Queen Mother's Death, 10 Years On (PICTURES)

PICTURES: Queen Mother Remembered 10 Years On
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The royal family are marking 10 years since the death of the Queen Mother, wife to King George VI and mother to Queen Elizabeth II.

The royals, minus the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are to attend a memorial service at Windsor's St George's Chapel to remember the Queen Mother.

A fixed presence in British royal society since her marriage in 1923, the Queen Mother was known for her longevity and commitment to her family and her country, particularly during the Second World War.

Born the Honourable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, she grew up a childhood friend of the royal family, eventually marrying the future king in January 1923.

During the Second World War, the Queen Mother boldly refused to consider evacuating her family. When asked whether the family should leave, she responded: "The children won't go without me. I won't leave the King. And the King will never leave."

The family remained in Buckingham Palace throughout the blitz and although the palace was damaged, the family were unscathed.

Following the war, and her husband's death in 1952, the Queen Mother took on a more ceremonial role, as her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, took on the role of head of state, but did not shy from the public eye.

She took over 40 foreign royal visits, from Canada to Kenya.

Towards the end of her life, she was admired for her spirit despite her age. She made her last public appearance only six weeks before her death - the funeral of her daughter Princess Margaret.

The Queen Mother died aged 101, at the Royal Lodge in Windsor on 30 March, 2002.

While she will be remembered as a refined, reserved woman, a telling quotation from 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: The Official Biography', reveals more of her character than may have been publicly known:

"Wouldn't it be terrible if you'd spent all your life doing everything you were supposed to do, didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't eat things, took lots of exercise, all the things you didn't want to do, and suddenly one day you were run over by a big red bus, and as the wheels were crunching into you you'd say 'Oh my god, I could have got so drunk last night!' That's the way you should live your life, as if tomorrow you'll be run over by a big red bus."

See our slideshow below for pictures of the Queen Mother's life