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Queen’s life in pictures: The Coronation

Fay Gould
1 min read·September 09, 2022 - 7:22AM
News Corp Australia Network

Queen Elizabeth II was formally crowned on June 2, 1953 in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey. She told her people the event was “not the symbol of a power and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the future”.

The Queen’s Coronation came a full 16 months after Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on the death of King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey in front of 8251 guests. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
The Queen’s Coronation came a full 16 months after Elizabeth succeeded to the throne on the death of King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey in front of 8251 guests. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
The Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach. He was in full-dress Naval uniform and she wore a satin dress by famed designer Norman Hartnell together with the George IV State Diadem, which boasts 1333 diamonds and 169 pearls.
The Queen and Prince Philip travelled to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach. He was in full-dress Naval uniform and she wore a satin dress by famed designer Norman Hartnell together with the George IV State Diadem, which boasts 1333 diamonds and 169 pearls.
Prince Charles, standing between his grandmother the Queen Mother and his aunt Princess Margaret, created history at the ceremony as the first child to witness his mother’s coronation but seemed less than impressed.
Prince Charles, standing between his grandmother the Queen Mother and his aunt Princess Margaret, created history at the ceremony as the first child to witness his mother’s coronation but seemed less than impressed.
The solid gold St Edward’s Crown, set with 444 semi-precious stones and reputed to contain gold from the crown of Edward the Confessor, was used for the Coronation. Picture: Getty
The solid gold St Edward’s Crown, set with 444 semi-precious stones and reputed to contain gold from the crown of Edward the Confessor, was used for the Coronation. Picture: Getty
The Duke of Edinburgh was the first to pay homage to his wife, the newly crowned Queen, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, who led the near three-hour ceremony. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
The Duke of Edinburgh was the first to pay homage to his wife, the newly crowned Queen, after the Archbishop of Canterbury, who led the near three-hour ceremony. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
With the Queen’s agreement it was the first Coronation ever to be televised, and an estimated 27 million people in Britain watched as she was crowned. A further 11 million listened to radio broadcasts of the historic event. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
With the Queen’s agreement it was the first Coronation ever to be televised, and an estimated 27 million people in Britain watched as she was crowned. A further 11 million listened to radio broadcasts of the historic event. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
After the ceremony, the Queen returned to Buckingham Palace along a 7.2km route designed to ensure as many people as possible could view the procession. The weather was unseasonal, but nothing would dampen the patriotic fervour on a day when it was also announced that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay had reached the summit of Mount Everest. Picture: Getty
After the ceremony, the Queen returned to Buckingham Palace along a 7.2km route designed to ensure as many people as possible could view the procession. The weather was unseasonal, but nothing would dampen the patriotic fervour on a day when it was also announced that Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay had reached the summit of Mount Everest. Picture: Getty
Some wellwishers camped for two days to secure their spot along the procession route. On the day, the crowds were joined by 2000 journalists and 500 photographers from 92 nations. Picture: Getty
Some wellwishers camped for two days to secure their spot along the procession route. On the day, the crowds were joined by 2000 journalists and 500 photographers from 92 nations. Picture: Getty
After a two-hour journey back to Buckingham Palace, the Queen greeted cheering crowds from the balcony with her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne by her side. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
After a two-hour journey back to Buckingham Palace, the Queen greeted cheering crowds from the balcony with her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne by her side. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty
As the Queen and Prince Philip acknowledged the thousands of wellwishers, one of the Queen’s maids of honour, Anne Cook, took in the scene, later describing “seeing vast crowds, you couldn’t put a pin between them, and all shouting with love and excitement and admiration”.
As the Queen and Prince Philip acknowledged the thousands of wellwishers, one of the Queen’s maids of honour, Anne Cook, took in the scene, later describing “seeing vast crowds, you couldn’t put a pin between them, and all shouting with love and excitement and admiration”.
A young Prince Charles and Princess Anne try out their royal waves. Their mother’s Coronation was also marked by an RAF flypast above The Mall, and while the focus was inevitably on events in London, street parties were held around the nation.
A young Prince Charles and Princess Anne try out their royal waves. Their mother’s Coronation was also marked by an RAF flypast above The Mall, and while the focus was inevitably on events in London, street parties were held around the nation.
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for an official portrait in Buckingham Palace after the Coronation. The Queen’s velvet robe was edged with ermine and heavily embroidered in gold – elaborate detailing that took a team of 12 seamstresses 3500 hours to complete. Picture: AFP
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for an official portrait in Buckingham Palace after the Coronation. The Queen’s velvet robe was edged with ermine and heavily embroidered in gold – elaborate detailing that took a team of 12 seamstresses 3500 hours to complete. Picture: AFP
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, their children, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret pose with other members of the Royal family to mark the historic occasion. Picture: Getty
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, their children, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret pose with other members of the Royal family to mark the historic occasion. Picture: Getty
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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/world/queens-life-in-pictures-the-coronation/news-story/9ee1aa2eb7c8b655333a14717986e9b0