The Queen is marking the anniversary of the start of her reign. It is now sixty nine years since she took the throne.
Elizabeth II became Monarch sometime in the early hours of February 6th 1952 when her father, King George VI, died in his sleep. She was in Kenya at the time as she and the Duke of Edinburgh prepared for a royal tour. Prince Philip broke the news of her father’s death to her and she returned to London, as Queen, on February 7th 1952.
Elizabeth II, who was 26 at the time of her accession, was crowned on June 2nd 1953 at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen will spend the anniversary privately, as she always does, as for her it is a time to mark the loss of her father, rather than commemorate the beginning of her own reign. She is currently staying at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh.
The rule that began 69 years ago has gone on to be a record breaker. On September 9th 2015, the Queen became the longest ruling Monarch in British history, overtaking her great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria.
In 2022, Elizabeth II will become the first British Sovereign to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. The UK government has already announced plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s reign with four days of events planned for June next year.
