Anniversary Of The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953

June 2nd is the anniversary of the day Queen Elizabeth 2 was crowned Queen of England in 1953...

 The queen followed her father King George VI to the throne...and George never expected to be king...actually was not pleased about it...

but became king by default when his older brother Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry American twice divorced Wallis Simpson...

King George VI died at the Sandringham estate on February 6th, 1952 while Princess Elizabeth was undertaking a royal visit for her father with her husband Prince Philip....who had to inform her that she was now queen.

And the Queen, now the longest lived and longest reigning British monarch after surpassing the previous holder of that title, her great, great grandmother Queen Victoria, in September 2015,

and long may she reign!

Her Majesty is in isolation at Windsor Castle in obedience to government health advisories to those over 70. Her Majesty is 94.

Yesterday sho was seen out riding in Windsor Great Park, something she has loved doing all her life, but without her usual companion beside her due to social distancing.

Well done Ma'am!

 Wedgwood 1953 Coronation teapot...

The Coronation of George VI and Queen Elizabeth May 12, 1937

May 12th, 1937 is the date coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, parents of Queen Elizabeth II.

A 1937 Ladies Journal magazine feature with official coronation photo from 1937

 George's older brother, Edward VIII abdicated in 1937 in order to marry American divorcee' Wallis Simpson, and George became king, really unexpectedly.

 Princess Elizabeth, seen here at age 4 with her father, was not expected to be queen until the abdication made her the next in line for the throne...

 This coronation balcony photo is from the Daily Mail UK archives, showing the Princess Elizabeth at age 11...

 This is Queen Elizabeth's crown, seen above, which has a platinum frame and 2,800 Diamonds including the Koh-i-nur Diamond which had also been set into the coronation crowns for Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary.  Photo from Royal Collection Trust

This is an actual original programme for the coronation which includes a street map of the route as well as description of all the coronation participants so so you could follow along... and below is the official photograph of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret from the program...darling photo...both photos from Time Was Antiques

 A day that changed their lives, and actually changed the history of the British people, right through to today.

And, of course, there were lots of souvenirs. This is an especially nice brass and enamel commemorative tea caddy spoon made for the coronation.

 God Bless the Queen!

April 14-15, 1912 The Titanic Tragedy

While we are in a world crisis with coronavirus, in 1912 another crises unfolded with the unthinkable... the Unsinkable Titanic hit an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage April 14-15th shocking the world.

Built by Harlen & Wolff in Northern Ireland, and sailed by The White Star Line, it was believed to be perfection, and was indeed a floating palace... if you were 1st Class passengers. 

The size comparison is amazing though, with a modern Royal Carribbean ship as shown above, but it was the largest at the time, measuring 882 feet long. The Oasis Of The Seas shown above is 1,181 feet long, but 5 times the gross tonnage and carried 5 rimes the passengers.

  

If you are a Downton Abbey, I am sure you remember the shocking beginning of the series when the heir to the Earl Of Grantham is lost aboard...

This is The White Star offices on Cobh (Cork) Ireland, where she made her last stop before heading out to sea...

we have visited several times. It is now the Titanic Pub and has a museum relating to the ship and the tragedy.

The harbour area....

Rhe White Star Line became Cunard, which still carries passengers. We have been priveleged to sail of Queen Mary 2 twice crossing from Southampton to New York one year and the reverse the next on our then annual month buying trips to England.

The gorgeous atrium with an art deco style metal sculpture of a cruise ship breasting the waves...

This is a chrome tea strainer from the R.M.S. Caronia, another White Star Line ship that sailed from 1949 to 1969.

And a dinner menu from the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth from 1952...

The tragedy of Titanic is such a part of our history and imaginations. I couldn't but think of it in light of our current virus tragedies and loss of life. The passengers on Titanic could do little to escape their fate, while we can do much.

Please stay in, wash your hands and follow the guidance given. This is not a time for rebellion, which puts so many others at risk.

 

Queen Mum's Birthday, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Windsor

photo Dailyexpress.co.uk

August 4, 1900 was the birthdate of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, wife of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II and affectionately known as the Queen Mum

 

This photo was apparently taken in the 1970s of the Queen Mum with her 2 daughters Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose

 

 

 The Queen Mother died at Windsor at age 102 in 2002

Brought back to a new generation by the movie The King's Speech, Elizabeth's role in the monarchy was an important one. 

Born in Hitchin to the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, she apparently refused Albert, the Duke of York and the future George VI, 3 times, not wanting to be in court life.

