Queen Victoria, Biography: The Growth of the Royal Family

Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert produced nine children and a very happy family life.

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children.

Between 1840 and 1857 saw the growth of the queen’s family. She eventually mothered nine children, whose descendants would earn her the moniker “Grandmother of Europe.”

Queen Victoria Gives Birth to Nine Children

The Princess Royal, future Empress
Frederick of Germany

In a span of 17 years, from 1840 to 1857, Queen Victoria gave birth to four sons and five daughters, who all grew up to occupy relevant positions in European royal history.

The eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, was born in Nov. 1840. Precocious and perhaps the most intelligent of Queen Victoria's daughters, she married the future Emperor Frederick III of Germany in 1858. 


She gave birth to eight children: the Emperor William II, Charlotte, Grand Duches of Saxe-Meiningen, Prince Henry, Prince Sigismund (who died in childhood), Victoria, Princess Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe, Sophia, Queen of the Hellenes; and Margaret, Margravine of Hesse-Cassel. She died in 1901 after suffering from breast cancer.


The second child and eldest son, Albert Edward, was Prince of Wales by birth. In 1901, he succeed her mother as King Edward VII. She married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, daughter of King Christian IX in 1863. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra with their children.

They had six children: Albert, Duke of Clarence, who died in 1892; King George V, who succeed in 1910; Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife; Princess Victoria, who remained single; Maud, Queen of Norway by marriage to King Haakon; and Prince Alexander John who died in infancy.

Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse

Then followed Princess Alice, shy but intelligent whose compassion led her to suffer melancholy in her later years, was born 1942. She married Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt, in 1862. 


They were blessed with seven children: Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven; the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, who was martyred by the Bolsheviks; Princess Irene, Princess Henry of Prussia; Ernest Louis, who succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Hesse; Prince Frederick, who died an infant; the ill-fated Empress Alexandra of Russia; and Princess Marie, who died in childhood. She died a victim of typhoid during the plague that hit Darmstadt in 1878.

Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, followed in 1844. He married Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna, only daughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia. 

Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh,
Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

They had five children: Prince Alfred, who committed suicide in 1899; Princess Marie, later Queen of Romania; the Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia, wife of the pretender to the throne Grand Duke Cyril; Princess Alexandra, Hereditary Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg; and Infanta Beatrice of Spain, Duchess of Galliera.

Princess Helena, who married Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, was born1846. She is the queen's plainest and most dependable daughter. She and Prince Christian enjoyed the happiest and longest-lasting marriage among Queen Victoria's children. 


They had five children: Prince Christian Victor, who died of enteric fever in Pretoria in 1900; Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein; Princess Helena Victoria; and Princess Marie Louise, who married and divorced Prince Aribert of Anhalt.

Princess Louise, born 1848, was the queen's boldest, most independent, and most artistic child, being a skilled painter and sculptor. 

Princess Helena, with husband
Prince Christian

She was the only child to marry a commoner, John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, who was heir to one of Scotland's richest and most powerful families. He was appointed Governor-General of Canada, and eventually sat at the House of Lords after inheriting the Dukedom of Argyll. The couple had no issue.

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and later Governor-General of Canada, was born 1850. He was the last surviving son of the queen, dying in 1942. 


He married Princess Louise Marguerite of Prussia and together, they had three children: Prince Arthur of Connaught, later Governor-General of the Union of South Africa; Princess Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden; and Princess Patricia, who voluntarily gave up her royal title and style upon marriage of The Hon. Alexander Ramsay.

In 1853, the queen gave birth to Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. He was the sickliest but most intelligent of the queen's son. 

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

He married Princess Helena of Waldyck-Pyrmont. However, his life was cut short after he sustained hemorrhage due to hemophilia in 1883. He had a daughter, Princess Alice, Princess Francis of Teck and later Countess of Athlone, the longest-living princess of the blood royal; and a posthumous son, Prince Charles Albert, Duke of Albany, and later Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, born 1883.

The youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice was born in 1857. She would remain Queen Victoria's secretary and attendant throughout her adult life. 


In 1885, he married Prince Eugene of Battenberg and bore him four children: Alexander, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke; Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain; Lord Leopold Mountbatten; and Prince Maurice of Battenberg.

Queen Victoria’s Family Life with Prince Albert

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

The growing size of and the demands of raising the family, which required much of queen’s attention and brought her unexplained happiness, coupled by Albert’s influence, eventually produced a change in the queen’s habits and attitudes. 


She was entirely happy and satisfied, knowing that her beloved Albert and her family were right beside her. She even told Albert: “It was you who have entirely formed me.” Indeed, gone was her love for idle splendor and, as she described it, “mere amusement.”

The early 1840s was known as the “hungry forties” and to relate with the mass, Victoria informed Peel about her desire to minimize the expenses of the court and set aside a sizable part of her income to charity. But Peel advised the queen to reconsider her decision.

Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry
of Battenberg

“I am afraid that the people would only say,” Peel replied, “that Your Majesty was returning them change for their pounds in half-pence.”

According to Peel, it is the duty of the sovereign to do things in order, not to seek praise or adulation, but to serve as an example in all aspect, even in throwing away banquets and balls.

Indeed, the queen and Prince Albert’s dinner-parties were a prime example of proper decorum, though guests found them rather too formal and amusing. The queen also earned praise on her display of dignity and wise discretion on her several visits abroad, in the first the first ten years of her married life, to King William IV of Prussia, King Louise-Philippe of France, and Emperor Nicholas I of Russia.

Diamond Moments Well Captured as Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates Diamond Jubilee with the People

Plus, surprising 1952 photos of the queen and the royal family shortly after her accession revealed after being kept secret for 60 years.

The Queen leaves Kings Lynn Town Hall in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

A schoolboy bows to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in front of a display as she
visits Dersingham Infant and Nursery School in Dersingham, Norfolk, on
February 6, 2012 to mark the start of her diamond jubilee celebrations.

Soldiers of the Honorable Artillery Company fire blank rounds during a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London in front of Tower Bridge on February 6, 2012, to mark the start of diamond jubilee celebrations for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II walks past well-wishers holding Engilsh flags as she leaves following a visit to Dersingham Infant and Nursery School in Dersingham, Norfolk on February 6, 2012 to start celebrations for her diamond jubilee 60 years to the day since she ascended to the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by wellwishers during a visit to Kings Lynn Town Hall on February 6, 2012 in Norfolk, England.

The Queen's secret photographs, unveiled in time for her Diamond Jubilee, were
commissioned by artist Margaret Lindsay William to help her with her official
portrait of the Queen, to be released following her coronation.

Little Princess Anne hugs adorable Prince Charles.

Princess Anne and Prince Charles.

Prince Philip gives a serious pose.

Photo Sources,

Rebecca, E. (2012, Feb. 10). Revealed for the first time in 60 years: First pictures of Elizabeth as Queen unveiled among family portraits taken after the death of her father King George. The Daily Mail.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2098719/REVEALED-First-pictures-Elizabeth-Queen-unveiled-family-portraits-taken-death-father-King-George.html#ixzz1m8gTi3Ki

See Queen Elizabeth II from her inauguration 60 years ago to now at her Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2012, Feb. 6). National Post. http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/06/see-queen-elizabeth-ii-from-her-inauguration-60-years-ago-to-now-at-her-queens-diamond-jubilee/

Three Queens and a Funeral: King George VI is Buried

The funeral of King George VI ushered in the era of Queen Elizabeth II. 


Heaven knows what it feels to lose a son, a husband, and a father. After all, He lost His son in the humblest, most painful way. In the dead of that frosty day, Feb. 15, sixty years ago, the sun hid and showed no signs of glistening the day. Mourning, perhaps, but not as hurting, as it did pierce the heart of old Queen Mary, who at 85, herself was nearing the end of her life. To have lost a husband is like losing half of your being, but to see three of your children passed away within your lifetime is too much for a weary heart to bear. For King George VI's wife, Queen Elizabeth, now Queen Mother, losing her dear Bertie meant spending the next 50 years alone, without a husband to share the joys of seeing more grandchildren in the family, or perhaps be ecstatic in seeing them get married and bear her great-grandchildren. For the new queen, Queen Elizabeth II, her father's death meant facing the reality that she is now the Queen to millions of people spread all over the world. On his funeral, Great Britain's three queens gathered to bid adieu to the king who mattered most to their lives.

The iconic photo that captured three generations of queens grieving
on King George VI's funeral.

On Feb. 9, King George's body was transferred to Westminster Hall for the lying-in-state. More than 30,000 people flocked to take a last glimpse of their beloved king. Not even the bitter cold or the cloudy weather stood between the crowd and the solemnity of the event.

Queen Elizabeth, by now Queen Mother, made a call to Clarence House. She had finally bowed to the new sovereign, her daughter. Devastated and in unimaginable sorrow, she however managed to hide her feelings in front of the public. She even managed to send a message to millions of people around the world who shared the sorrow with her: “Your concern for me has upheld me in my sorrow and how proud you have made me by your wonderful tributes to my dear husband, a great and noble King.”

She ended her message with a message requesting the public to continue their love and support to the new queen, just the way they did to her and her husband: “I commend to your our dear daughter: give her your loyalty and devotion; in the great and lonely station to which she has been called. She will need your protection and love. God bless you all; and may He in His wisdom guide us safely to our true destiny of peace and good will. Elizabeth R.”

The message was sent to the press for publication. However, it was noticed that there was an omission. The new queen's husband and her children were not mentioned. Palace officials immediately phoned editors to make the corrections. The part where the queen mother made a reference to the queen should thus be read: “I commend to your our dear daughter: give her your loyalty and devotion; Though blessed in her husband and children, she will need your protection and your love in the great and lonely station to which she has been called.”

