Description:Many of Duchess Millicent's letters written in the early twentieth century reflect her involvement in politics. A letter from Lord Robert Cecil dated 9th July 1935 indicates that the Duchess was concerned about the suffering of refugees during this period.
Cecil replies: ‘I am afraid the sufferings of the refugees are horrible. Indeed, it does give one seriously to think to read about all this revival of torture and hardship and ill-treatment which seems to be going on in several countries in Central Europe and elsewhere’.
The letters provide an insight into the political situation during the 1930s, Cecil writing: ‘I am confident that if we can do anything for the refugees it must be through the League of Nations’, and later noting ‘I understand that the Norwegian Government is going to bring the matter before the League Assembly in September; - that is, unless the Italians have succeeded in destroying the League before then!’.
A letter to Duchess Millicent from Queen Mary dated 15th June 1941 provides a rare private insight into the Royal family’s perceptions of life during the Second World War. Queen Mary writes: ‘What a changed world it is in every way, everybody scattered, seeing few relatives or friends, the whole of…life completely changed’. The Queen adds ‘people are so brave through it all’.
Click on the link below to read a transcription of Queen Mary's letter to Duchess Millicent.