 Prince Albert , Duke of York – " Bertie " to the family – was the second son of King George V. He initially proposed to Elizabeth in 1921 , but she turned him down , being " afraid never , never again to be free to think , speak and act as I feel I really ought to " . When he declared he would marry no other , his mother , Queen Mary , visited Glamis to see for herself the girl who had stolen her son 's heart . She became convinced that Elizabeth was " the one girl who could make Bertie happy " , but nevertheless refused to interfere . At the same time , Elizabeth was courted by James Stuart , Albert 's equerry , until he left the Prince 's service for a better @-@ paid job in the American oil business . 
