Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor turned Queen Elizabeth following the sudden demise of her father, King George VI, in February 1952. Because of the sudden nature of the King’s demise, the Queen’s coronation was delayed by greater than a yr. She was formally topped on June 2, 1953, in entrance of 27 million viewers who watched by tv, 11 million who tuned in by way of radio and eight,000 distinguished company who attended in individual.

As is likely to be anticipated for such a momentous occasion, the coronation required detailed planning for all the things from how the Queen would arrive (in a horse-drawn gold carriage) to what she would put on (a beautiful robe that she had a hands-on function in designing) and to who would attend (then-4-year-old Prince Charles acquired a hand-painted invitation to the ceremony).

Here’s a take a look at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Date and Venue

Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne following the sudden demise of her father, King George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952. As a result of nobody had any concept that she could be topped solely 16 years after her father, planning Queen Elizabeth‘s coronation took time.

The coronation was held on June 2, 1953 — a full yr after her father’s passing — at Westminster Abbey.

Prince Philip performed an instrumental half in planning the event, chairing the Coronation Committee, which was one among two committees created to prepare the occasion.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Carriage

On her Coronation Day, the Queen traveled in a golden horse-drawn carriage. However regardless of the automobile’s opulence, Queen Elizabeth herself later referred to as the transportation “horrible,” earlier than explaining, “It is solely sprung on a lever. Not very snug.”

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Three million folks lined the streets to see Queen Elizabeth make her means by way of London within the gilded carriage.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Robe

Queen Elizabeth performed a big function within the design of the robe she wore to the occasion. The white duchess satin gown was created by Sir Norman Hartnell (the identical designer who made her 1947 wedding ceremony robe) and included a number of private touches requested by the Queen herself like embroidered flowers that represented the UK in addition to nations from all through the Commonwealth, which at the moment included Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Hartnell additionally stitched a four-leaf shamrock for good luck on the left aspect of the skirt, positioned exactly the place Queen Elizabeth‘s hand would fall throughout the ceremony. Moreover, the gown was threaded with leeks, the image of Wales. As Caroline de Gautaut, deputy surveyor of the Queen’s Works of Artwork, instructed PEOPLE, “Again then, the Earl Marshall, who was in command of all the things to do with the protocols of the coronation, was adamant that the leek was the main emblem of Wales — it does look very lovely.”

The robe was solely publicly displayed 3 times throughout the Queen’s lifetime, most lately throughout the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. As de Gautaut defined to PEOPLE, “It is in all probability probably the most necessary attire made within the twentieth century — actually an important piece of British design. The mix of wealthy materials and delightful embroideries was actually Hartnell’s absolute signature and I believe the best expression of all his profession.”

Queen Elizabeth‘s footwear had been additionally particular. The ornate footwear, which had been designed by French shoemaker Roger Vivier and British shoemakers Delman Ltd, had been mentioned to have been impressed by the Chartres Cathedral in France. The royal heels had been gilded in gold and coated in rubies, making them actually match for royalty.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Regalia

The Queen wore two crowns on her Coronation Day: the St. Edward’s Crown and the Imperial State Crown.

In response to the Historic Royal Palace’s web site, the St. Edward’s Crown is “a very powerful and sacred of all of the crowns” and “is barely used for the time being of crowning itself.” Initially made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661, the crown weighs practically 5 lbs and is encrusted with semi-precious stones.

For her departure from Westminster Abbey, the freshly-coronated Queen Elizabeth changed the St. Edward’s Crown with the lighter 3 lb. Imperial State Crown, which is manufactured from gold and options diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, pearls and rubies.

Different items of the Coronation Regalia (that are a part of the Crown Jewels assortment) had been additionally used throughout the coronation, together with, the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, the Sovereign’s Orb and the Coronation Spoon.

As coronation knowledgeable Alastair Bruce instructed PEOPLE, the Jewels themselves are well-known, however their significance is commonly misunderstood. He mentioned, “The Crown Jewels embrace ‘The Regalia,’ that are used at a coronation when the monarch is invested with the perfect recognized, if least understood, symbols of this kingdom.”

Bruce continued, “Put up bins, police helmets, earnings tax returns and virtually each visible expression of the UK shows a Crown and Orb. The which means of every of the important thing objects has developed from emblems of authority that date means again earlier than the Saxons arrived. But there’s an everlasting relevance to trendy management wrapped into every image that categorical values of humility, obligation and repair, whereas representing whole energy. Discovering their which means helps to outline what the Sovereign is to the Crown and the way that Crown is the property of us all, within the constitutional operate of Monarchy.”

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Broadcast

The occasion was a significant one within the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth and within the historical past of the UK as an entire. This was the primary televised coronation, a undeniable fact that popularized the medium within the nation. As much as that time, many thought of tv “radio’s weaker brother,” however permitting thousands and thousands of individuals to take pleasure in such a momentous occasion modified that.

Almost 27 million folks in Britain watched the occasions as they unfolded. They had been joined by one other 11 million who tuned in to listen to what was arguably a very powerful a part of the day: the Queen’s coronation speech.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Speech

In her speech, Queen Elizabeth spoke to the thousands and thousands of people that had been watching and listening. She mentioned partially, “I’ve behind me not solely the luxurious traditions and the annals of greater than a thousand years however the dwelling power and majesty of the Commonwealth and Empire; of societies outdated and new; of lands and races completely different in historical past and origins however all, by God’s Will, united in spirit and in purpose.”

“Subsequently I’m positive that this, my Coronation, isn’t the image of an influence and a splendor which are gone however a declaration of our hopes for the long run, and for the years I could, by God’s Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen.”

Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Attendees

Roughly 8,000 company had been invited to attend the coronation ceremony in individual. Amongst these company had been Queen Elizabeth‘s husband, Prince Philip, and her son, Prince Charles.

Whereas he was not topped alongside his spouse, Prince Philip nonetheless loved the royal remedy throughout the coronation. He was outfitted in an expensive ermine-trimmed pink gown, below which he wore his Admiral of the Fleet uniform. The Duke of Edinburgh was additionally the primary individual to pay homage to the brand new monarch following the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Prince Charles, who was 4 years outdated on the time, was the primary inheritor obvious to ever attend such an occasion. He had acquired his personal hand-painted invitation to the ceremony, one which was particularly designed with the younger boy in thoughts. Adorned with British guards taking part in devices and cartoon animals, the invitation learn, “By Command of The Queen the Earl Marshal is directed to ask His Royal Highness Prince Charles to the Coronation.” Nonetheless, Charles was photographed showing intermittently enthused and bored by the day’s occasions.