"Because the world has changed. And the babies eyes are golden. And you’re gonna leave her with Aunt Polly everyday to look after. Aunt Polly, who insisted you called her Elizabeth."
Polly Gray to Ada Thorne about Elizabeth
Elizabeth Younger (also Thorne) is the daughter of Ben Younger and Ada Thorne, as well as being the half-sister of Karl Thorne. She was named after her maternal great aunt, Polly Gray.
History[]
Series 5 • 1929[]
At the beginning of series 5, Ada Thorne discovered she was pregnant with Ben Younger’s child. As they were only friends, Ada believed that he wouldn’t want the child and was reluctant to tell him about her pregnancy. While discussing it with her aunt, Polly Gray, she uses her ‘second sight’ and reveals to Ada that she’s expecting a daughter. Both overjoyed by the revelation, Polly insists that she gives the child her name, Elizabeth.
In The Shock, Ben dies in a car explosion, before Ada was able to tell him about their daughter.
1930[]
Sometime during 1930, Ada gave birth to their daughter and named her Elizabeth. She raises Elizabeth alongside her son, Karl Thorne, although there’s an evident strain in their relationship, as Karl dislikes Elizabeth due to her race.
Series 6 • 1933[]
In Black Day, a three-year-old Elizabeth attends a Christmas party at Arrow House, with her half-brother and cousins, Charles and Ruby Shelby. Her uncle, Arthur Shelby, was intended to be dressed as Father Christmas, but becomes too intoxicated and falls asleep. As a last resort, a butler hands out gifts to the children instead.
In Sapphire, Ada plays with Elizabeth in her bedroom, at their house in London. However, a group of racist men throw a brick through her window, with the words written ‘no blacks for neighbours get out whore’. Karl then enters the room and refers to Elizabeth as “that thing.” He claims that he has no friends at school, due to Elizabeth’s race and that if the Fascist Party come into power, they’ll take her away from Ada.