He had received his own hand-painted invitation to the ceremony, one that was specifically designed with the young boy in mind. Queen Elizabeth's coronation took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey. [17][18] The Duchess of Norfolk usually stood in for the Queen at rehearsals. Queen Elizabeth played a large role in the design of the gown she wore to the event. It offers a unique insiders view of the event and its historical context. Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, broadcast live on 2 June 1953, was the event that did more than any other to make television a mainstream medium. Queen Elizabeth II on her way to her first State Opening of Parliament as. [90], On 15 July 1953, the Queen attended a review of the Royal Air Force at RAF Odiham in Hampshire. This allowed for a period of mourning and was typical of the modern British monarchy. During the first half of the 20th century successive archbishops of Canterbury, with whom lay the responsibility for revision, made various improvements in the service. The event was a major one in the life of Queen Elizabeth and in the history of the United Kingdom as a whole. And upon the death of Queen Victoria died, the wife of Edward VII went from Princess of Wales to . Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. A Breakdown of What Happens Following Queen Elizabeth II's Death, Everything to Know About Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral, Queen Elizabeth's Best Outfits: Her Most Iconic Looks of All Time, instrumental part in planning the occasion, which were designed by French shoemaker Roger Vivier and British shoemakers Delman Ltd, own hand-painted invitation to the ceremony, photographed appearing intermittently enthused and bored. Due to the unexpected nature of the King's death, the Queen's coronation was delayed by more than a year. The crowd would reply "God save Queen Elizabeth!" Elizabeth was immediately proclaimed Britain's new monarch but remained in seclusion for the first three months of her reign as she mourned her father. Find Queen Elizabeth 1952 stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Queen Elizabeth II, on her Coronation Day, Westminster Abbey . Prince Harry, sixth in line to the throne, marries Meghan Markle at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle. [24] At her request, the anointing ceremony was not televised. Key dates in the life of the Queen, from her birth in April 1926 to her death in September 2022. Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Dress Goes on Display in Honor of Platinum Jubilee: See Pics! Imperial State Crown, which is made of gold and features diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, pearls and rubies. Elizabeth makes her first broadcast to the nation. Buckingham Palace is opened to the general public for the first time to help fund the restoration of Windsor Castle. Bertie, the Duke of York, is formally proclaimed King George VI. Elizabeth's coronation was also the first major world event to be broadcast internationally on television. Getty Images As for the British royal's historic and unforgettable gown, it took eight months to construct it before the big. ", Shils, Edward, and Michael Young. Princess Margaret marries the photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a daughter at 8.34am. This enabled the archbishop of Canterbury and, by a notable innovation, the moderator of the Church of Scotlandrepresenting the two churches which in particular the queen was pledged by her path to protectto present the Bible to her jointly and to share between them the words accompanying the presentation. The British government announced an extra bank holiday that fell on 3 June and moved the last bank holiday in May to 2 June to allow for an extended time of celebrations. - Elizabeth was born at 17 Bruton St, London, on April 21, 1926, and christened on May 29 that year in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth becomes a Girl Guide at the age of 11. [58], From the altar, the dean passed to the lord great chamberlain the spurs, which were presented to Elizabeth and then placed back on the altar. three times at the exact moment St Edward's Crown touched the monarch's head. [29] The following day, a film was flown west to Vancouver, whose CBC Television affiliate had yet to sign on. At Goose Bay, Labrador, the first batch of film was transferred to a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-100 jet fighter for the further trip to Montreal. We won't have to wait 16 months, thoughthe event will take place on May 6, 2023. Coronation of Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in the first televised coronation service. "[10] The Coronation Commission announced in June 1952 that the coronation would take place on 2 June 1953. Prince Charles is invested Prince of Wales. The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary after 70 years of marriage. The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a second son at 11.01am. Benjamin Britten had agreed to compose a piece, but he caught influenza and then had to deal with flooding at Aldeburgh, so nothing was forthcoming. