Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Malta, 1947
(Picture: Getty Images)Elizabeth Windsor was born at 2:40am on 21st April 1926 in Bruton Street, to the Duke and Duchess of York. With the morning papers already having gone to print, the Standard got the scoop. Our Londoner’s Diary has been writing about her ever since. At the time, there was no indication the new born would become Queen. Her father, Bertie, was only second in line to the throne. Nevertheless, there was excited speculation about the baby’s name. Victoria and Mary were common suggestions. But the Londoner had another idea. “If the new arrival is given her mother’s name of Elizabeth there would, I think, be general approval, however illustrious her ultimate position” the column suggested. A few weeks later, one of our diarists attended a high society celebration of the birth. “I wonder if this is the first time that lady has been publicly toasted?” they wrote.
