It’s been 71 years sinceQueen Elizabeth IItook the throne and started her historic reign — and now, her family is marking the first anniversary of her accession since her death in September.
On Feb. 6, 1952, King George VI was found dead in his bed at Sandringham House in Norfolk, making his eldest daughter, the 25-year-old then-Princess Elizabeth, Great Britain’s new monarch. It would take hours for the new sovereign to know about her father’s death, as shewas in Kenyaon a wildlife-watching stop during a royal tour with her husband,Prince Philip.
King Charles III,Queen Camillaand the rest of the royal family will spend the day privately, as there are no scheduled engagements.
During her life,Queen Elizabethwould traditionally spend her Accession Day privately at Sandringham, where King George died and where the royal familygathers each year for Christmas. It was not only the anniversary of her beloved father’s death but also the day her life changed forever. But there were also celebratory elements to the anniversary. The bells would ring at Westminster Abbey, where her coronation was held in 1953, and a 21-gun salute would take place to mark the occasion.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone
On Monday, anew coronation websitewas launched, giving information about King Charles and Queen Camilla’scoronationon May 6 and surrounding events.
“The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” Buckingham Palace said.
The following day, the Coronation Concert, featuring “global music icons and contemporary stars,” will be broadcast live from Windsor Castle. Synchronized with the concert, “Lighting up the Nation” will see iconic locations across the U.K. illuminated with projections, lasers and drone displays.
King Charles and Queen Camilla.Andrew Milligan - Pool/Getty
What would beQueen Elizabeth’sfinal Accession Dayduring her life in 2022 was especially significant, as it marked 70 years on the throne. She became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch some years earlier when she surpassed Queen Victoria’s 63 year-reign, and she was also the first U.K. sovereign to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. The Platinum Jubilee was celebrated throughout 2022, including a long weekend of events in June includingTrooping the Colourand thePlatinum Party at the Palace.
Queen Elizabethalso used her 70th Accession Day to make a major announcement: that she wanted Camilla to be known as Queen Consort when Charles took the throne. In a message,Queen Elizabethwrote, “When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
“Queen Consort” is the traditional title for the wife of a reigning monarch.
“They couldn’t wait until Charles was actually King — it had to come from the Queen herself,” a royal insidersaid at the time. “Now was a good time because of the Jubilee — it was almost tailor-made for this timing.”
Prince Charles, Camilla and Queen Elizabeth.Chris Jackson/Getty
The day afterQueen Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 8 at age 96, King Charlesofficially named Camilla as Queen Consortin his first speech as monarch.
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“I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public servicesince our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort,” said the King during his speech, which was recorded in the Blue Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace. “I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.”
source: people.com
