By Harry Howard, History Correspondent For Mailonline
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It was when she was aged just 25 that the then Princess Elizabeth received the worst possible news.
She and her husband Prince Philip were in Kenya, staying at the Sagana game-viewing Lodge, when they were told on February 6, 1952, that her father, King George VI, had died. He had been suffering from lung cancer.
The couple had been married for just five years, and their lives were now changed irrevocably.
The official announcement from Sandringham, where he died, read: ‘The King, who retired to rest last night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning.’
The royal couple arrived home on February 7 and were photographed being greeted at what was then the London Airport by the Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Queen Mary was first to pay formal homage, kissing her granddaughter’s hand that afternoon. The next day, February 8, Princess Elizabeth was formally proclaimed Queen.
Preparations quickly began for his funeral. The King’s coffin was taken by train from Sandringham to London on February 11, and was met by the Queen, the Queen Mother and Queen Mary, the King’s mother, who had traveled by car.
In just three days of the coffin lying in Westminster Hall, more than 300,000 mourners came to pay their respects to the monarch who had led Britain through the Second World War.
BBC presenter Richard Dimbleby said during the broadcast of the Westminster Hall proceedings, said: ‘Never safer, better guarded, lay a sleeping king than this, with a golden candlelight to warm his resting place, and the muffled footsteps of his devoted subjects to keep him company.’
On the day of the funeral, February 15, George’s coffin was draped in the royal standard, with a crown, orb and sceptre lain on top.
It then made its way in a formal televised procession to Paddington Station. It was carried on a gun carriage that was hauled by Royal Navy seamen as the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were among those who followed.
As it made it way through London, the bells of Big Ben rang out 56 times, with each chime representing a year of the late King’s life.
Once at Paddington, the coffin was taken to Windsor, where a simple service was held for the King in St George’s Chapel, where successive monarchs have been buried for centuries.
When the funeral got underway at 2pm, the nation fell silent, with even passengers on a transatlantic flight to New York rising from their seats to bow their heads.
The service, in which television cameras were banned, was presided over by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher and the Archbishop of York Cyril Garbett.
Once the service was over, George was buried in the Royal Vault of St George’s Chapel. Elizabeth’s final tribute to her father was to drop a handful of earth that she had collected from Frogmore at Windsor on his coffin.
King George VI’s funeral was held in St George’s Chapel at Windsor on February 15, 1952. Above: The new Queen stands by after her father’s coffin has been lowered into the royal vault
In just three days of the coffin lying in Westminster Hall, more than 300,000 mourners came to pay their respects in scenes that were televised on the BBC
The queue to file past the coffin stretched for miles. Above: Part of the enormous queue of people is seen on London’s Embankment
The King had been on the throne since December 1936 and had only become King when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated so he could marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. Above: The King in 1937 (left) and May 1951, eight months before his death
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Princess Elizabeth and Philip’s visit to Kenya was part of a long-planned international tour that had been supposed to be carried out by the King. Because he was too ill to travel, the young couple went on his behalf.
The King had been on the throne since December 1936 and had only become King when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated so he could marry divorcee Wallis Simpson.
The couple had been staying at Sagana Lodge after it was gifted to them as a wedding present by the people of Kenya. The day before the King’s death, they had been staying at the the Treetops Hotel, in Aberdare Forest.
Back in the UK, the King was discovered by his valet at around 7.30am, with news of his death conveyed to Buckingham Palace by phone, using the code name ‘Hyde Park Corner’.
Due to their remote location, it took some time for the news to reach the princess. It was first recounted by a senior courtier to the princess’s private secretary, Martin Charteris. He then phoned Prince Philip’s aide, and then Philip told Elizabeth.
As he heard the news of the King’s death, Philip looked as if ‘you’d dropped half the world on him’, according to one close aide. But Elizabeth was composed even at a time of such grief.
Lord Charteris, her then private secretary, recalled seeing the new Queen seated at her desk in the Lodge shortly after being told the news.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but there were no tears. She was ready to fulfil the role for which she had been carefully prepared.
