Television personality Lizzie Cundy has shared a heartfelt tribute to her mother, Gloria Miller, as the formidable matriarch celebrated her 91st birthday this week. The former WAG, known for her appearances on shows like Jeremy Vine, posted a photo of her remarkably youthful-looking mother, highlighting a life that contrasts sharply with Lizzie's own showbiz world.
A Life of Fashion and Royal Connections
Gloria Miller, a former senior manager for the iconic fashion house Jaeger and a one-time model, resides in the prestigious Norfolk enclave of Sandringham. Her social circle is notably elevated, counting Queen Camilla among her friends. According to her daughter, Gloria maintains a busy social diary and, in a trait she shares with Lizzie, enjoys a daily tipple, proving she's still a 'chip off the old block'.
Even at 91, Gloria remains active on the dating scene following the passing of her husband, Derek Miller, who was an art director at the famed Saatchi advertising agency. Lizzie's childhood home was a hub for creative luminaries, with visitors like photographer David Bailey, and she once enjoyed a shopping trip with her idol, actress Sharon Stone.
A Strict Catholic Upbringing and Secret Boyfriends
Despite the glamorous connections, Lizzie's upbringing was firmly rooted in discipline. Raised in a strict Catholic household by nuns, her father Derek was a 'real disciplinarian' who disapproved of her having boyfriends. This led the young Lizzie to resort to deception.
In past interviews, she recalled hilarious yet tense moments, such as hiding one boyfriend in an airing cupboard and another having to escape through a bathroom window when her father returned home unexpectedly. 'I remember growing up as a teenager having to be very, very sneaky. Having to lie all the time,' Lizzie confessed.
The Dramatic Wedding Day Intervention
The most striking tale of parental concern unfolded on Lizzie's wedding day in 1994, when she was set to marry Chelsea footballer Jason Cundy. Her mother, Gloria, who had hoped for a doctor or lawyer son-in-law, was so worried about the instability of a footballer's life that she staged a dramatic intervention.
As Lizzie's father drove her to the ceremony, Gloria phoned and insisted they pull over. The bride, in full ivory gown, veil, and tiara, traipsed into a Wimbledon pub with her father for a heart-to-heart. Over a gin and tonic, her father told her, 'Lizzie you don't have to do this, you really don't.'
Reflecting on the moment, Lizzie holds no resentment. 'My mum was a force to be reckoned with, and still is... they were just concerned and I just thought they really loved me.' Gloria's fears were rooted in tabloid tales of footballers' lives, citing the 'heartache and pain' from the George Best era.
Lizzie went ahead with the marriage, which lasted until 2012, and has no regrets, stating it gave her 'two beautiful sons'. The story of Gloria Miller is one of enduring style, strong opinions, and a mother's protective love that even a wedding dress couldn't overshadow.
