Queen Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom on this day in 1953. Like all British monarchs, Elizabeth became queen the instant her father, King George VI, died in February 1952; at the time, she was traveling through Kenya. A thousand guests from across the globe were in attendance at the 27-year-old's coronation over a year later, while hundreds of millions listened on the radio and watched on television.
Troops from the nations comprising the British Commonwealth were in attendance, including Britain, the Solomon Islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. In a procession following the ceremony, Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were joined by representatives of more than 40 Commonwealth member states.
Elizabeth remained popular throughout her reign and oversaw the steady disintegration of the British Empire. She died in 2022 at 96 years old, having served longer than any other British monarch. She was succeeded by her son, Charles III.
You can learn more about Queen Elizabeth II on the website of the Royal Family.
