, the Q, the princesses and I played racing demon in her sitting room. I'm so blissfully happy in the Court Circle and I would gladly die for that family if there were a Revolution."
Alathea's mother told her that "my royal friendship is not only utterly valueless but also a menace as it 'keeps me back.' She also told me I should give up looking for impoverished men like H."
When she reached her eighteenth birthday, Alathea began her war work with the Red Cross with other young women in her social circle. Romance and marriage were often on her mind, not just her own marriage, but that of Princess Elizabeth. January 4, 1944: "Had a letter from Mummy, who told me PE is 'keen' on David Milford Haven, who is in love with Bridget Elliot, and trying his best to escape PE, whom he thinks deadly...Personally, I doubt that PE does like David MH in that way and I certainly think Prince Philip would suit her far better."
Lady Isabella's seamless editing brings Alathea's voice and views to the fore allowing us -- the readers -- to feel that we are standing next to Alathea. We are given a front-row seat, an entry into the private lives of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and the two princesses, especially Princess Elizabeth.
She was refreshingly honest as well. On March 15, 1945, she wrote: "Biked to the Castle for drawing-- PE was wearing her ATS battle dress, which consists of trousers and I thought she looked awful and that it is shockingly bad for her to be seen about in them."
A few days before, she had tea with Crawfie, confiding to her diary: "...We had long discussions on everything and everybody. She said she regretted PE had no taste at all but she wanted them to be so perfect so she was inclined to be disappointed..."
She also observed the young princess' budding romance with Prince Philip.
"Afterwards I tidied in PE's room today and notice a large photo of Prince Philip on her mantelpiece, although it was unsigned," she wrote on July 12, 1945.
The Windsor Diaries is a book that will be appreciated by historians and biographers, seeking new perspectives into the queen's life during the war years. When Alathea wrote her diaries, she never expected that they would be published, certainly not in the 1940s, but thankfully, she provided a window, allowing us a peek into her life - and those who came into her life in the second world war, especially the future Queen Elizabeth II.
What a radiant read!
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