Seventy years ago today, King George VI died and his daughter, Elizabeth, began her reign as Queen at the tender age of 25.
Elizabeth and Prince Philip had been relaxing at a game-viewing lodge in Kenya thousands of miles from home at the time of the King's death, unaware that their lives had changed forever.
After making the solemn trip home, Elizabeth took her first steps on British soil as Queen and found a nation in mourning.
Her Majesty has gone on to become our longest-serving monarch and the first in history to reach the milestone of a Platinum Jubilee.
Back in 1952 live blogging did not exist, but now, seven decades later, we can revisit the day’s events as they unfolded in real time.
Read on to learn about how the day unfolded when Princess Elizabeth became Queen.
10:01 PM
The Daily Telegraph reports the King’s death and the accession of Elizabeth to the throne
The front page of The Daily Telegraph on the morning of Thursday, February 7 1952
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Our final post is the front page of The Daily Telegraph on the morning of Thursday, February 7 1952, the day after the death of King George VI and the accession of his daughter Elizabeth to the throne at the age of 25.
Under the headline of “DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI”, the Daily Telegraph wrote: “Peacefully in sleep at Sandringham. Last walk in grounds on previous evening. New Queen flying home: In London to-day. Proclamation to-morrow: Prime Minister on radio to-night.”
09:43 PM
Parliament adjourned once more
Parliament has adjourned once more, as MPs swear allegiance to the new Queen.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, said: "Mr. Speaker, the House will have learned with deep sorrow of the death of His Majesty King George VI. We cannot at this moment do more than record a spontaneous expression of our grief."
09:00 PM
Police intervene as weight of mourners outside Buckingham Palace swells towards the gates
The Metropolitan Police have begun to press back mourners at Buckingham Palace onto the pavement, as the growing crowd reached the gates.
Despite the very cold temperatures and rain, many hundreds of people remain outside the palace.
08:38 PM
The untold story of Elizabeth II’s first year on the throne
The untold story of Elizabeth II’s first year on the throne
Though King George VI had a record of poor health, his death in February 1952 had come as a great shock. It was his valet, bringing him his morning cup of tea, who found him. He had died in his sleep, after a battle with lung cancer.
There could have been few more surprised by the sudden death than his eldest daughter. Princess Elizabeth and her husband of five years were shielded from the King’s last illness. On 6 February 1952, they were in Kenya at a state dinner during the first leg of a Commonwealth tour and the news of her father’s death was cabled to Government House in Nairobi the following morning.
After a delay in decoding the message (the codebook was locked in a safe and there was some difficulty in finding the key), Philip was told the news and it was he who consoled his wife as the couple walked together in the garden. The Queen did not break down or show any strong emotion but made a conscious effort to apologise to those around her for spoiling their visit to Kenya.
Reaction around the world: The death of King George VI dominates foreign newspapers the following day
New York Times
The front page of The New York Times is published the following day with the headline: “KING GEORGE VI DIES IN SLEEP AT SANDRINGHAM; ELIZABETH, QUEEN AT 25, FLYING FROM AFRICA; PRESIDENT AMONG WORLD LEADERS IN TRIBUTE".
07:35 PM
Farewell to our King: How a nation and a new Queen mourned the death of George VI
King’s Lynn cinema – like those around the country - closes to mark the death of the King
It was the fortnight that marked the end of King George VI’s 15-year reign and the beginning of the second Elizabethan era. The King’s death shocked the country and sent the nation into mourning.
Two weeks earlier: On 31 January 1952, 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth bid farewell to her children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, at Clarence House as she departed for a tour of the Commonwealth that was planned to include visits to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
The couple were standing in for the King, who had been battling illness for some time as they aimed to strengthen the relationship between the Commonwealth. Little did they know that they would not meet him again.
MPs have begun to swear allegiance to the new Queen in the House of Commons following the death of her father, King George VI, this morning.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, William Morrison, has returned to his seat to hear the oaths of fellow MPs to the new monarch, having himself sworn allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II earlier this afternoon.
06:45 PM
More local newspapers report the death of King George VI
The Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail reported: “King George the Sixth is dead".
