#r1952

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King George VI (far left), Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret (both centre) wave goodbye to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as the couple leave for the Commonwealth Tour, 31 January 1952. Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022.

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Princess Margaret attending a perfomance of Much Ado About Nothing at the Phoenix Theatre on 26 June 1952.

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31 January 1952 || King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at London Airport, seeing off Princess Elizabeth as she embarked on a Commonwealth tour on behalf of her ailing father. This was the King’s last public appearance and the last time Elizabeth would see him before his death on 6 February, by which she became Queen Elizabeth II.

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Princess Elizabeth and the Governor of Kenya, Sir Philip Mitchell, attending a garden party at Government House in Nairobi on 1 February 1952, the first day of her Commonwealth Tour. 

The Princess had departed from London Airport the previous day, stepping in for her sick father, King George VI, who passed away on 6 February. Princess Elizabeth returned to London on 7 February as Queen Elizabeth II.

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31 January // 7 February 1952 ♔ Princess Elizabeth leaving London Airport for a royal tour of Kenya → Returning a week later as Queen Elizabeth II, following the death of her father King George VI on the 6th.

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The death of King George VI, on 6 February, 1952, brought to a close a life unsurpassed during the last thousand years of English history for quiet heroism and selfless devotion to the royal duties laid upon him. […] At the news of his passing there was sorrow everywhere for the loss, not only of a king, but of a brother; for in a quiet unique degree King George was at one with his people. No exceptional brilliance set him apart; while the happiness of his family life, the unaffected sincerity of his Christian faith, the friendliness and ready sympathy he showed to everyone, regardless of class or wealth, kindled in them a feeling of intimate fellowship. He was no remote potentate, but their brother King. And while they mourn, they thank God at every remembrance - Malcolm Thomson, The Life and Times of King George VI, 1895-1952.

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Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, at the funeral of her late husband King George VI on 15 February 1952. 

I want to send this message of thanks to a multitude of people - to you who, from all parts of the world, have been giving me your sympathy and affection throughout these dark days. I want you to know how your concern for me has upheld me in my sorrow, and how you have made me by your wonderful tributes to my dear husband, a great and noble King. No man had a deeper sense than he of duty and of service, and no man was more full of compassion for his fellow-men. He loved you all, every one of you, most truly. That, you know, was what he always tried to tell you in his yearly message at Christmas; that was the pledge he took at the sacred moment of his coronation fifteen years ago. Now I am left alone, to do what I can to honour that pledge without him. 

Throughout our married life we have tried, the King and I, to fulfil with all our hearts and all our strength the great task of service that was laid upon us. My only wish now is that I may be allowed to continue the work that we sought to do together. 

I commend to you our dear daughter: give her your loyalty and devotion: in the great and lonely station to which she has been called she will need your protection and your love. 

God bless you all; and may He in his wisdom guide us safely to our true destiny of peace and good will.

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Queen Elizabeth II wearing the George IV State Diadem, photographed by Dorothy Wilding on 15 April 1952 - their second official sitting since Elizabeth’s accession on 6 February. Royal Collection Trust / © HM Queen Elizabeth II 2018.