 

 But they were married in 1923, and had the 2 princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret

 In 1937, after Albert's elder brother King Edward VIII abdicated to marry American divorcee' Wallis Simpson, Albert became King George VI and she, Queen Elizabeth

Elizabeth was a tireless supporter of her husband and the GBP or Great British Public, during World War II earning her the heart of the people.

She refused to move from Buckingham Palace, made frequent tours of goodwill and support to bombed areas and quipped about Buckingham Palace being bombed as well. There were also the famous black lines in the Buckingham Palace bathtubs because water rationing was in force elsewhere in London.

On her husband's untimely death on February 6, 1952, she was became the supporter of her daughter, now Queen Elizabeth II. She was affectionately nicknamed The Queen Mum...both my family and my husband's always referred to her as that, and we grew up with that....

Her legacy lives on now...Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was recently seen wearing the Papyrus or Lotus Tiara...

The piece was produced by royal jewellers Garrard & Co in 1923 at the request of the Queen Mother using the diamonds and pearls from a wedding gift. The pearls were from her mother in law Queen Mary.

A wonderful legacy and a wonderful personality.

 

May 12th is the 80th Anniversary of the Coronation of George VI

Today, May 12th, is the 80th anniversary of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, parents of Queen Elizabeth II in 1937.

 George's older brother, Edward VIII abdicated in 1937 in order to marry American divorcee' Wallis Simpson, and George became king, really unexpectedly.

 Princess Elizabeth, seen here at age 4 with her father, was not expected to be queen until the abdication made her the next in line for the throne...

 This coronation balcony photo is from the Daily Mail UK archives...

 This is Queen Elizabeth's crown, seen above, which has a platinum frame and 2,800 Diamonds including the Koh-i-nur Diamond which had also been set into the coronation crowns for Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary.  Photo from Royal Collection Trust

This is an actual original programme for the coronation which includes a street map of the route as well as description of all the coronation participants so so you could follow along... and below is the official photograph of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret from the program...darling photo...both photos from Time Was Antiques

 A day that changed their lives, and actually changed the history of the British people, right through to today.

God Bless the Queen!

Maundy Thursday... Tradition Continues After 600 Years

Dating back to around 600 AD, the ancient tradition of the British monarch as head of the Church Of England distributing gifts on Maundy Thursday continued today, Thursday April 13th.

 Queen Elizabeth travelled to Leicester Cathedral...Yay! Where my family is from...to give gifts of specially minted coins called Maundy Money to 91 men and 91 women...traditional pensioners who are chosen by the cathedral for their good character and good works.  The count always coincides to the years of age of the monarch...in this case Queen Elizabeth turning 91.

 The coins are presented to each recipient in a leather purse. The ancient tradition was derived from giving alms just before Easter as a demonstration of the humility of Christ, the monarch and desire to help the poor, although now it is ceremonial. But to a Christian like Queen Elizabeth, a privilege and a meaningful tradition.

 All the photos here are from various of the Monarchy's social media sites. This is from Twitter showing the Royal Standard above Leicester Cathedral. My grandmother Emma was baptized there in 1881.

Long Live the Queen!

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations June 2, 2012

Today was the opening of the official Diamond Jubilee Celebration Weekend. Diamond Jubilee festivities officially began with a 41-gun salute fired by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery at Horse Guards Parade in central London.

Even Google.co.uk is celebrating!

The queen then went to the Epsom Derby at Epsom race course. She was greeted by the Red Devil Parachute team who parachuted into the racecourse with Union Jacks. The Queen usually attends the Epsom Derby, usually reading the papers over the race breakfast in the Royal Enclosure.

 

The Derby was won by a horse with the romantic name of Camelot. Quite fitting!
 

This is the last of the public engagements for today. Tomorrow has 2 big elements:

 

 Sunday 3 June, 2012
The Big Jubilee Lunch: Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. This may take the form of a traditional street party or a picnic lunch in small or larger groups. This event is being organised by the Big Lunch. Find out more.

 

Also: (I'm really looking forward to this...for more, see my previous post with videos of the building of Her Majesty's Barge Gloriana)

 

 

 

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant: This event will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel in the Royal Barge which will form the centrepiece of the flotilla. Find out more

Approximate timings are as follows:

14:30BST – The Queen embarks the Royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, near Albert Bridge  

16:15BST  – The Royal Barge comes alongside HMS President (Royal Naval Reserve Unit), near Tower Bridge 

A reminder that Time Was Antiques still has a few of the English bone china Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee mugs available. Click on the photo below for more info.