The funeral procession for King George VI. The coffin is borne up the steps into
St. George's in Windsor. At the foot of the steps is the coach carrying
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret
and the Princess Royal.

 For the queen's part, she was relieved to see that the 51-year old queen mother refused to dwell in sorrow. In fact, a day after the king's death, she was composed enough to play with her grandchildren. She told an aide, “I have got to start sometime and it is better now than later.”

The funeral, held Feb. 15, was filled with sorrow and anguish. Before the dawn broke, all the roads have already led to London as thousands of the king's subjects gathered together to bid farewell for the wartime monarch. At 8 am, the capital's streets were closed. The king's funeral procession also brought innovation, as it was the first time that a sovereign's funeral was aired on television. At 9 am, the queen, together with the funeral entourage, arrived at Westminster Hall. More than 300,000 people had paid homage to the king while it was laid in state for three years.

Notable during these dark days in the royal family was young Prince Charles who, missing his dear grandpas, asked the queen mother if he would ever come back to play with him. The grandmother hugged her grandson. The three-year-old prince, who at the time emerged as the heir apparent, noticed his nurses in tears said softly: “Don't cry, Granny.”

King George VI's funeral coverage.

King George VI's 16-year reign is over. His daughter is now the reigning queen while the queen mother stepped down to her new post as the second lady in the land. Nevertheless, she still retained her status as queen and she still enjoyed her style as Her Majesty.

Kings, queens, princes, heads of state, and dignitaries from all over the world were all gathered in London to attend the spectacular funeral of the king. Indeed, there are only two instances where the most powerful people in the world have come to converge in the capital, most likely every time when a new sovereign is crowned, when his reign is welcomed in warm reception by his subjects and all the peoples in the world, and when his reign and life folds, when he is brought to his final resting place. It is a sign of the respect that he had earned and the affection of the subjects that he had served so loyally and the people he met while on duty.

The king's coffin was carried along the streets of London, escorted by four princes, his eldest brother, the duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII who abdicated and surrendered the reins of the kingdom to his younger, reluctant brother. This was the first time that the former king had returned to Britain after many years of living in Paris. With him are his younger brother, the duke of Gloucester, nephew duke of Kent, and the queen's husband, the duke of Edinburgh.

One important member of the royal family who did not show up at the funeral was Queen Mary. The cortege passed at Marlborough House though, and as it progressed, the queen mother, the princess royal, and Princess Margaret leaned through the window of the Irish State Coach to take a glimpse of the grieving mother.

 The funeral procession ended at Paddington, where the king's remains were taken to Windsor by train at 12:20 pm.

The king was finally laid to rest at St. George's Chapel in Windsor. A brief service was held, and two minutes of silence was observed to pay final homage to the king, whose presence during the war, however burdensome it was for his part, boosted the country's morale. The coffin was draped in red, blue and gold of the Royal Standard. It was laid with the Imperial State Crown, the Gold Orb, the Sceptre, the Insignia of the Order of the Garter and a wreath of white orchids, white lilies, and white carnation, the queen mother's final gift to her husband as she bid farewell. The card read: “For darling Bertie, from his always loving Elizabeth.”

Almost after the funeral, Queen Elizabeth II and her family moved to Buckingham Palace. The queen mother transferred to Clarence House. She was joined in by Princess Margaret. The royal family settled at the Belgian Suite located at the palace's ground floor. Today, that part is reserved as accommodation for visiting heads of state.

The first important pronouncement that the queen made at the onset of her reign was to declare and clarify her husband's position in the realm. On Sept. 30, it was announced: “The Queen has been graciously pleased by Warrant bearing date the 18^th instant to declare and ordain that His Royal Highness Philip Duke of Edinburgh... shall henceforth upon all occassions... except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament have, hold and enjoy, Place, Pre-eminence and Precedence next to Her Majesty.”

In effect, the prince would be the second to swear allegiance to Her Majesty on her coronation, after the archbishop of Canterbury.    

Photo Sources and References:

British Broadcasting Center. 1952: King George is Laid to Rest. http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/15/newsid_2542000/2542721.stm, retrieved Feb. 10, 2012.

De Souza, R. J. (2012, Feb. 9). Three queens, full of sorrow. National Post, http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Three+queens+full+sorrow/6123990/story.html, retrieved, Feb 10, 2012.

Mount, H. (2012, Feb. 6). Diamond Jubilee – The King is Dead – long live the Queen. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9063122/Diamond-Jubilee-The-King-is-dead-long-live-the-Queen.html, retrieved Feb. 10, 2012

Museum of London. Funeral Procession of King George VI. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Collections-Research/Collections-online/object.aspx?objectID=object-767645&start=746&rows=1, retrived Feb. 10, 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II, Her Proclamation

Feb. 8, exactly sixty years ago, the new sovereign was proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II. 

Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen at 11 am, Feb. 8, 1952. It happened at the balcony of St. James' Palace, the official seat of the monarchy, just next door after Clarence House. A little segue for this matter. Because St. James' Palace is the “official state palace,” hence every ambassador are accredited to the Court of St. James'.

Around 150 Lords of the Council, who were representing the Commonwealth and the City of London including the Lord Mayor-- as well as dignitaries from other countries were there to witness the new queen's accession. Doon Coolican wrote, “Kings of Arms, heralds and pursuivants in their medieval uniforms gathered with the Earl Marshall of England, the Duke of Norfolk. A fanfare of trumpets heralded Garter King of Arms.”

Watch Her Majesty's Proclamation

It was the latter who proclaimed to the crowd that the new queen had acceded to the throne. The proclamation was as follows:

“Upon the intimation that our late Most Gracious Sovereign King George the Sixth had died in his sleep at Sandringham in the early hours of this morning the Lords of the Privy Council assembled this day at St. James's Palace, and gave orders for proclaiming Her present Majesty.

WHEREAS it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Sixth of Blessed and Glorious memory, by whose Decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary:

WE, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these His late Majesty's Privy Council, with representatives of other Members of the Commonwealth, with other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom Her lieges do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the Second with long and happy Years to reign over us.

Given at St. James's Palace this Sixth Day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two.”

Then, the Earl Marshall raised his hand and shouted, “God Save The Queen.” It was followed by gun salutes fired at Hyde Park and at the Tower of London. This was echoed throughout the Commonwealth countries who also made their proclamations on separate dates.

Queen Elizabeth II on the cover of Life Magazine,
a few days after her accession.

In Canada, the proclamation came days earlier, on Feb. 6. It was held at Rideau Hall, and read:

“WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy Our Late Sovereign Lord King George the Sixth of blessed and glorious memory by whose decease the Crown of Great Britain, Ireland and all other His late Majesty's dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, Now Know Ye that I, the said Right Honourable Thibaudeau Rinfret, Administrator of Canada[n 1] as aforesaid, assisted by Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now by the death of Our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lady Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, Supreme Liege Lady in and over Canada, to whom we acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God by whom all Kings and Queens do reign to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the Second with long and happy years to reign over us.

Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Ottawa, this Sixth day of February, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two, and in the first year of Her Majesty's reign.”

Meanwhile, Ernest George Jansen, Governor-General of South Africa, led the proclamation in Cape Town on February 7.

“WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Sixth of blessed and glorious memory, by whose demise the Crown of Great Britain, Ireland and all His late Majesty's other Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary;

I, THEREFORE, do hereby publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become our only lawful and rightful Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign in and over the Union of South Africa, to whom now all faith and constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection are due; beseeching God, by Whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the Second with long and happy years to reign over us.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

Given under my Hand and Great Seal at Cape Town this Seventh day of February, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-two.”

In Australia, Governor-General Sir William McKell read the proclamation on the steps of Parliament House:

WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy Our Late Sovereign Lord, King George the Sixth, of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary: We, therefore, Sir William John McKell, The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Australia and members of the Federal Executive Council do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of this realm and of all her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, Supreme Liege Lady in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, to whom her lieges do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience, with hearty and humble affection: Beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the Second with long and happy years to reign over us.

Given at Canberra this seventh day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty two, and in the first year of Her Majesty' s reign. God Save the Queen."

Proclamation announcement of Queen Elizabeth II
on the streets of London.

Proclamation Queen Elizabeth II at Killie Cross. 

The Mayor, Alderman R. H. Tozer, and Corporation of Windsor in
front of the Queen Victoria Statue at the foot of Castle Hill as the
Proclamation is read of the death of George VI and the
Accession of Queen Elizabeth II.

High Sheriff of Surrey, Major F. Paget-Hett, reads the proclamation
of Queen Elizabeth II on the steps of Holy Trinity Church in Guildford.

Reading of the Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II 

from the Market Cross.

Royal Household Cavalry Trumpet Major B J Clarke and
Trumpeters R Mcdonald W Short and G Harris at the
Proclamation Of Queen Elizabeth II.

The queen readily accepted her obligation. As new monarch, she read an official proclamation, declaring her reign as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II read: "By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty."

"My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are all the world over."

After her proclamation, Queen Elizabeth immediately held her first meeting with the Privy Council at the Throne Room of St. James' Palace. Just like Queen Victoria over a century ago, the queen welcomed her reign with quiet dignity and confidence. She made a striking impression on those hundreds of veterans and statesmen surrounding her. Although dressed in deep mourning suit, she was reported, nevertheless, maintained dried eyes while reading the Royal Message.