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Queen Elizabeth II was the first, and to date, the only reigning British monarch to visit Australia. . [79] In Newfoundland, 90,000 boxes of sweets were given to children, some having theirs delivered by Royal Canadian Air Force drops, and in Quebec, 400,000 people turned out in Montreal, some 100,000 at Jeanne-Mance Park alone. The film was escorted by the RCMP to the Peace Arch Border Crossing, where it was then escorted by the Washington State Patrol to Bellingham, where it was shown as the inaugural broadcast of KVOS-TV, a new station whose signal reached into the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, allowing viewers there to see the coronation as well, though on a one-day delay. The country's governor general, Vincent Massey, proclaimed the day a national holiday and presided over celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where the Queen's coronation speech was broadcast and her personal royal standard flown from the Peace Tower. The Queens tour of Australia and Polynesia is interrupted after the prime minister Edward Heath calls a snap general election. Preceded by the heads of the British Armed Forces on horseback, the Gold State Coach was escorted by the Yeomen of the Guard and the Household Cavalry and was followed by the Queen's aides-de-camp. George VI dies and Elizabeth II succeeds to the throne. Proclamation issued declaring the familys dynastic surname will remain Windsor. Major Royal Navy units included Britain's last battleship, HMSVanguard, and four fleet and three light aircraft carriers. While the King and Queen stay in the city, Elizabeth and Margaret are evacuated to Windsor. 13, 6, and 7 by Sir Hubert Parry. However, for the new queen, several parts of the ceremony were markedly different. [n 3][42], After being closed since the Queen's accession for coronation preparations, Westminster Abbey was opened at 6am on Coronation Day to the approximately 8,000 guests invited from across the Commonwealth of Nations;[n 4][34][45] more prominent individuals, such as members of the Queen's family and foreign royalty, the peers of the United Kingdom, heads of state, members of Parliament from the Queen's various legislatures,[46] and the like, arrived after 8:30a.m. Queen Slote of Tonga was a guest, and was noted for her cheery demeanour while riding in an open carriage through London in the rain. More than a million people line the streets of London, and a chain of beacons is lit across the country. The first instalment of the serialisation of Andrew Mortons book, Diana: Her True Story, appears in the Sunday Times, revealing that Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles continued to have an affair during his marriage to Diana, that Diana tried to kill herself and had bulimia. The following account of Elizabeth IIs coronation was authored by Lawrence Edward Tanner, keeper of Westminster Abbeys Library and Muniment Room and secretary of the Royal Almonry. Andrew marries publishing executive Sarah Ferguson, known as Fergie. She expresses sympathy to those who suffered during hundreds of years of conflict between the two neighbours. Britain and France invade Egypt in a botched attempt to seize control of the Suez canal. More than 20 million people watched the. Mention should also be made of the effective setting of Te Deum by Sir William Walton, the lovely simplicity of Vaughan Williams O Taste and See, sung during the Communionboth of which were written for this coronationand the fanfares composed by Sir Ernest Bullock, who, as the organist of Westminster Abbey, was responsible for the music at the coronation of King George VI. The blitz on London begins. Both Meghan and Prince Harry make a point of praising the Queen and instead direct their criticism at the royal household. The Queen reluctantly cancels a planned two-day visit to Northern Ireland after advice from her doctors that she should rest. Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lt Philip Mountbatten, her third cousin. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. She returned to the central dias for the flypast of 640 British and Commonwealth aircraft, of which 440 were jet-powered. As Canadian Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent said at the time: "In my view the Coronation is the official enthronement of the Sovereign as Sovereign of the UK. So, while Queen Elizabeth II's coronation didn't come until mid-1953, she became queen the very moment her father, King George VI, died, on Feb. 6, 1952. He is thenceforth known as the Duke of Edinburgh. In February 2022, Elizabeth celebrated her. Her father, King George VI, died at the age of 56 from coronary thrombosis on February 6, 1952 . Originally made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661, the