In 1952 Queen Elizabeth moved out of Buckingham Palace to Clarence House in St James's. In 1953 she bought the Castle of Mey, in the extreme north-east of Scotland, and spent time there each year in August and October.

The Queen Mother also always found time to pursue her love of the countryside and sport; she was a keen and expert fisherwoman and enjoyed horse racing, being a leading owner of steeplechasers.