She proceeded to Sandringham where she joined her grieving mother and sister. They walked together as the king's coffin was being taken to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, across the expansive park from the house.

Speaking of the event, Lord Chandos recorded: “There must have been nearly two hundred Privy Councillors present in the large room next to the Picture Gallery. The door opened, and the Queen in black came in. Suddenly the members of the Privy Council looked immeasurably old and gnarled and grey. The Queen made one of the most touching speeches to which I have ever listened, and I, like many others, could hardly control my emotions.”

Harold Macmillan wrote in his diary: “The Queen’s entrance; the low bows of her councillors; the firm, yet charming voice in which she pronounced her allocution and went through the various ceremonious forms of the ritual produced a profound impression on us all.”

Meanwhile, Vincent Massey, the new Governor-General of Canada, wrote: “It was a very moving occasion – the Queen, a slight figure dressed in deep mourning, entered the great room alone and, with strong but perfectly controlled emotion, went through the exacting tasks the Constitution prescribes. Her speeches were perfectly delivered. After this, Prince Philip, who was in the room as a Privy Counsellor, stepped forward quietly and went out of the door with her.”

The Queen, despite the dark cloud of mourning welcomed her reign—and the obligation it entailed—with a heart of a king.  

References and Photo Sources:

BBC UK, http://www.digitalhen.co.uk/news/uk-16896731retrieved Feb. 8, 2012

Goddess, Saint, Noblewoman, Nun, http://goddesssaintnoblewomannun.blogspot.com, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

MySpace, http://www.myspace.com/358080397, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

Panoramio, http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6425114, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

The Daily Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/royalty/9021062/Queens-Diamond-Jubilee-the-accession-of-Queen-Elizabeth-II.html?image=19, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

_____. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9063122/Diamond-Jubilee-The-King-is-dead-long-live-the-Queen.html, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

The Official Website of St. Catherine's Village, Guildford, http://st-caths-web.co.uk/?p=14823, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

The Royal Windsor Website, http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/windsorhistory/georgeVI/proclamation52.html, retrieved Feb. 8, 2012.

The Queen's Official Diamond Jubilee Photograph and Speech

Transcript of the Queen's diamond jubilee message and the newly-issued Diamond Jubilee photograph.

Queen Elizabeth II in the official Diamond Jubilee Portrait.

Today, as I mark 60 years as your Queen, I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years and to tell you how deeply moved we have been to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee.


In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth. 


I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart as we join together in our celebrations. 


I send my sincere good wishes to you all.


ELIZABETH R.

Queen Elizabeth, Her Accession

Sixty years ago, Queen Elizabeth II succeeded as sovereign. 

News of King George VI's death reached court officials in Kenya through news agencies. However, they waited for confirmation from Buckingham Palace before informing Princess Elizabeth of what had happened. Michael Parker, the Duke of Edinburgh's private secretary contacted sources in Nairobi and London for further information, while news via wire services were passed around among royal servants. Bobo MacDonald, the princess' hairdresser, and John Dean, the duke's valet, were the first to know that princess was now queen. They were sitting on the doorstep and cleaning shoes when the new queen's detective informed them of her accession. They must have been saddened and glad at the same time, but they carried on with their duties, having nothing else to think of but serve their masters.

The new queen still knew nothing about his father's passing. She emerged from her room to talk to them. She informed them that wanted to go for a ride before she and Prince Philip leaves for a tour in Mombassa in the afternoon. She requested Bobo to make the arrangements. Bobo and Dean had no idea was to do but they kept on doing their things, not showing hints as if everything was alright.

Meanwhile, Michael Parker, slipped to the side to call the attention of Prince Philip who was in a window. The prince came outside and Parker whispered news of the king's death. Parker recalls: “He looked as if you've dropped half the world to him. I never felt sorry for anyone in all my life.” Shocked, the Prince went inside and told Elizabeth that she was now The Queen. In fact she was already queen for several hours but for how long no one knew. It is unknown on what hour she succeeded because no one was around when King George died. It was 2:45 pm in Kenya, 11:45 in London, 25 years old, Elizabeth was the first monarch to ascend the throne while in a foreign land since King George I succeeded Queen Anne in 1714.

The queen received the news calmly, herself being trained and prepared for this moment all her life. She held her composure and immediately took matters into her own hand. She signed the documents of her accession, which was taken along in her luggage. She then dispatched a message to Australia and New Zealand, sending her apologies because her trip had to be cut short. As it became clear that she had taken over the duty as the new sovereign, telegrams and messages began to arrive. She dealt with it all, because duty calls her to do it, even if it meant having no time to grieve of the king's death in private. After all, he was her father. But before that, she was Queen as such, she has to be seen to rule as soon as possible.

The Queen had taken with her, as with any other member of the royal family, a suitcase containing mourning outfits, a dreaded suitcase that no one dared to open. They were included in her luggage, reserved in the event that they have to go back to London upon the death of a royal or statesman.

