A Look Back at Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Ahead of King Charles III’s Royal Ceremony: Photos
usmagazine.comA day that defined history. The late Queen Elizabeth II’s royal coronation marked the beginning of her journey to become the longest-reigning British monarch.Following the death of her father, King George VI, in February 1952, a 25-year-old Elizabeth took over the throne, becoming the first female monarch since her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, who died at the age of 81 in 1901.
However, Elizabeth was never supposed to become queen — the royal lineage changed in 1936 when her uncle King Edward VIII abdicated the throne and passed the title on to his brother, putting Elizabeth next in line.Already married to her husband, Prince Philip, and mother to King Charles III and Princess Anne, Elizabeth was crowned on June 2, 1952, at Westminster Abbey in London, the same place she and Phillip — who passed away at the age of 99 in April 2021 — tied the knot in November 1947. (She and the late Duke of Edinburgh also shared sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.)Her ceremony marked the first televised coronation in history and was watched by millions of viewers around the world.
Among the over 8,000 guests in attendance were Elizabeth’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, her sister, Princess Margaret, and then-British prime minister, Winston Churchill.The monarch wore the State Diadem tiara on her way to the coronation, at which she was crowned with the St Edwards Crown.
Departing the ceremony, she donned the Imperial State Crown, which features gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls.
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