After 66 years on the job, Queen Elizabeth is a seasoned professional as monarch and head of state—but she wasn't always so confident in her role within the royal family.
In a new documentary airing in the U.K. this evening, Lady Penn, who served Elizabeth's mother as a lady-in-waiting, shares that the Queen was a shy youngster, and reveals the advice that the Queen Mother gave the then-Princess to bolster her courage.
"The Queen Mother told the Queen when she was very young to be brave," Penn said.
"I think the Queen probably when she was young felt walking into a room full of people was rather daunting. So she said to her, 'What you want to do, when you walk into a room, is walk through the middle of the door.' And I think by that she meant, don't sort of go in apologetically. You walk through as if 'I'm in charge.' I think that was very good advice."
Elizabeth: Our Queen will air in eight parts in the U.K. starting tonight, and will include interviews with Prime Ministers, friends of the Queen's and Royal Household members. It's unclear if it will be available to watch at some point in the United States.
Today marks the 66th anniversary of the Queen's ascension to the throne, a somber milestone given that it is also signifies the 66th anniversary of her father's death. The Queen will spend the day quietly in Sandringham before returning to London later this week.
As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects
