Royal who was in the trenches with everyone else when Britain was the front line QM SUPP Edition

• Published in: Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland : Daily)
• Main Author: Colin, Beatrice
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Edinburgh (UK) Scotsman Publications 01.04.2002
• Subjects: Hartnell, Norman; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 0307-5850

Without losing sight of her role, she combined practical necessities with a touch of Royal glamour, carrying her mandatory gas mask in a purple velveteen case which had been made to match her outfit as she went walkabout round Britain's bombed cities. To show further solidarity with the people, she persuaded [Norman Hartnell] to design a range of clothes for ordinary people. The Utility range, as it was known, was designed for every woman in Britain with the minimum of fabric by a master of style. The Queen's fashion sense made a huge impression and millions followed her example and began to use their gas mask cases as handbags, covering them in scraps of fabric to match their outfits. As the war growled on and everything from food to fabric was rationed, the Royal Family granted themselves few luxuries. Although victory seemed in sight, the war was not over and it was clear that even greater sacrifices and more hard work were necessary. Queen [Elizabeth] once again appealed to Britain's female population: "Today the place of countrywoman is more important than it has ever been before," she told a national conference of the Women's Institute at the Royal Albert Hall. "It is she who must care for the workers who are growing our food, use her skill to make the most of the food, bring up her children to love and defend those values for which we are fighting and guide them to love and cherish the beautiful country of which we are so proud."