Queen’s nanny who lost her role and respect in America after spilling secrets

• Marion Crawford was a Scottish educator and governess to the Royal Family.
• Served as their governess from the time they were infants until her retirement in 1948.
• Was also close to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and helped them raise their son Prince George VI.

The Royal Family isn’t as mysterious as it once was, thanks to a flood of accounts from former royal staff about what goes on behind palace walls.

While many accounts of what the royals enjoy doing in their spare time or what they like to eat are not shocking in 2023, the first private revelations from a former nanny published in a US publication were met with a massive backlash from the palace.

A number of former members of royal staff have caused controversy over the years, whether through interviews or the publication of books, but Marion Crawford is the person who started the trend.

For many years, the Scottish educator and governess worked for the Royal Family, but she had previously worked for Lord Elgin before joining the household of The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Marion, nicknamed ‘Crawfie’ at work, was extremely close to Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, serving as their governess from the time they were infants until her retirement in 1948.

When she left her position, she was allowed to live at Nottingham Cottage, a grace and favour home in Kensington Palace’s grounds. Queen Mary even decorated it with antique furniture and flower prints to express her gratitude.

In the same year, American publishers approached the Palace and the Government, requesting stories about Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s wedding that could be written about in the United States.

While the Palace initially declined, the Government was enthusiastic about the idea and suggested Marion, who had recently retired, as a source.

Queen Elizabeth (later The Queen Mother) heard of this and wrote to Marion. She said: “I do feel, most definitely, that you should not write and sign articles about the children, as people in positions of confidence with us must be utterly oyster. “If you, the moment you finished teaching Margaret, started writing about her and Lilibet, well, we should never feel confidence in anyone again.”

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