The Queen ascended the throne 67 years ago today. She will mark the day, which is also the anniversary of her father’s death, privately at Sandringham in Norfolk.
Elizabeth II’s reign began at some point in the early hours of February 6th 1952 when King George VI passed away in his sleep. His death was discovered that morning when his valet went to wake him. The news that she was now Monarch was broken to Elizabeth II in Kenya by her husband, Prince Philip, where the two were staying at the start of a tour of Commonwealth countries. They returned to London immediately.
The Queen chooses to pass the anniversary of her accession quietly, allowing her to remember the beloved father she lost on that day. She is expected to stay at Sandringham for a few more days before ending her Christmas break there and returning to London.
Events will take place elsewhere to mark the anniversary of her reign. There will be a 62 round gun salute at the Tower of London at 1pm while the King’s Troop RHA will fire a 41 gun salute in honour of Accession Day at Green Park at noon. A 21 gun salute will be fired at Edinburgh Castle at noon while reservists from 104 Regiment Royal Artillery will also fire at 21 gun salute at Cardiff Castle to mark the anniversary. The bells of Westminster Abbey also rang out on Accession Day.
Elizabeth II is now entering the 68th year of her reign. She became the longest ruling monarch in British history on September 9th 2015 when she overtook her great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria, and she is also the longest lived monarch as well as the only one to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee (in 2017). She and Prince Philip, the longest serving and longest lived consort in British royal history, marked their Platinum wedding anniversary in November 2017, another regal record for them.
