Today In History: Queen Elizabeth II Is Crowned

On June 2nd, 1953, Elizabeth II (21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022), was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, consisting then of 32 sovereign states. Her reign lasted 70 years until her death -- the longest of any British monarch and any known female monarch.  Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to circumnavigate the globe, and her historic travels included state visits to China and Russia, as well as papal visits to Italy. While still a princess, she was the first female member of the Royal Family to serve for a period of four months during the Second World War; in 1945 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) where she learned to drive and maintain vehicles . Elizabeth was given the role of honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and by the end of her reign, Her Majesty was colonel-in-chief of 16 regiments and corps in the British Army, as well as military units throughout 15 realms of the British Commonwealth. While her early education took place at home under tutelage from parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Scottish governess Marion Crawford, Elizabeth received tuition from Henry Marten, the Vice-Provost of Eton; the Archbishop of Canterbury; and several French and Belgian governesses. She was an accomplished equestrian and loved animals (especially Pembroke Welsh Corgies ).

Queen Elizabeth II reached her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, with six former jubilees marking her many achievements and significant contributions to Great Britain and the Commonwealth. Her royal duties included opening each session of British Parliament; meeting every week with the Prime Minister; chairing the Privy Council; approving legislation; and philanthropic work. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Prince Charles who was crowned King, together with his second wife Camilla, as Queen, on May 6th, 2023.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• June 2, 1953, Coronation Is Set By Queen Elizabeth. (1952, Apr 29). New York Times (1923-) 
• Knowles, M. (1953, Feb 03). Coronation Dress in Great Britain Modified For First tTime in 250 Years: But Ceremony's Pageantry Will Remain. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Coronation Supplement: Coronation Cover. (1953, May 09). The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Crawford, M. (1953, May 29). What Elizabeth II Will Wear Tuesday at Her Coronation: Royal Governess to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret For 17 Years. Daily Boston Globe (1928-1960) 
• Queen Elizabeth Entertains 7,000 at Pre-Coronation Garden Party: Oriental Sultans and African Chiefs, in Native Costume, Add Color to Scene -- Soviet Envoy Presents Credentials. (1953, May 29). New York Times (1923-) 
• Considine, B. (1953, Jun 02). London Crowds Cram Streets For Coronation: Queen eElizabeth II Is Crowned in 'Solemn, Magnificent Splendor'. Atlanta Daily World (1932-) 
• Knowles, M.  (1953, Jun 03). Queen Elizabeth Ushers in New Concept of Chivalry: Allegiance Pledged. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Boardman, H. (1999, Nov 13). The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth: The Assurance of a True Monarch, a Young Life Dedicated. The Guardian (1959-2003) 
• Hennessy, .M.  (2013, Jun 05). UK Marks 60th Anniversary Of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation. The Irish Times (1921-) 
• Barry, E. (2018, Jan 15). Queen Elizabeth, the Rarest Of Gets: This Monarch Relaxes Her Reluctance to Reminisce About Her 1953 Coronation. New York Times (1923-) 

Tips:

• Arbiter, Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II : Monarch. New York: Cavendish Square, 2017. e-book
• Arscott, David., and David. Salariya. Queen Elizabeth II a Very Peculiar History : Diamond Jubilee: 60 Years a Queen. 2nd ed. Brighton: Salariya Book Co. Ltd., 2011. e-book
• Billig, Michael. Talking of the Royal Family. London : Routledge, 1998. e-book
• Johnston, Laurie. Elizabeth Enters : a Story of a Queen. New York: Scribner, 1953.  Closed Stacks Curr ; DA590 .J6 1953

Images:

• Queen Elizabeth II in Coronation Robes, Portrait by Herbert James Gunn, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
• GB Elizabeth Coronation Stamp, Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
• Poster Image:  The Royal Coronation of H.M Queen Elizabeth II, Courtesy picryl

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