Queen Elizabeth II is Time's Woman of the Year for 1952


In its January 5, 1953 issue, TIME magazine named Queen Elizabeth II as "Woman of the Year" for 1952. The cover featured a portrait of the Queen by artist Boris Chaliapin.

The accompanying article highlighted the impact of her ascension to the throne: "What, then, was Elizabeth’s significance? It was no more—and no less—than the significance of a fresh young blossom on roots that had weathered many a season of wintry doubt. The British, as weary and discouraged as the rest of the world in 1952, saw in their new young Queen a reminder of a great past when they had carved out empires under Elizabeth I and Victoria, and dared to hope that she might be an omen of a great future."

The Queen had captured the world’s attention during her accession to the British throne in 1952. Though a symbolic head of state, the new top royal generated quite the buzz. Emerging from the ruins of World War II, which saw many parts of Elizabeth’s realm ravaged, a little optimism and good cheer was exactly what the people needed.

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