Prince Philip ordered for a quick flight home. Everything was settled speedily and within an hour, the new queen was on her way to her kingdom. However, a thunderstorm delayed the flight for one hour but nevertheless, the trip progressed and the queen arrived in a country still mourning the death of her beloved king.

The queen arrived at Heathrow Airport 4 pm, Feb. 7. She stepped down from the airplane, dressed in black. Sir Evelyn Shuckburgh, diplomat, likened the Queen's accession to that of Queen Victoria more than a century ago: “There was a touching picture of [The Queen] walking down the steps from the aircraft with the Privy Council lined up to greet her. One could just see the backs of their poor old heads: Winston, Attlee, A.E. [Eden], Woolton and so on. The 20th-century version of Melbourne galloping to Kensington Palace, falling on his knees before Victoria in her nightdress. The mystery is, where did she get her black clothes from? I have since heard that Queen Mary has laid it down as a principle of life never to go anywhere without a black dress – ‘in case something should happen.’”

Lady Pamela Mountbatten, the queen's lady-in-waiting, said of the big black Palace cars: “I remember the Queen saying: ‘Oh, they’ve sent the hearses.’”

The queen was immediately driven to the center of the capital, passing through the Mall, and eventually taken to Clarence House. At 4:30 pm, a limousine emerged from the gates of Marlborough House heading to Clarence House. It carried Queen Mary, who said, “Her old grannie and subject must be the first to kiss her hand.” She curtsied her grand daughter, while the new royal standard was raised for the first time. Queen Elizabeth II's reign was welcomed by a peculiar event. For a short period in the history of the monarchy, the country had three queens, the reigning sovereign, Elizabeth II, her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and Queen Mary, who would die shortly before her coronation.

Ever the impassioned, Churchill, broadcasted a speech that could be likened to any wartime speech he did a few years ago. It was one of his finest, a tribute to the king whose image became an immortal figure in boosting the morale of the Britons in the darkest of the great war. Nevertheless, Churchill also reminded that the new queen is Elizabeth, named after the greatest queen England has ever had.

He ended his speech in words that inspired the nation to move on and embrace a new sunshine as he welcomed the reign of the new monarch with zest and youthful vigor: “I, whose youth was passed in the august, unchallenged and tranquil glories of the Victorian era, may we feel a thrill in invoking once more the prayer and the anthem, 'God Save the Queen.”

Queen Elizabeth II, The Day She Became Queen

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 60th year on the throne.

The World War II had taken its toll not only on Britain, a country that was once hailed the mistress of the sea, but also on the frailing health of King-Emperor George VI. His constitution, already weak since childhood, severely suffered after reluctantly receiving a crown that his brother, the former Edward VIII, passed on to him in order to marry the woman he loved. Mixed with his chain-smoking habits and his restless efforts throughout the war, the king, who was the last emperor of India, eventually succumbed to thrombosis on his sleep at Sandringham House today, 60 years ago. A new era ushered in. The reign of Elizabeth II arrived in earnest while resting on a treetop lodge while on tour in Kenya. Her reign was one of the longest in British history and hers witnessed an upheaval that saw Britain relinquished her role as a leading world power while leading the task of modernizing the royal family and bringing it closer to the masses.

 

Prior to his death, King George VI had already relinquished his commitments to tour the Commonwealth, which could have brought him to his first post, Canada. However, by the summer of 1951, the king had already showed signs of ill-health, which necessitated him to undergo lung operation. Instead of postponing the tour, the task fell on his heiress presumptive, 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth. Before she left, a suit of black clothes was already set aside in case the king should die. But the king lived, at least a little less than a year more. He showed signs of recovery and the royal tour of the princess and her dashing Greek-born husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, was pushed further to a later date, January 1952. The king himself was due to embark on a trip to South Africa to recuperate, where he would be the guest of the prime minister, D.F. Malam. On the eve of the tour, the royal family watched the widely popular stage play, South Pacific. On Jan. 31, the princess and the duke set off from Heathrow. Little did Princess Elizabeth know that he would never see his father. She left her country a princess and she returned home a queen.

Of the king's frail appearance, Lord Candos, Colonial Secretary commented: “I well remember the last time I saw the King. When Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip left Heathrow for Kenya, the King and Queen came to see them take off… I was shocked by the King’s appearance. I was familiar with his look and mien, but he seemed much altered and strained. I had the feeling of doom, which grew as the minutes before the time of departure ebbed away. The King went on to the roof of the building to wave goodbye. The high wind blew his hair into disorder. I felt with foreboding that this would be the last time he was to see his daughter, and that he thought so himself.”

Feb. 1, the royal couple arrived in Nairobi and were warmly welcomed by Sir Philip Mitchell, Governor-General of Kenya. They were driven to the Government House were a garden party was awaiting them.