crown weighs nearly 5 lbs and is encrusted with semi-precious stones. The Queen's Accession and Coronation On 6 February 1952, King George VI died following a prolonged illness and Princess Elizabeth immediately acceded to the throne, becoming Queen Elizabeth II and taking on all of the responsibilities which came with her new title. It was a moment that shocked the nation - cinemas, sports grounds and theatres were closed, television programmes were not broadcast, and even Parliament was adjourned as a mark of respect. On 2 June, 1953, the day of the coronation, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip were driven from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach which was pulled by eight grey. Roughly 8,000 guests were invited to attend the coronation ceremony in person. Prince William, second in line to the throne, marries Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey. But despite the vehicle's opulence, Queen Elizabeth herself later called the transportation "horrible," before explaining, "It's only sprung on a lever. The one-day ceremony took 14 months of preparation: the first meeting of the Coronation Commission was in April 1952,[4] under the chairmanship of the Queen's husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The visit will celebrate Britain's relationship with France and Germany, marking our shared histories, culture and values. [91] The first part of the review was a march past by contingents representing the various commands of the RAF, with Bomber Command leading. [33][65] Four new orchestral pieces were planned; Arthur Bliss composed Processional; Walton, Orb and Sceptre; and Arnold Bax, Coronation March. Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne following the unexpected death of her father, King George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952. [30] The struggling ABC network arranged to re-transmit the CBC broadcast, taking the on-the-air signal from the CBC's Toronto station and feeding the network from WBEN-TV, Buffalo's lone television station at the time; as a result, ABC beat the other two networks to air by more than 90 minutesand at considerably lower cost. The following day she postpones a privy council meeting, which she was due to attend virtually, under doctors advice to rest. The Coronation Cup football tournament was held at Hampden Park, Glasgow in May, and[24] two weeks before the coronation, the children's literary magazine Collins Magazine rebranded itself as The Young Elizabethan. Dr Alban Webb explores the evolution of television between the 1936 coronation of King George VI and the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It was the first British coronation to be fully televised; television cameras were not allowed inside the abbey during her parents' coronation in 1937. [citation needed], Although it did not as yet have a full-time television service, film was also dispatched to Australia aboard a Qantas airliner, which arrived in Sydney in a record time of 53 hours 28 minutes. Proclamations were made in different Commonwealth realms on 6, 7, 8, and 11 February (depending on geographic location and time zone). Nationality. With the first two items on and in her right hand and the latter in her left, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned by the archbishop of Canterbury, with the crowd chanting "God save the queen!" Prince Andrew settles the sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, avoiding having to give evidence in a trial and protecting the royal family from further reputational damage. Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Date and Venue Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne following the unexpected death of her father, King George. Her Majestys yacht Britannia is decommissioned; the government decides against funding a replacement. Her relationship with him had been controversial because he was divorced, and her request to marry him with its echoes of the abdication crisis had been opposed by large sections of the establishment. She adds: We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again. The broadcast is watched by an estimated 24 million viewers. Coronation Order of Service, 1953. [34] For those not present, more than 200 microphones were stationed along the path and in Westminster Abbey, with 750 commentators broadcasting in 39 languages. This article was amended on 14 September 2022 because an earlier version incorrectly referred to Mitterrand as the prime minister of France. As second in line to the throne, Prince George may play a prominent role in his grandfather King Charles III's . [15], Elizabeth rehearsed for the occasion with her maids of honour. Elizabeth II, marking her Platinum Jubilee, became queen on Feb. 6, 1952 - The Washington Post Advertisement This article was published more than 1 year ago Retropolis As Elizabeth. Then, on the eve of Dianas funeral, she does a walkabout to meet mourners outside Buckingham Palace and gives a televised address, speaking as your Queen and as a grandmother and paying tribute to Diana. Decorated with British guards playing instruments and cartoon animals, the invitation read, "By Command of The Queen the Earl Marshal is directed to invite His Royal Highness Prince Charles to the Coronation." Now wearing the Imperial State Crown and holding the Sceptre with the Cross and the Orb, and as the gathered guests sang "God Save the Queen", Elizabeth left Westminster Abbey through the nave and apse, out the Great West Door. The History of the coronation by L.E.Tanner, 1952 The coronation of Elizabeth Wydeville [Woodville], queen consort of Edward IV, a contemporary account, printed by George Smith, 1935 The coronation of Richard III - the extant documents edited by A.F.Sutton & P.W.Hammond, 1983 The coronation order of King James I edited by J.Wickham Legg, 1902 The untold story of Elizabeth II's first year on the throne. Funeral of Prince Philip at Windsor. The Queen and Prince Philip move to Windsor Castle and sequester there as a precaution as the coronavirus hits the UK. 29,000 service personnel from Britain and across the Commonwealth marched in a procession that was 2 miles (3.2km) long and took 45 minutes to pass any given point. Princess Elizabeth, then aged 25, was visiting Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip, when her father, King George VI, died aged 56 on February 6, 1952. [66] The orchestra, of 60 players, was drawn from the leading members of British symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. Read about our approach to external linking. The Duchess of Sussex gives birth to a daughter. After the royal peers, the 5 most senior peers, one for each rank, offered their fealty as representatives of the peerage of the United Kingdom: Norfolk for dukes, Huntly for marquesses, Shrewsbury for earls, Arbuthnott for viscounts and Mowbray for barons. Charles and Dianas marriage is dissolved, Diana dies in a car crash in Paris. 2002: During this year she also marks her Golden Jubilee - spending 50 years on the throne. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they will step back from their roles in public life as senior members of the royal family, and will divide their time between the UK and North America. The Queen in effect suspends Prince Andrew from duties by giving him permission to step back from public duties for the foreseeable future after intense public reaction to a BBC Newsnight interview about his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Queen becomes the first British monarch to commemorate a sapphire jubilee. On 6th February 1952, Princess Elizabeth was watching wildlife in Kenya when she heard that her father, George VI, had died. [83], Using the frigate HMSSurprise as a royal yacht, the Queen and royal family started to review the lines of anchored ships at 3:30p.m., finally anchoring at 5:10p.m.[84] This was followed by a fly-past of Fleet Air Arm aircraft. All About the Monarch's Final Resting Place, Queen Elizabeth's Coffin Makes Procession Through London Followed by Royal Family, A Look Back at King George VI's 1952 Funeral Ahead of His Daughter Queen Elizabeth's, All About the Crown on Queen Elizabeth's Coffin in Scotland, All of the Moving Photos from the Procession of Queen Elizabeth's Coffin Through London on Wednesday Morning, Queen's Children and Grandchildren Make First Appearance Since Her Death to View Tributes at Balmoral, What Is Operation London Bridge? She was on a royal . Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day in 1953 (AFP via Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II has died, aged 96. But for various reasons this was not found to be practicable. Those who had been present within the abbey at the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 were not unprepared for a ceremony which, despite its splendid setting, had a simplicity which was deeply moving. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embark on a tour of the Commonwealth. Marcus Simon Sarjeant. [81] On the Korean Peninsula, Canadian soldiers serving in the Korean War acknowledged the day by firing red, white, and blue coloured smoke shells at the enemy and drank rum rations. The Queen joins 2,000 guests for a service at Westminster Abbey to mark 60 years since her coronation. Queens silver jubilee. Who will perform at his coronation on May 6, 2023. . Because no one had any idea that she would be crowned only 16 years after her father, planning Queen Elizabeth's coronation took time. Funeral of George VI takes place at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle. For the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II there were many who hoped and urged that the procession from Westminster Hall should be revived, and that some ceremony should be devised within that historic hall which might associate the overseas members of the Commonwealth more closely with the sovereigns coronation. The coronation was held more than one year later because of . Among these guests were Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, and her son, Prince Charles. The Queen spends a night at King Edward VIIs hospital after being admitted for preliminary investigations having cancelled a two-day trip to Northern Ireland on the advice of doctors that she should rest for a few days. The Coronation Preparations. Because no one had any idea that she would be crowned only 16 years. In a written message, she says she is humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate. The Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy also each included a light carrier in their contingents, HMASSydney and HMCSMagnificent. Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor is eighth in line to the throne. Seated again on the Chair of Estate, Elizabeth then took the Coronation Oath as administered by the archbishop of Canterbury. McKie convened an advisory committee with Sir Arnold Bax and Sir Ernest Bullock, who had directed the music for the previous coronation. We pay respect by giving voice to social justice, acknowledging our shared history and valuing the cultures of First Nations. Michael Fagan breaks into the Queens bedroom during the early hours, evading alarms, guards and police. It later emerges that much of the information had been supplied by Diana herself. After lunch, the queen in an open car toured the lines of some 300 aircraft that were arranged in a static display. More than 20 million people watched the Service on television, outnumbering the radio audience for the first time. Marcus Simon Sarjeant (born 1963/1964) is a British man who fired six blank shots at Queen Elizabeth II as she rode down The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London in 1981. It was estimated to have cost 1.57 million (c. 43,427,400 in 2019). The Queen and the French president Franois Mitterrand open the Channel Tunnel. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GB Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Mint Blocks From 1953 at the best online prices at eBay! The Queen wore two crowns on her Coronation Day: the St. Edward's Crown and the Imperial State Crown. Free delivery for many products! US networks NBC and CBS made similar arrangements to have films flown in relays back to the United States for same-day broadcast, but used slower propeller-driven aircraft. We are happy to attend and witness the Coronation of the Sovereign of the UK but we are not direct participants in that function. The Queen gives a rare televised address to the nation, the fifth in her 68-year reign, as an unprecedented lockdown is enforced. In her speech, Queen Elizabeth spoke to the millions of people who were watching and listening. Many physical preparations and decorations along the route were the responsibility of David Eccles, Minister of Works. There are four versions of the medal: one issued by the United Kingdom, another by Canada, the third for the Caribbean realms of . It originally appeared in the 1954 Britannica Book of the Year. The coronation was held more than one year later because of the tradition of allowing an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies before holding such festivals. [53], After she moved to stand before King Edward's Chair, Elizabeth turned, following as Fisher, along with the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (Lord Simonds), Lord Great Chamberlain of England (Lord Cholmondeley), Lord High Constable of England (Lord Alanbrooke) and Earl Marshal of the United Kingdom (the Duke of Norfolk), all led by Garter Principal King of Arms George Bellew. The chrism oil, or holy oil, that will be used at King Charles III's coronation is based from the same oil that was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. 1997, 31 August: Princess Diana is killed in a car accident in France. Queen Elizabeth II became our ruling monarch on Wednesday 6 February 1952, the day King George VI died. [1] She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive councils shortly afterwards. He had indicated wishes for a smaller funeral, though amendments were still made to bring his service in line with Covid regulations, including quarantine for members of his family travelling from abroad. [92], List of royal guests at the coronation of Elizabeth II, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, List of participants in the coronation procession of Elizabeth II, leaders of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, "1953: Queen Elizabeth takes coronation oath", "60 Fascinating Facts About The Queen's Coronation", "The coronation and visit of Queen Elizabeth II", "Family's Ancient Right to Prepare for Coronation", "Coronation Gown of Queen Elizabeth II: The Queen's Robes, Part 2", "By Appointment: Norman Hartnell's sample for the Coronation dress of Queen Elizabeth II", "The Queen's Coronation Shoes Are Making A Comeback 67 Years Later", "Diamond