Queen Elizabeth's Rare Childhood Tantrum is Truly Epic
Every once in a while, Elizabeth let loose.
Queen Elizabeth II was known for being unflappable in her demeanor, and even as a child she was described as unusually mature for her age. But it turns out even queens have their bad days, as one hilarious and "violent" story about her childhood shows.
The tale—which was initially shared in royal nanny Marion Crawford's book The Little Princesses—has resurfaced in Craig Brown's new book, Q: A Voyage Around The Queen. In a chapter recalling stories from Queen Elizabeth's childhood, Brown writes how the young Princess Elizabeth, as she was then known, rarely misbehaved as compared to her rather spirited little sister, Princess Margaret.
However, there was one time when Elizabeth completely lost it.
In Q, Brown describes Margaret and Elizabeth's relationship with their governess, Crawford, whom they referred to as "Crawfie," writing that there was "one single act of disobedience" from Princess Elizabeth during her childhood days.
Decades before books like Prince Harry's memoir, Spare, hit the shelves, Crawfie penned a then-controversial memoir of her time working with the young princesses. So controversial, in fact, that she was shunned by the Royal Family forever. Among the shocking revelations? That Princess Elizabeth once dumped ink over her French teacher's head.
It's hard to imagine the late Queen doing anything of the sort, and Brown writes that the event was "peculiarly startling." As the story goes, Princess Elizabeth was taking French lessons with her teacher "Mademoiselle" when Crawfie heard "curious sounds" coming from the other room.
"I found poor Mademoiselle shattered and transfixed with horror," Crawford wrote, adding that "Lilibet, rebelling all of a sudden, and goaded by boredom to violent measures" had dumped a "big ornamental silver inkpot" over the teacher's head. Quelle horreur indeed.
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
Apparently, the nanny had walked in to find Mademoiselle sitting "with ink trickling down her face and slowly dyeing her golden curls blue." Crawford admitted that she "never really got to the bottom of what had happened" as the French teacher "was past explaining" and was so overwhelmed she "had to retire and drink water."
Brown continued that "the rest of [Elizabeth's] life was measured and obedient and considerate," making the inkwell incident stand out even more. But ironically, ink would come back to play a part in another tantrum after Queen Elizabeth died.
As Brown added in a footnote, King Charles famously threw a fit over a leaking pen five days after his mother passed away in September 2022. While signing a visitor's book at Hillsborough Castle, the new King exclaimed, "Can't bear this bloody thing! It's what they do every stinking time!" as Queen Camilla went on to "calmly" sign her name.
Perhaps he was channeling his mom's French lesson energy.
Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.”
-
Princess Diana's Nieces Match in Icy Blue Gowns
The Spencer trio has never looked better.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Zendaya Flexes Another Rare Vintage Find
The 'Challengers' star doesn't need a red carpet to show off her fashion expertise.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
The Coolest, Behind-the-Scenes Movie Photos
Including from some of the best films ever made.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
'The Great British Bake Off' Star Prue Leith Once Messed Up Queen Elizabeth's Tea Order
"You'd think it was a state secret!"
By Kristin Contino Published
-
The Sentimental Item from Prince Philip That Queen Elizabeth Kept in Her Handbag
It's royally romantic.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Queen Elizabeth Said She Hated One Thing About Meeting "Tourists"
The late monarch expressed a desire to go back to the good old days of royal visits.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Queen Elizabeth Was Left "Sitting in the Dark" After a Staff Member's Blunder
Former royal footman Steven Kaye shared a hilarious palace "accident."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles and Melania Trump Are Pen Pals, Apparently
The unlikely friendship first began in 2005, according to Melania's new memoir.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Elizabeth "Felt Sorry" for Marilyn Monroe During 1956 Meeting Because the Star Was So "Nervous"
The Queen noticed an interesting detail about the movie star's appearance when they met.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Anne Reassured Queen Elizabeth Over Her Fears of Dying in Scotland
"Just do what you want to do."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
King Charles’s Goddaughter, India Hicks, Says Her Mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, “Absolutely Believes in the Thinning Down of the Royal Family”
The designer and author sat down with Marie Claire to discuss her new book, 'Lady Pamela.'
By Kristin Contino Published