The following day, they joined civilians at a luncheon held in their honor. The event progressed with a tour to the Nairobi National Park. They then proceeded to their accommodation, the Sagana hunting lodge, the infamous place where the princess got news of her father's death a few days later. The lodge was a wedding gift by the South African government.,

John Jochimsen, who worked for the Central Office of Information, who was one of the official press photographers to accompany the couple on the tour recorded the princess as “happy and carefree.” Furthermore, he said, “she hadn’t been married long and didn’t have the weight on her shoulders as she would on becoming Queen. The Duke, on the other hand, would say what he thought to anybody at any time – he hasn’t changed at all!

“It was a real scrum in Nairobi … something we London press photographers had not witnessed before. We had always been used to working out the pictures with one another, but this was different, so much so that the Duke looked at me saying: ‘I will be taking my own bloody picture next!’”

Feb. 3, Eric Sherbrooke Walker, founder of Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park, where the couple were to stay: “Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip reached the Sagana Lodge, 20 miles from Nyeri. The situation in Kenya at that time was becoming tense. The Mau Mau troubles [the military conflict involving the anti-colonial Mau Mau and the British Army] were about to burst open.”

Furthermore, R.J. Prickett, author of ‘Treetops: Story of a World-Famous Hotel’ noted: “That visit was strictly private, and Kate Challis [arranging flowers at the Lodge] relates that one of the press came up to her and asked her price for smuggling him up in the back of her car. Her reply, apparently, was not polite.”

On Feb. 5, the royal couple went on a press call where they were photographed watching the animals. These took place in the morning. They spent the rest of the day resting.

They eventually proceeded to Treetops where they spent the night watching the game at the salt lick.

Colonel Jim Corbett, a British hunter and conservationist, noted the princess' trip: “In the course of a long lifetime I have seen some courageous acts, but few to compare with what I witnessed on that fifth day of February. The Princess and her companions, who had never previously been on foot in an African forest, had set out that glorious day to go peacefully to Treetops and, from the moment they left, their ears had been assailed – as they told me later – by the rampaging of angry elephants. In single file, and through dense bush where visibility in places was limited to a yard or two, they went towards those sounds, which grew more awe-inspiring the nearer they approached them. And then, when they came to the bend in the path and within sight of the elephants, they found that they would have to approach within 10 yards of them to reach the safety of the ladder. A minute after climbing the ladder the Princess was sitting on the balcony and, with steady hands, was filming the elephants.”

While the princess was enjoying the beauty of the African wildlife, his father the King died peacefully at Sandringham House in the early hours of 6 February. He was 56. Sandringham House officially issued a Court Circular at 10:45 am, saying the King had retired in his usual health, but passed away in his sleep and was found dead in bed at 7:30 am by a servant. According to medical bulletin, the King's death was due to coronary thrombosis - a fatal blood clot to the heart - soon after falling asleep.

The news of the king's death hasn't reached Kenya yet, and about the same, Commander Michael Parker, the Duke of Edinburgh's private secretary, invited the Princess Elizabeth to witness the sun rise over the jungle. As an eagle hovered above them, he feared it might dive onto them. “I never thought about it until later but that was roughly the time when the King died,” he later noted.

Meanwhile, at Sandringham House, Queen Elizabeth, now a dowager, sent a message to Queen Mary, who was in London: “I was sent a message that his servant couldn’t wake him. I flew to his room, and thought he was in a deep sleep, he looked so peaceful – and then I realised what had happened.” The queen, who would be affectionately known as The Queen Mother, was inconsolable, but she has to held her own. She survived his husband by 50 more years, dying at the age of 101, one of the longest-surviving queen in history.

Meanwhile, Queen Mary was stunned to hear of his son's death. At 84, she had survived her husband, the beloved King George V, endured the Abdication Crisis a year after, and grieved at the death of his youngest son, the Duke of Kent. What more could be more painful for an old lady to endure and make it through the death of another son? “I got a dreadful shock when Cynthia [Colville] asked to see me at 9.30, after breakfast, to tell me that darling Bertie had died in his sleep early today,”said Queen Mary.

Edward Ford, one of the King’s Private Secretaries, informed the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill of the king's death. “I’ve got bad news, Prime Minister. The King died last night. I know nothing else,” he said. Churchill, who was close to the king, couldn't believe. “Bad news? The worst,” he replied.

Churchill’s Private Secretary, John Colville noted: “When I went to the Prime Minister’s bedroom he was sitting alone with tears in his eyes, looking straight in front of him and reading neither his official papers nor the newspapers. I had not realised how much the King meant to him. I tried to cheer him up by saying how well he would get on with the new Queen, but all he could say was that he did not know her and that she was only a child.”

