From the beginning, the unexpected has pervaded the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
As a child, “Lilibet” and her younger sister Margaret were groomed for a life considered ordinary by royal standards. However, at the age of 10, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor’s future as Defender of the Faith was sealed when her father took the throne in an unforeseen turn of events.
It would be the first of many detours along the royal road ahead.
In honor of her Diamond Jubilee, which this year celebrates six decades of her rule, here are Queen Elizabeth’s Top 10 Royal Moments:
1. The Abdication of King Edward VIII
When Elizabeth’s grandfather King George V died in 1936, the crown passed to her uncle King Edward VIII.
However, Edward refused to forsake plans to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, opting instead to abdicate the throne less than a year after his father’s death.
The switch propelled her father, George VI, to the throne and altered Elizabeth’s life forever. Suddenly the 10-year-old girl was reading the latest political news and absorbing lessons on British government.
Here’s a video of his historic speech:
2. Accession to the Throne
On Feb. 6, 1952, while on a trip to Kenya with her husband, Prince Philip, Elizabeth learned her father had died and she had inherited the crown at the age of 25. She immediately returned to Britain as quickly as possible.
Thrust into the global spotlight, Elizabeth was named Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year – 1952.
Here’s a historical video all bout her Accession Day:
3. Coronation
Elizabeth’s coronation as Queen at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953 was the first coronation broadcast on television.
The more than 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and other heads of state from throughout the Commonwealth, witnessed the Archbishop of Canterbury place the crown on her head.
In a radio broadcast marking the occasion, the Queen said, “throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”
4. Silver Jubilee – 1977
More than one million people gathered along the streets of London to watch the Royal Family, led by the Queen and Prince Philip in the golden state coach, on its way to St. Paul’s at the launch of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.
“I want to thank all those in Britain and the Commonwealth who, through their loyalty and friendship, have given me strength and encouragement during these last 25 years,” said the Queen at the time.
5. “Annus Horribilis”
In a speech given Nov. 24, 1992 to mark the 40th anniversary of her accession, the Queen referred to 1992 as her “annus horribilis,” or horrible year.
It was, after all, the year her sons Prince Charles and Andrew, the Duke of York separated from their wives, Diana and Sarah, respectively; daughter Princess Anne divorced; and a fire destroyed a portion of Windsor Castle.
During that speech, Elizabeth said, “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. … I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge the events of this tumultuous year. I dare say that history will take a slightly more moderate view than that of some contemporary commentators.”
6. Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
When Diana, former wife of Prince Charles, died following a car crash on Aug. 31, 1997, members of the Royal Family were depicted as unemotional and lacking in compassion for not displaying grief publicly.
The Queen subsequently broke convention by bowing to Diana’s coffin as it passed Buckingham Palace during the funeral procession and paid tribute to Diana during a live television broadcast on Sept. 9, 1997, thereby ending criticism from the tabloids.
During her speech, Elizabeth said, “Since last Sunday’s dreadful news, we have seen, throughout Britain and around the world, an overwhelming expression of sadness at Diana’s death. We have all been trying in our different ways to cope. It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger and concern for those who remain. We have all felt those emotions in the last few days. So what I say to you now, as your queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart. First I want to pay tribute to Diana myself. She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”
7. The Deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother
In 2002, the Queen lost her sister and only sibling, Princess Margaret, and her mother, the Queen Mother.
Margaret died Feb. 9. In a statement from the Palace, the Queen announced her death “with great sadness.”
The Queen Mother died the following month on March 30 at the age of 101 with Elizabeth at her bedside.
8. Reception for Charles and Camilla
Despite her well-known disapproval of their relationship, the Queen held a reception at Windsor Castle in honor of the April 9, 2005 marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. She and Philip did not attend the civil wedding ceremony.
The marriage was said to have been the culmination of the long and controversial relationship of Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
9. Advising Prince William on his Wedding
The Queen assisted her grandson in planning his April 29, 2011 wedding to Kate Middleton.
Not only did Elizabeth advise William regarding what to wear (his Irish Guards uniform), she helped shape the guest list for the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. “I rang her up and said ‘Do we need to be doing this?’ ” he said in an article printed in The Daily Mail. “And she said, ‘No. Start with your friends first and then go from there.’ And she told me to bin the list.”
10. Farewell Tour, Visit to Ireland
Last year, at the age of 85, the Queen embarked on what many referred to as her “Farewell Tour” of the Australia, her 16th visit to the continent.
She also became the first monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland since it gained independence in the 1920s. The historic four-day visit was conducted in May.
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Leeann Neal. LeeAnn is an Oregon coast freelance writer and journalist. Her grandmother, whose own grandparents moved to the United States from London in the 1800s, was a staunch Anglophile who insisted on passing on the ritual of afternoon tea, and who made Yorkshire pudding from scratch each Christmas.
What’s your favorite moment of the Queen’s 60 year reign? Let us know in the comments!
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Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Anglotopia was started to get us back to the UK for a trip and it did that in 2009. Now, the goal is for Anglotopia to make our dreams of traveling to the UK whenever we want a reality.
Hello, January 30, 2012
It was all very nicely done! The Queen very much impressed me. There is of course a differance, between people who lead and people who lead well. In my opinion, Queen Elizabeth has led, very well!
Also, I would like to say, that the shameful attitude shown. By some of the people and the press after a piece of the castle burned. Was not impressive, but rather rude and petty really. The Queens visit to Ireland was impressive to me.. Primarily because it was the first Royal visit for many years. I was very impressed with the Queen overall. With these video recordings. There is a vision of a decent human being there. That I have long sensed and hoped for! Which is sometimes, too rare commodity! In leadership positions, in this world seemingly gone mad. I wholeheartedly would like to say; God Save The Queen! by Dom.
When I was living in NYC, when the girls and I went out for lunch. This was Park Avenue South. We suddenly noticed that there was absolutely no traffic which is an unusual occasion in this big city. Then we saw three Rolls Royce so we stopped to look. The first one was the Queen waving her hand; the second one was Princess Margaret and the third one was Prince Phillip. I really have no idea why they were visiting the city. After we had lunch, we told the office and they looked at us like to say….and? Nothing seems to impress New Yorkers.
Nice choice of events, the first being most significant since it changed her destiny forever. I would have mentioned the birth of two children then two more after gap of ten years!
Was it Plum pudding that the contributer’s grandmother made for Xmas, rather than Yorkshire pudding which is traditionally served with roast beef and is what they call a popover in the US? Just curious. I had never heard of Yorkshire pud as a Xmas treat.
The visit to Ireland was truly historic and it was a shame the security in Dublin had to be so very severe as it removed her from people and they from her. However, that does not distract from the historical significance of the visit. A lot had to change very deeply for that to happen and her speech at Dublin Castle was a very sensitive one.