Queen Elizabeth’s Cousin ‘Not Terribly’ Excited About William And Kate’s Baby

While the world anticipates the birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby, their great aunt isn’t “terribly excited” about the newest addition to the family. Margaret Rhodes, Queen Elizabeth’s first cousin and her confidant, frankly admitted how she really feels about waiting for the heir or heiress to the throne.

She was speaking to CNN’s Christine Amanpour in a rare interview when she was asked if she was as excited as everybody else at the arrival of William and Kate’s first child.

“Not terribly,” the 88-year-old Mrs Rhodes laughed, seemingly taken aback by her honest answer.

“Everybody has babies and it’s lovely. But I don’t get wildly excited about it.”

But Ms Amanpour wasn’t satisfied with her answer, pointing out that the baby would one day be the king or the queen.

“Yes, all right,” Mrs Rhodes conceded. “I’m prepared to be excited.”

Mrs Rhodes is the youngest child of the 16th Lord Elphinstone and Mary Elphinstone, the sister of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, making her the first cousin to the present Queen Elizabeth. Just a few months older than the Queen, Mrs Rhodes became her playmate and lifelong friend, often meeting the UK ruler for tea in her home.

When asked about what she thinks of Kate, she had kind words for the 31-year-old Duchess of Cambridge, but she also, perhaps inadvertently, took a jab at the late Princess Diana.

“What I have seen I think that she’s doing really very well. I think she’s done the job that she has been given to do, and beautifully. I think she’s got a way with her that’s going to be very appealing. And I think she won’t sort of vie for coverage, which perhaps Diana did a little bit.”

Ms Amanpour also asked Mrs Rhodes about the 2010 Academy Award-winning historical film “The King’s Speech,” which was about King George VI (played by Colin Firth) and how he coped with his stammer.

“I cried in the family. It was so well done. I think it did show the difficulties he surmounted,” she said, though she raised a point in the accuracy of the film.

“There was a moment where [Lionel Logue, the king’s speech therapist played by Geoffrey Rush] was making the king say a whole lot of frightfully rude words... And I did say something to the Queen about that. She said she had never heard her father use bad language at all. So whether that was true or not, I don’t know.”

Queen Elizabeth is more enthusiastic about the birth of her great-grandchild, though.

She was visiting with her people in Lake Windermere in Cumbria on Wednesday when a young girl asked her what gender does she prefer for Will and Kate’s baby.

“I don’t think I mind. I would very much like it to arrive. I’m going on holiday.”