The marriage between George VI and the Queen Mother was one of the most loving and supportive in recent royal history, but when the couple was first acquainted, the then-Prince Albert proposed three times before the object of his affections said yes.
He proposed for the first time to Elizabeth in 1921, but fearing the restrictions of marrying into the royal family, she turned him down, saying afterward she was ". . . afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak, and act as I feel I really ought to." The future king proposed again in 1922 and she turned him down for a second time before accepting his third proposal in January 1923 as they took a walk near her home in Hertforshire.
It has been reported that she later said, "I felt it my duty to marry Bertie, and fell in love with him afterwards."