"The whole Nation and Empire was stunned by the news which came from Sandringham at 10.45 am to-day.
“It announced that the King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.
“He was in his 57th year, and the 16th year of his reign.”
06:30 PM
The King’s death is announced in the Coventry Evening Telegraph
Coventry Evening Telegraph
The Coventry Evening Telegraph reports the King's death with the headline: “THE KING DIES PEACEFULLY IN HIS SLEEP: Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen While in Africa. NATION IS STUNNED BY THE NEWS".
"It was announced from Sandringham at 10:45am today that the King, who was retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.
In accordance with constitution, Princess Elizabeth - now in Kenya - became Queen immediately on the death of the King. It is the first time in British history that a Sovereign has acceded the Throne while abroad in the Commonwealth."
06:15 PM
The London Evening News reports the death of King George VI
Members of the public, dressed in mourning black, read the front pages of The Evening News and The Evening Standard on the streets of London on the day King George VI died
The London Evening News is published with the headline: “THE KING DIES IN HIS SLEEP AT SANDRINGHAM: Passed Away Peacefully This Morning".
"It was announced from Sandringham at 10:45am today that the King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.
"His majesty was out yesterday both during the morning and afternoon and to everybody he appeared to be in the very best of health."
06:00 PM
The King’s death is announced in the evening papers
Evening Standard
The front page of the London Evening Standard said: “THE KING IS DEAD: Peaceful end in his sleep".
“The Evening Standard announces with deep regret that the King died early this morning.
"It was announced from Sandringham at 10:45 that the King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning."
05:00 PM
US Senate and House of Representatives adjourn to mark death of the King
As a mark of respect to the passing of King George VI, both the US Senate and the House of Representatives have voted to adjourn.
President Truman has issued a formal statement from the White House in tribute to the late King. He said: "He shared to the end of his reign all the hardships and austerities which evil days imposed on the brave British people.
"In return, he received from the people of the whole Commonwealth a love and devotion which went beyond the usual relationship of a King and his subjects."
03:57 PM
The new Queen departs Kenyan soil
The plane finally leaves the airport, en route to Entebbe. The BBC’s Frank Gillard, watching the Queen’s departure, said it was so dark that they were ‘lost to sight almost at once’.
03:45 PM
Royal party arrives at Nanyuki Airport
The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the rest of the royal party arrive at Nanyuki Airport. Most decorations had been pulled down before they arrived, but Union Flags were nailed to posts and couldn’t fly at half-mast.
02:40 PM
The new Queen leaves the Royal Lodge
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on a bridge in the gardens at Sagana Lodge in February 1952 - Dmitri Kessel
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh leave the Royal Lodge, starting out on the 37 mile journey to Nanyuki Airport.
02:00 PM
PM offers condolences in the Commons as Parliament is suspended
The Prime Minister has offered his condolences at the Commons this afternoon following the death of King George, before Parliament was suspended.
Winston Churchill said: “We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief."
Speaker Morrison, upon adjourning the House, said: “It having pleased Almighty God to take His Mercy Our Late Most Gracious Sovereign Lord King George of blessed memory."
He is not expected to return to the Commons until this evening, when he is expected to hear the oaths of the other members of the House to the new Queen.
01:44 PM
All sports fixtures suspended except for the FA Cup
Sporting fixtures, including rugby and hockey matches, are suspended following the death of the King.
The four scheduled FA cup matches will go ahead as planned.
01:27 PM
Sebastopol Bell tolls at Windsor
The Sebastopol Bell has begun to ring at Windsor Castle to mark the death of the King. The bell – which sounds upon a royal death – is to ring 56 times to mark each year of the King’s life. The bell is set to ring until 2:22pm.
The bell is situated on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle, and one of two bells which were taken from the Church of the Apostles in Sebastopol, Crimea, at the end of the Crimean War in 1856.
01:18 PM
Crowds gather to read the news
x - Photo by Keystone/Getty Images Serious faces on lunch time crowds at Ludgate Circus as they read the morning papers, which carry the tragic news of the death of King George VI. - PA/PA Archive
"How tragic to think that even this morning, as she sat at breakfast, talking about her father, and proudly describing how bravely he'd stood up to his illness, how well he'd recovered - sitting there in her yellow bush shirt and brown slacks - even at that moment her father was lying dead and she had succeeded to his vast responsibilities."
