Elizabeth II has been queen for 70 years now. This February 6, 2022, the Sovereign officially begins the celebrations of her platinum jubilee, which will continue throughout the year, with a big party week expected from June 2 to 5. For sure, Elizabeth II will have a thought this Sunday for her father the king George VI, who died on that famous February 6, 1952, the day she became queen.
When she learns of the death of her beloved father, Princess Elizabeth finds herself thousands of miles from England. On January 31, 1952, the then 25-year-old left the country with her husband Philip to begin a new official trip to New Zealand and Australia, via Kenya. Their two young children, Charles and Anne, are not part of the trip. On the day of departure, George VI had also insisted on accompanying his eldest daughter and son-in-law to the London aerodrome. His health declining in recent months, had he felt that perhaps these were the last hugs? Very weakened by the war and lung cancer for which he had been operated on the previous year, the king’s state of health was closely monitored.
On the eve of the fateful day, Princess Elizabeth and her husband spend a great day watching animals in the African savannah. The night of Feb. 5-6, the couple spent it perched atop a giant fig tree in the Treetops Hotel, admiring wildlife bustling after dark. As the magazine tells Point of view of February 2, 2022, delighted with this experience, the princess returned the next morning to her Sagana Lodge (offered by Kenya as a wedding gift) and immediately began to recount her adventures in a letter addressed to her father… that he will never read.
Far away in Sandringham, King George VI dies in his sleep on the night of February 5-6, following a coronary thrombosis, at the age of 56. Immediately notified, Buckingham Palace transmitted the announcement of the death to the Governor General of Kenya, but the latter was absent: he had gone to Mombasa to attend the departure of Elizabeth and Philip for Australia, aboard the ship on Gothic… For her part, once her letter has been written, the princess enjoys a morning of trout fishing in the Sagana River. Back at Sagana Lodge, she goes back to her mail, while her husband Philip rests on the sofa with the newspaper. The last moments of peace.
I’m sorry, we have to go home
Finally, the princess’s private secretary, Major Martin Charteris, learns of the king’s death by telephone, when a reporter calls him while he is having lunch at his hotel. The news is already known to the media. Martin Chareris in turn warns Prince Philip’s private secretary, Captain Michael Parker, who is at Sagana Lodge. Then comes the time to warn Philip, dozing on the sofa: Mike Parker will later say that the prince reacted as if “the sky was falling on his head“answering that”it will be a terrible shock“.
Informed of the details of George VI’s death, Philip first takes his wife for a walk in the garden, while their staff busy themselves in the bungalow. At 3 p.m., he finally tells her the news in their room. Shortly after, the couple goes out for some fresh air. “We watched them walk side by side for long minutes, said Lady Pamela Mountbatten, cousin of Philip and lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth during this trip, as reported Point of view. I was overwhelmed, I knew how much she adored her father (…). His first reaction was to think of others. She said something like, ‘I’m sorry, we have to go home, I ruined everyone’s stay.’“According to her, Philip was”fantastic“in these difficult times.
On her return to the lodge, after her one-on-one tour with her husband, Elizabeth finds her private secretary who asks her under what name she wishes to reign: “mine sure“, she answers. Everyone then packs up and the royal couple returns to London by plane. The princess is then proclaimed queen and the funeral of George VI is held on February 15, 1952. After a period of regulatory mourning, Elizabeth II’s coronation was held in Westminster on June 2, 1953. She probably had no idea that she was going to have the longest reign ever.