In Kenya, Major Norman Jarman, Manager of Treetops was one of the first people in Kenya to learn of the king's death prior to now-queen Elizabeth, “I was sitting having a sherry with Martin Charteris [Private Secretary to Princess Elizabeth] before lunch. The editor of the Nairobi Standard called me and told me they had had a message over the teleprinter saying the King had died and asking if they could print the story. We asked them to hold fire while we confirmed it was true,” he noted.

John Jochimsen, who overheard Granville Roberts of the East African Standard, while leaving the restaurant making a call in Nairobi to to inform of the King's death, said “The news had been released to the press before the Queen had been told, the rumour being that the Governor [Sir Philip Mitchell] was on his way to Mombasa to see the couple off to Australia and had the official codebook with him. The news had come through to Government House, but it could only be confirmed that the message had arrived but not decoded.”

Major Norman Jarman: “I was alarmed, so I phoned Buckingham Palace. The man there was shocked. ‘You mean to say that she hasn’t been told? Please tell her as quickly as possible.’”

Major Charteris telephoned Commander Michael Parker, then hurried to Sagana Lodge. Parker turned on his wireless and heard the BBC announcement. He attracted Prince Philip’s attention.

Commander Michael Parker: “He looked as if you’d dropped half the world on him. He took [The Queen] up to the garden and they walked up and down the lawn while he talked and talked and talked to her.”

Major Charteris arrived just in time after the new Queen was back in the Lodge: “She was sitting erect, fully accepting her destiny. I asked what name she would take. ‘My own, of course.’”

Major Norman Jarman: “There were 32 journalists following the royal party, but they were all on a day off. I had to wake a lot of them and persuade them to attend a press conference, but we rounded them all up and locked the door so they couldn’t run off. We told them and the whole room erupted.”

John Jochimsen notes: “Myself and two other photographers drove to Sagana Lodge, hoping to take a photograph of the Princess, now Queen Elizabeth, leaving for London. An official told us Her Majesty requested no pictures be taken. We stood silently outside the lodge as the cars drove away in a cloud of dust, not one of us taking a shot at that historic moment. Seeing the young girl as Queen of Great Britain as she drove away, I felt her sadness, as she just raised her hand to us as we stood there silent, our cameras on the ground.”

Eric Sherbrooke Walker likened the Queen's accession with that of another queen, Elizabeth I, who like her, was informed of her accession while on top of a tree. “Many centuries ago another Princess Elizabeth was sitting under a great tree in Hatfield Park when couriers announced to her that she had become Queen Elizabeth I. The remains of that tree still stand and bear a plaque. Similarly, a plaque was affixed to our mgugu tree commemorating the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II.”

In London, Churchill met the Cabinet to discuss the impact of the King’s death. The House of Commons postponed its session in the king's honor. Before Parliament was adjourned Prime Minister Winston Churchill offered their condolences, saying, "We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief."

Britain was clouded by grief on the king's passing. It seems that life stood a halt to pay homage to a father that stood before his children on the wintry days of World War II and helped them make it through the devastation thereafter. The routine for the day came to a temporary stop, cinemas and theater shut down, television programs cancelled except for news updates. Flags all over the countryn were put to half-mast and sports fixtures cancelled.

In the afternoon, a swarm of crowd that flocked outside the gates of Buckingham Palace while diplomats from around the world arrived in official cars to extend their condolences in the visitors' book.

By 9 pm, police came to press the growing number of mourners back from the gates and on to the pavement. Not even the bitter cold nor the heavy rain silenced the weeping crowd who stayed until long after it grew dark.

The world over the king's death was met by shock and grief. In the United States, President Truman, in a formal statement from the White House, paid tribute to the King.He said, "He shared to the end of his reign all the hardships and austerities which evil days imposed on the brave British people.

"In return, he received from the people of the whole Commonwealth a love and devotion which went beyond the usual relationship of a King and his subjects."

Both the US Senate and the House of Representatives voted to adjourn out of regard for the dead King.

Harold Macmillan, Housing Minister, wrote in his diary: “The Cabinet was naturally concerned about the safe return of Princess Elizabeth, now Queen. Many felt that the dangers of an air journey were by no means negligible.”

Sir Harold Nicolson, diplomat and politician, noted: “Princess Elizabeth is flying back from Kenya. She became Queen while perched in a tree in Africa, watching the rhinoceros come down to the pool to drink.”

Churchill broadcasted to the nation: “During these last days, the King walked with death, as if death were a companion, an acquaintance whom he recognised and did not fear … I, whose youth was passed in the august, unchallenged and tranquil glories of the Victorian era, may well feel a thrill in invoking, once more, the prayer and the anthem: GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.”

In Chicago, Princess Andrew of Greece, Prince Philip’s mother, wrote: “All my thoughts are with you in this sad loss. I know how fond you were of your father-in-law and how much you will miss him. I think much of the change in your life this means. It means much personal self-sacrifice for you, as I am fully aware, but every sacrifice brings its reward in a manner we cannot foresee.”