12:15 PM
Plans are made for the Queen to return home
Arrangements are made for the royal entourage to begin the arduous journey from the Aberdare mountains back to London.
12:10 PM
The new Queen takes a walk
Following an emotional walk in the grounds of Sagana Lodge with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II returns to her desk to write telegrams cancelling the remaining engagements of her Commonwealth tour.
12:00 PM
Crowds gather in London
Flags across the nation are lowered to half-mast. Crowds begin to form outside London's royal residences.
Foreign diplomats make their way to Buckingham Palace to officially express their nations' condolences.
Crowds mass outside Buckingham Palace following the news of the sudden death of King George VI - PA Archive
11:45 AM
The Duke of Edinburgh breaks the news to the new Queen
The BBC's radio report is relayed to the Sagana Lodge (the farm given to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding present by the Kenyan government.)
The Duke of Edinburgh finally breaks the news to his 25-year-old wife.
When her father had died, the new Queen had been asleep above ground in the Treetops Hotel, 20 miles from Sagana.
11:34 AM
The news still hasn’t reached Princess Elizabeth
A telegram is sent to Government House in Nairobi, but cannot be decoded because the keys to the safe holding the codebook are unavailable.
Princess Elizabeth, now the Queen, is unaware that she has acceded to the throne.
x - Bristol Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.
11:15 AM
The BBC breaks the news
The BBC’s John Snagge breaks the news of the King’s death on the radio with the following statement:
"This is London. It is with the greatest sorrow that we make the following announcement: It was announced from Sandringham at 10:45 today, February 6, 1952, that the King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep earlier this morning.
"The BBC offers profound sympathy to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.
"The BBC is now closing down for the rest of the day, except for the advertised news bulletins and summaries, shipping forecasts and gale warnings. Further announcements will be made at 11:45, 12:00 and 12:15pm."
11:01 AM
Lord Charteris hears the news
Princess Elizabeth’s private secretary Lord Charteris is informed of the King's death by a press agent in Nairobi, but has no official confirmation yet.
10:45 AM
Official statement is made
An official announcement is released by Sandringham at 10:45am, which press agencies are permitted to release.
The official statement reads: "The King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.”
Princess Elizabeth, who is in Kenya with the Duke of Edinburgh, is still unaware of the news.
x - Bristol Archives/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
09:30 AM
Cabinet is called
A cabinet meeting is called to discuss the constitutional issues arising from the monarch's death.
The Privy Council meeting, automatically summoned on the death of the Sovereign, is known as the Accession Council.
09:05 AM
Sir Edward Ford arrives at No 10 to deliver the news
Ford tells Winston Churchill the "bad" news about the King. "Bad news?" replies the Prime Minister. "The worst!"
His face reflecting the grief of the nation at the King's death, Prime Minister Winston Churchill leaves St. James' Palace, London, after attending the Privy Council meeting, automatically summoned on the death of the Sovereign and known as the Accession Council. - PA/PA Archive
09:00 AM
A courtier heads to Downing Street
Sir Edward Ford arrives at No 10 to deliver the news.
x - Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire
08:48 AM
The family is informed of the King's death, apart from Princess Elizabeth
Mr Ford is also instructed to “Go and tell Mr Churchill and Queen Mary".
x - PA/PA Wire
08:45 AM
The King’s code word is announced
Sir Alan Lascelles, the King’s private secretary, calls Edward Ford, the assistant private secretary in London, with the code word for the King’s death: “Hyde Park Corner.”
x - Photo by Chris Ware/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
07:45 AM
The Royal Surgeon declares the King is dead
Dr James Ansell, the ‘Surgeon Apothecary’ to the royal household, is called to Sandringham and declares that the King is dead.
x - PA/PA Wire
07:36 AM
King George VI’s lifeless body is found at Sandringham
Having received no reply when knocking on the door, James MacDonald, the royal valet, enters the King's room and finds his lifeless body at around 7:30am.
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