THE TELEGRAPH: As a former aide reveals the extent of the Queen Mother's frugality, Jessica Fellowes wonders whether she was splendidly parsimonious or just plain mean.
A former aide of the Queen Mother’s has revealed that for her Scottish summer holidays at the Castle of Mey, she rented an "antiquated" television and video recorder (“a poisoned chalice”, he said, when they were given the royal command to record the races, as it didn’t always work).
The furnishings, too, were apparently cream-crackered (to use the Cockney parlance we all like to believe the Queen Mum favoured). “I remember saying on one occasion, ‘Ma’am, the curtains in one of the upstairs bedrooms are rather falling to bits.’ She looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and said: ‘I think they will last a few more years’.”
Ashe Windam, a former equerry at the castle, says he has revealed this now in order to scupper the popular view that she was a spendthrift. After her death at the age of 101 in 2002, it was discovered that she had a £4 million overdraft with Coutts, despite receiving £643,000 a year on the civil list and having her income supplemented by her daughter the Queen and her adored grandson, Prince Charles. In an age where, despite the recession, we are still enamoured of whizzy new gadgets and bling-tastic accessories … >>> Jessica Fellowes | Monday, May 17, 2010