brooch given by Queen Elizabeth II as a thank-you for coronation duties", "Hundreds come forward to claim a role in King Charles's coronation", "The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II", "Put on those specs, couch potatoes 3D poised to reinvent TV: tech guru", "Early Color Television: British Experimental Field Sequential Color System", "Television reigns: Broadcasting Queen Elizabeth's coronation", "Society > The Monarchy > Canada's New Queen > Coronation of Queen Elizabeth > The Story", "Society > The Monarchy > Canada's New Queen > Coronation of Queen Elizabeth > Did You Know? The piece was commissioned by Queen Victoria and worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth at their respective coronations. The presence of the husband of a queen regnant at a coronation had not occurred since Prince George of Denmark attended the coronation of Queen Anne in 1702. Three million people lined the streets to see Queen Elizabeth make her way through London in the gilded carriage. Guardian Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, waters and community. It also gave the planning committees adequate time to make preparations for the ceremony. He was the president. The Archbishop of Canterbury asked the audience in each direction of the compass separately: "Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen: wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" The Royal Mail issued the final set of stamps featuring the late British Queen Elizabeth II's silhouette. She flies back to Britain. Shots are fired at the Queen as she attends Trooping the Colour. Although Elizabeth had ascended the throne upon the death of her father, George VI, on February 6, 1952, her coronation took place more than a year later. In 1953 not only was there a commentary but the service itself was televised and colour films were taken during its progress. The white duchess satin dress was created by Sir Norman Hartnell (the same designer who made her 1947 wedding gown) and included several personal touches requested by the Queen herself like embroidered flowers that represented the United Kingdom as well as countries from throughout the Commonwealth, which at that time included Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan. The Duke of Edinburgh was also the first person to pay homage to the new monarch following the Archbishop of Canterbury. [72] Three million bronze coronation medallions were ordered by the Canadian government, struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and distributed to schoolchildren across the country; the obverse showed Elizabeth's effigy and the reverse the royal cypher above the word CANADA, all circumscribed by ELIZABETH II REGINA CORONATA MCMLIII. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [29], The procession included foreign royalty and heads of state riding to Westminster Abbey in various carriages, so many that volunteers ranging from wealthy businessmen to rural landowners were required to supplement the insufficient ranks of regular footmen. Queen Elizabeth II at Sandringham, her country estate, on Saturday. [31] The worldwide television audience for the coronation was estimated to be 277 million. The coronation was held on June 2, 1953 a full year after her father's passing at Westminster Abbey. On her Coronation Day, the Queen traveled in a golden horse-drawn carriage. Another tradition was that new works be commissioned from the leading composers of the day: Ralph Vaughan Williams composed a new motet O Taste and See, William Walton composed a setting for the Te Deum, and the Canadian composer Healey Willan wrote an anthem O Lord our Governor. The BBC's Coronation coverage was broadcast around the world. ", The gown was only publicly displayed three times during the Queen's lifetime, most recently during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. [82] There were more British and Commonwealth naval ships present than at the 1937 coronation review, though a third of them were frigates or smaller vessels. The Queen, who was at his bedside, describes his death as leaving a huge void in her life. In Europe, thanks to new relay links, this was the first live broadcast of an event taking place in the United Kingdom. Celebrations took place across the Commonwealth realms and a commemorative medal was issued. The Queen stays in seclusion for several days, and is heavily criticised in the press for her silence. Each of the 18 violinists, headed by Paul Beard, was the leader of a major orchestra or chamber group. [48], Among other dignitaries who attended the event were Sir Winston Churchill, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Bogra and Col Anastasio Somoza Debayle of Nicaragua. She is in Kenya when her father dies the first British monarch since George I to be out of the country at the time of succession. The Queen celebrates her platinum jubilee after a record 70 years on the throne. Princess Anne marries Capt Mark Phillips.