This Day in History:
Elizabeth Becomes Queen February 6, 1952 After a long illness,
King George VI of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland died in his sleep. Princess Elizabeth — the oldest of
the king’s two daughters and next
in line to succeed him — was in Kenya
at the time of her father’s death. Groomed as a girl to
succeed her father, she was
crowned Queen Elizabeth II
on June 2, 1953, at age 27. From the start of her reign,
Elizabeth understood the
value of public relations. She insisted that her
1953 coronation be televised,
despite objections that it
would cheapen the ceremony. The 40th British monarch since
William the Conqueror, Elizabeth
worked hard at her royal duties
and became a popular figure around the world. She is only the fifth British
monarch to celebrate more
than 50 years in the throne. She's one of the world’s
wealthiest women, with
extensive real-estate holdings
and art and jewelry collections.