Queen Elizabeth II has been Queen since 1952 and is Britain’s longest-serving monarch. But how old was she when she became Queen? Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, in London.
She was the firstborn child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Duke and Duchess of York, and third in line to the throne behind her father and her uncle, the Prince of Wales.
Queen Elizabeth II, who held the title of England’s longest reigning Queen, passed away quietly on Thursday at 96 at Balmoral Castle. During her seven decades as monarch, the country she ruled over went through a period of profound upheaval and transition on a massive scale.
How Old Was Queen Elizabeth When She Became Queen?
Following a protracted battle with illness, King George VI passed away on February 6, 1952. At the Royal Estate in Sandringham, where he was staying, he died peacefully in his sleep.
The King’s eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, also held the position of second-in-line to the throne after her father. At the age of 25, she promptly took the throne, became Queen Elizabeth II, and assumed all of the obligations with the title. She also did this without any delay.
She was in Kenya at the time, making her the only Sovereign to accede to her position while traveling overseas in over 200 years. So she continued the legacy of her father by occupying her throne.
When exactly did Elizabeth II become Queen?
On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey, following her succession to the throne earlier that same year. At the age of 27, she was elevated to the throne.
According to the website of the British royal family, this event was “a serious ceremony,” and Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, presided over the proceedings.
At the ceremony, representatives were present from both the House of Peers and the House of Commons and representatives from all of Britain’s most important public interests. The Prime Minister, prominent citizens from other Commonwealth nations, and representatives from other states were also present.
Despite the persistent rain falling at the time, large crowds of people nonetheless lined the path to see the procession. In addition, the event was aired on radios all over the world, and the first time it was shown on television was at the Queen’s request. The event was watched by about 20 million people around the world.
The ceremony began at 11:15 in the morning and continued for nearly three hours. The ceremony was broken into six distinct segments: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture (which included the crowning), the enthronement, and the adoration.
The Queen wore the St. Edward’s Crown, manufactured in 1661 and weighing four pounds and twelve punches; she placed it on her head during the Coronation service. The crown is composed of solid gold and measures 12 punches in diameter.
Queen Mary, she was the first queen to be crowned in Westminster Abbey in her own right, did so on October 1, 1553. She is the sixth queen to have been crowned in Westminster Abbey in her own right. She was crowned at Westminster Abbey, making her the 39th Sovereign to receive that honour.
St. Edward’s Chair, which has been used for every coronation since it was crafted in 1300 for Edward I and is now permanently housed at Westminster Abbey, was chosen for her coronation.
Why wasn’t Prince Philip elevated to the position of King?
Prince Philip was the name commonly given to the late Duke of Edinburgh, who lived to be 99 years old before passing away; nevertheless, he was never given the title of “king.”
In Britain, a woman who marries a king earns the right to be referred to as a queen, but the criteria differ for males who marry female monarchs such as Queen Elizabeth II.
They are not allowed to call themselves kings because that honour is reserved exclusively for individuals who come from royal bloodlines and inherit the throne.
She married to Prince Philip in 1947, several years before the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952. After some time had passed, she bestowed upon Philip the title of “prince,” although previously, he had been known as the Duke of Edinburgh.
The world mourned her passing in response to the news of her death. Within minutes of the news of her passing being made public, crowds began to assemble outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, and international leaders began sending notes of grief, praising her sense of duty and tenacity.
She died on September 08, 2022.