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.
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| 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."
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| Proclamation announcement of Queen Elizabeth II on the streets of London. |
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Proclamation Queen Elizabeth II at Killie Cross. |
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| 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. |
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| High Sheriff of Surrey, Major F. Paget-Hett, reads the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II on the steps of Holy Trinity Church in Guildford. |
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Reading of the Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth IIfrom the Market Cross. |
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| 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:
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.
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