The Lost Visit - Queen Elizabeth's Parents in Berlin

Very few of the official histories mention the visit by Queen Elizabeth II's parents - George VI and the Queen Mother to Berlin. I came across a passage in Harold Nicolson's Diaries in 1936 when meeting the Queen Mother (still Duchess of York at that time) she remembered to him their last meeting in Berlin. I was very surprised by this, as I never came across a mention in the official histories of this visit by Royalty to pre-war Germany. Finally I found the earlier entry in Nicolson's diary to their visit, where he lunches with them in Berlin and his favourable impression of the Duchess.


This visit which took place in March 1929, was the first Royal visit to Germany since World War One and took in the palaces of the deposed Kaiser in Potsdam. There were 2 visits as the Yorks on route to a Royal Wedding in Norway took the train and stayed in Berlin on the 2 legs of the journey.

There is nearly no mention in the British Press at the time of this visit and very little since. They took the opportunity to present the Royal calling card with President Hindenburg's office. Since one of the Duke's many dubious aquaintance's included notorius honours trafficker Maundy Gregory who had linked to the Herrenclub, there may have been more to this visit and the York's interest in Right Wing German monarchist circles.