On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned as monarch of the United Kingdom in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The coronation was attended by more than 1,000 guests, dignitaries, and royals, with hundreds of millions of people tuning in on live television for the first time. Following the ceremony, the queen and her husband, Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, embarked on a five-mile procession route in a horse-drawn carriage, where they were cheered by thousands of onlookers.
Born in 1926, Queen Elizabeth II was the firstborn daughter of Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George, the second son of King George V. Her father became King George VI after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following her father’s death. She made a radio broadcast pledging her devotion to the people of the Commonwealth on the eve of her coronation, vowing to always strive to be worthy of their trust.
Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip in 1947, and together they had four children. During her reign, she participated in around 300 public events each year, holding weekly meetings with prime ministers and carrying out her royal duties with dedication. In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning British monarch in history. Her husband, Prince Philip, passed away in April 2021, and Queen Elizabeth II herself passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history at the time of her death.
In her 73-year-long marriage to Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated dedication and commitment to her royal duties. Her passing marked the end of an era, as her eldest son, Charles, ascended to the throne as King Charles III. His coronation took place on May 6, 2023, following in his mother’s footsteps as the monarch of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic fashion choices and involvement in public events endeared her to the people of the Commonwealth, and her legacy continues to be celebrated and remembered.
