However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Edward, now King Edward VIII, became involved with the American divorcée Wallis Simpson, causing consternation within the palace as kings were not permitted to marry divorced women. Despite Edward’s assurances that Simpson was merely a friend, the rumors persisted, and the situation escalated into a national crisis upon the death of King George V in 1936.
As the family grappled with Edward’s intentions regarding Simpson, Elizabeth’s life took an unanticipated turn. The loss of her beloved grandfather, with whom she shared a close bond, was deeply felt. Meanwhile, the adults in the family grew increasingly concerned about the implications of Edward’s relationship on the monarchy.
The abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 was a pivotal moment in British history that paved the way for the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. Edward’s decision to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, was met with strong opposition from the government and the Church of England, as it was considered a violation of moral principles.
On November 16, 1936, Edward informed Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin of his intention to marry Wallis and make her queen. However, Baldwin made it clear that the British people would not accept her as the king’s bride due to moral grounds, as Edward was the head of the Church of England and bound by its moral laws.
Ultimately, Edward chose to follow his heart and abdicated the throne on December 10, 1936, after a reign of just 325 days. The news was delivered to his nieces, Elizabeth and Margaret, by a footman. Margaret, then 10 years old, asked Elizabeth, “Does that mean you will have to be the next queen?” Elizabeth, who was only 10 years old at the time, replied, “Yes, someday,” to which Margaret responded, “Poor you.”
This exchange reflected the sentiments of their father, Albert, who became King George VI after Edward’s abdication. Albert was unprepared for the role and had never been groomed to be king. He dreaded public speaking due to his stammer and was initially overwhelmed by the responsibility. However, driven by a sense of duty, he took on the name King George VI to provide continuity during a tumultuous period.
The abdication crisis marked a significant turning point in the British monarchy, ultimately leading to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the throne in 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI.
Here are the key points conveyed in an informative tone:
Elizabeth and her sister Margaret became national obsessions in the UK from a very young age. Their father, King George VI, insisted on treating them equally despite Elizabeth being the heir apparent. This led to them dressing identically and their outfits instantly selling out.
However, the king and queen prioritized the princesses’ happiness over their education. They received minimal schooling, with just 1.5 hours per day focused more on handwriting than academics. Some biographers speculate the king did not want them outsmarting him.
Their tutor Marion Crawford taught them about the royal family’s history. At 13, Elizabeth began studying the British constitution for 6 years with Henry Marten from Eton College to prepare her for her future role.
Despite being heir, Elizabeth’s education was quite limited, reflecting the view at the time that women, even royalty, did not need extensive schooling unless pursuing a career. The priorities were on their happiness and learning domestic skills over academics.
Elizabeth and Margaret, the daughters of King George VI, had a unique childhood experience due to their royal status. While they attended birthday parties and participated in activities like Girl Guides (British version of Girl Scouts), their public outings in London attracted significant attention, making it challenging for them to feel ordinary.
During World War II, their sense of normalcy was further disrupted. In 1940, the princesses were evacuated to Windsor Castle for safety, where they remained for five years until the Allies defeated Germany. Their parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, stayed at Buckingham Palace despite the bombings, with the queen famously refusing to take shelter during air raids.
One incident saw Buckingham Palace receiving a direct hit, nearly killing the royal couple. The queen later wrote about the experience, describing how they were interrupted by the sound of a plane overhead while she was trying to remove an eyelash from the king’s eye, followed by an explosion in the quadrangle.
Despite the dangers, the queen was glad the palace had been bombed, as it allowed her to empathize with the citizens of the East End who had borne the brunt of the German attacks.
The years during and immediately after World War II were a pivotal time for the young Princess Elizabeth. While the chaos of war raged on, Windsor provided a safe haven where Elizabeth could maintain a sense of childhood innocence. Despite hosting friends and officers, she seemed to live in a suspended state of youth, missing out on traditional coming-of-age events like the debutante season and continuing to wear childish clothing even after her 18th birthday.
However, Elizabeth did experience a brief moment of independence in early 1945 when her father, the King, permitted her to train for three weeks at the Mechanical Transport Training Centre as part of the war effort. This experience likely offered her a glimpse into the world beyond the sheltered confines of the royal household.
As the war came to an end in May 1945, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret returned to London, having survived the tumultuous period alongside the rest of England. It was during this time that Elizabeth’s long-standing affection for her third cousin, Philip, solidified. The two had first met when Elizabeth was just 13 years old, and Philip, a tall, blond sailor five years her senior, had immediately captured her heart.
Despite the international upheaval, Elizabeth’s feelings for Philip remained unwavering. Their relationship was nurtured through correspondence while Philip served in the British Royal Navy, and their bond deepened during his visits to the royal family, including one memorable Christmas when Elizabeth performed in a pantomime of Aladdin at the age of 17.
By this point, their mutual affection was evident to those around them, with Elizabeth’s grandmother even remarking that the two had “been in love for the past eighteen months. In fact longer, I think.” Thus, amidst the backdrop of a world emerging from the shadows of war, a young Elizabeth found solace and joy in her blossoming romance with Philip, setting the stage for their eventual marriage and her ascension to the throne.
The royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947, was a significant event marked by several notable details. Elizabeth, at the age of 20, accepted Philip’s proposal without consulting her parents, showcasing her steadfast nature. Her father, King George VI, consented to the engagement on the condition that they wait until Elizabeth’s 21st birthday to announce it.
On the morning of the ceremony, Philip quit smoking as a romantic gesture, knowing Elizabeth’s dislike for the habit due to its impact on her father’s health. The king, despite recognizing the impending separation of the tight-knit royal family, gave Elizabeth away, expressing his sense of loss in a letter to her.
The wedding guest list was carefully curated, with Philip’s German-married sisters and the Duke of Windsor, Elizabeth’s uncle, conspicuously absent for political reasons. The palace aimed to avoid any potential threats to King George VI’s reign.
The wedding at Westminster Abbey marked a significant milestone in the royal family’s history, with Elizabeth and Philip embarking on a new chapter while navigating the complexities of tradition, family dynamics, and political considerations.
The royal wedding ceremony between Elizabeth and Philip included a traditional vow for the bride to “obey” her husband, despite objections from her family and some government officials. This gesture aimed to accommodate Philip’s strong independent nature, which Elizabeth would continue to respect throughout their marriage.
Approximately a year later, the couple welcomed their first child, Charles. Philip took on renovating their new home, and in 1949, they moved into their first house together. That same year, Philip was appointed Second-in-Command of a destroyer stationed off the island of Malta, prompting the family’s relocation to the Mediterranean. Their second child, Anne, was born during this period, and the couple enjoyed a happy life, with Philip pursuing his naval career while Elizabeth experienced life away from the public eye for the first and only time.
King George VI, who had long struggled with health issues, took a turn for the worse in 1951. Surgeons removed his left lung after discovering a malignancy, though the family kept this news from the press. Elizabeth’s private secretary, Martin Charteris, began carrying a draft accession declaration in case the king passed away while Elizabeth was abroad. In January 1952, Elizabeth and Philip embarked on a royal tour initially intended for the king, with their first stop in Kenya. During their stay, the couple spent an evening in a tree hotel, where Elizabeth, an avid photographer, filmed elephants roaming below.
The morning of February 6th marked a significant moment in British history as King George VI passed away at the age of 56. The news quickly spread across England, leaving Prime Minister Winston Churchill concerned about the young age of the heir apparent, Elizabeth, who was only 25 years old at the time. However, reaching Elizabeth and her husband, Philip, proved challenging as they were on a wildlife-viewing trip in Kenya, staying in a treetop hotel. It took approximately four hours before they could be informed of the King’s passing.
Philip broke the news to Elizabeth, and Martin Charteris, the former private secretary to the late King, inquired about the name she would adopt as the new monarch. Monarchs often choose new names upon their ascension, as Elizabeth’s father, Albert, had done. However, Elizabeth decisively stated that she would retain her own name, Elizabeth.
The sudden inheritance of the crown caught Elizabeth and Philip off guard, as they had not anticipated it happening so soon. Philip had envisioned a long naval career before becoming a full-time husband, and he struggled to adapt to the role of consort. He protested their move into Buckingham Palace and found it challenging to accept Elizabeth’s newfound authority. Elizabeth’s mother and sister also found themselves without a clear purpose now that the King was gone, leaving their lives feeling “very blank,” as Elizabeth described.
Despite the challenges, some welcomed the news with optimism. Margaret Thatcher, who would later become Britain’s first female prime minister, expressed hope that Elizabeth’s ascension could help “remove the last shreds of prejudice against women aspiring to the highest places.” When Elizabeth arrived in London, Winston Churchill was among the first to endorse her, stating, “Famous have been the reigns of our queens. Some of the greatest periods in our history have unfolded under their scepter.”
The news of Elizabeth’s accession to the throne was met with an ill-advised remark from her uncle Dickie Mountbatten, who declared, “The House of Mountbatten now reigns.” This statement raised concerns among Elizabeth’s grandmother and Winston Churchill, who feared public backlash against Elizabeth’s German husband. They persuaded her to retain the House of Windsor name, a decision that Philip initially resisted, expressing frustration at not being able to pass his surname to his children.
To appease Philip, Elizabeth appointed him to lead the committee organizing her coronation. In a move to modernize the event for the young, female monarch, Philip advocated for allowing cameras inside Westminster Abbey, an idea initially rejected by Elizabeth and Churchill. However, they reconsidered upon realizing public support for televising the event. Consequently, Elizabeth’s coronation became the first major international event to be broadcast, marking a significant milestone in television history.
The Duke of Windsor, the former King Edward VIII who abdicated the throne in 1936, was not invited to the coronation of his niece, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. This snub reportedly prompted him to make a disparaging remark about his royal relatives. However, despite not attending in person, the Duke joined an estimated 20 million people worldwide in watching the televised coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953.
The coronation was a grand spectacle, with three million spectators lining the streets of London to witness the Queen’s procession to Westminster Abbey in an ornate 24-foot-long gold stagecoach. Her dress was adorned with symbolic emblems representing Great Britain and the Commonwealth nations, including a rose, thistle, shamrock, maple leaf, and fern.
During the ceremony, the most sacred moment, the anointing of the Queen with holy oil, was hidden from the cameras under a canopy. After being presented with the regalia, including a scepter and a five-pound solid gold crown, Elizabeth II took her place on the throne, officially becoming the monarch.
