A Princess becomes a Queen
Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after her Coronation ceremony.
On 2 June 1953 Princess Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey in London. This is called a Coronation.
Queen Elizabeth was 26 years old.
In this ceremony the Queen became head of state of the United Kingdom, head of the Church of England and head of the Armed Forces.
The Queen's father King George VI was crowned in 1937. The Queen's son King Charles III was crowned in 2023.
Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after her Coronation ceremony.
What happened that day?
Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh kneels before Queen Elizabeth II during her Coronation.
- The Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh were driven from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in a gold coach.
- Queen Elizabeth was crowned in St Edward’s Chair, made in 1300 for King Edward I.
- The St Edward’s Crown,was placed on the Queen’s head during the coronation. It is made of solid gold.
- More than 8,000 guests were at the ceremony.
Did you know?
27 million people watched the coronation live on TV.
- It was the first coronation to be on television. 27 million people in the UK watched in on TV.
- It was the first time more people watched a TV broadcast, rather than listen to it on the radio.
- 3 million people lined the streets in London to watch the procession.
Activity: The coronation broadcast
Watch this BBC News clip of the Coronation in 1953 and how sixty years later the film footage was restored to make it better quality.
- Can you write down three interesting facts from this clip that you might share at school?
