Elizabeth becomes queen
On this day in 1952 after a long illness King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dies in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham.Princess Elizabeth the oldest of the kings two daughters and next in line to succeed him was in Kenya at the time of her fathers death she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2 1953 at age 27.King George VI the second son of King George V ascended to the throne in 1936 after his older brother King Edward VIII voluntarily abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.During World War II George worked to rally the spirits of the British people by touring war zones making a series of morale-boosting radio broadcasts (for which he overcame a speech impediment) and shunning the safety of the countryside to remain with his wife in bomb-damaged Buckingham Palace.
The kings health deteriorated in 1949 but he continued to perform state duties until his death in 1952.Queen Elizabeth born on April 21 1926 and known to her family as Lilibet was groomed as a girl to succeed her father.She married a distant cousin Philip Mountbatten on November 20 1947 at Londons Westminster Abbey.The first of Elizabeths four children Prince Charles was born in 1948.From the start of her reign Elizabeth understood the value of public relations and allowed her 1953 coronation to be televised despite objections from Prime Minister Winston Churchill and others who felt it would cheapen the ceremony.
Elizabeth the 40th British monarch since William the Conqueror has worked hard at her royal duties and become a popular figure around the world.In 2003 she celebrated 50 years on the throne only the fifth British monarch to do so.The queens reign however has not been without controversy.She was seen as cold and out-of-touch following the 1996 divorce of her son Prince Charles and Princess Diana and again after Dianas 1997 death in a car crash.
Additionally the role in modern times of the monarchy which is largely ceremonial has come into question as British taxpayers have complained about covering the royal familys travel expenses and palace upkeep.Still the royals are effective world ambassadors for Britain and a huge tourism draw.Today the queen an avid horsewoman and Corgi dog lover is one of the worlds wealthiest women with extensive real-estate holdings and art and jewelry collections.
