![]() ![]() AP/ARCHIVO - This official photo from 10 July 1947 shows Princess Elizabeth, heir to the British throne, and her fiancé, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, in LondonĪfter her coronation, Elizabeth II became - by the Grace of God - Queen of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, its other kingdoms and territories, as well as head of the Commonwealth and defender of the (Anglican) faith. Elizabeth II represented the dawn of a new Elizabethan era. A breath of fresh air was coming to Buckingham Palace. At the age of 25, the Queen's ascension to the throne became a new lease of life for the United Kingdom. The hasty death of George VI, who died of cancer, marked the end of Elizabeth II's dream life. Those were moments they both shared, such as their newlywed trip to Malta. Philip, now Duke of Edinburgh, continued to serve as a serving naval officer. However, the Queen encountered countless obstacles to marrying him due, among other things, to his foreign ancestry and the political links that hung over his possible support for the Nazi side. Stomachs were still empty.Īt the time, Elizabeth, still living in her royal bubble, was already in love with her future husband, Prince Philip. In addition, the war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands was another burden that the people did not take well, as they were not prepared to face another conflict. George VI was a key figure for the British people during World War II, during which time the princess enlisted in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) where she served as an army mechanic and refused to leave the country.ĭuring the post-war period, food shortages were a daily occurrence and the country faced not only famine but also reconstruction. His coronation gave Elizabeth a foretaste of what lay ahead. He fell in love with an American double-divorcee, Wallis Simpson, which was considered unacceptable on political and religious grounds at the time, and led to his abdication of the throne.Įlizabeth II's father, the Duke of York, then became King George VI, known as the 'Stammering King'. Why was her reign rushed?įor one thing, the rightful successor to the throne was her uncle Edward III, David, who was to rule the country as successor to George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather. Her coronation took place in June 1953, during a day of torrential rain when nearly 3 million Britons chanted "God save the Queen" in the streets, showing their support for Her Majesty.įrom then on, the Queen bore a burden - in addition to the weight of the crown of more than 2 kilograms - that seemed remote from her childhood, as it was not her place to reign at such a precocious age. She would return to England as queen after the unexpected death of her father, George VI. ![]() The then princess would spend her last days of recreation in Nairobi, Kenya, where she was visiting in February 1952. ![]()
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