The Queen arrived home from Kenya on February 7 and was photographed looking crestfallen as she walked down the steps of her plane at London Airport. Once on the tarmac, she was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, widow of King George VI, and Queen Mary at London King’s Cross railway station for the arrival of the special train bringing the coffin of King George VI from Sandringham, February 11, 1952
The King’s body lies in state in Westminster Hall, guarded by beefeaters and horse guards. The coffin lay there for three days
Her Majesty was named as the new monarch by the Accession Council before Elizabeth had arrived back in London.
After returning home the following day, Princess Elizabeth formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith on at St James’s Palace.
Her official proclamation read: ‘By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty.
‘My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are all the world over.’
The King’s funeral procession from Westminster Hall was televised by the BBC, although there were only around 1.5million television sets in a population of around 50million.
Most people who were not able to line the streets in person would have listened to the proceedings on the radio.
A total of 305,806 people filed past his coffin in Westminster Hall. The queues for people to pay their respects stretched for miles.
On the day of his funeral, the Royal Family gathered in Westminster Hall, while millions waited on the streets outside.
The gun carriage that carried his body had also held his father, King George V, on the day of his funeral.
The King’s coffin was taken by train from Sandringham to London on February 11, and was met by the Queen, the Queen Mother and Queen Mary, the King’s mother
Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Windsor, and the Duke of Kent in the procession as the King’s coffin moves from the Palace Yard, Westminster, on its way to Paddington station
Guns are seen being fired in tribute to the King on February 7. A salute of 56 guns were fired, the number of guns to the number of years he lived
The Coffin of his Majesty seen on the gun carriage as it passed through the streets of Windsor, to its last resting place. On the coffin are the Queen Mother’s wreath, the Imperial state Crown and the Sceptre and Orb, symbols of Majesty
The body of King George VI (1895 – 1952) lying in state in Westminster Hall, London, before being taken to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, for burial. The coffin is guarded by beefeaters and horse guards
Thousands of mourners are seen standing solemnly as the King’s coffin makes its way through London to Paddington station
Hundreds of mourners line the streets as the King’s funeral procession nears Paddington station, where it made the journey to Windsor
The coffin of King George VI passes through Marble Arch as it is flanked by dozens of sailors. The Queen followed the procession as it made it way to Paddington
Thousands are seen lining the streets as the King’s funeral procession passes by after lying in state in Westminster Hall
The funeral procession turns into Edgward Road, near Marble Arch. Thousands of mourners stand in silence
Queen Elizabeth II leaving the funeral train after its arrival at Kings Cross Station from Sandringham
he funeral cortege of King George VI makes its way through Parliament Square, London. The king’s coffin is carried on a gun carriage, on top of which rests the Crown on the Royal Standard
Members of the Royal Family entering St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in the company of the King’s Company Grenadier Guards
The Queen was then among the royals and courtiers who followed the procession as it made its way to Paddington.
The Daily Mail reported at the time: ‘The mile-long procession wound along Whitehall and across the Horse Guards Parade.
‘There were sadness and pomp in plenty – the measured tread of the Guards, the mournful lament of the pipers, the ultimate pity and loneliness of the coffin with its single white wreath.
‘Many wept as the Queen came by, a pale face shrouded by black veils.’
The final service at St George’s Chapel was also described in intricate detail by the paper.
It read: ‘One moment it seemed that the King was with us, and the next that he had gone. Slowly his draped coffin sank upon its purple-shrouded bier beneath the chancel floor of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
‘Slowly, almost imperceptibly, it faded from our sight.
The Daily Mail’s coverage of the King’s death was delved into intricate detail of the monarch’s final journey from Westminster Hall to Windsor’s St George’s Chapel, via Paddington station
‘But a moment before and our new Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, had taken the Colour of the King’s Company, the Grenadier Guards, and had placed it on the end of the coffin.
‘Then, as all that is mortal of her father sank into its purple sepulchre,, she stepped forward and sprinkled earth on to the coffin.’
It added: ‘In that moment it seemed that this slim slight figure who has borne the intense nervous strains of the past ten days with magnificent composure was dedicated and set apart.
‘In that moment the young Queen, bidding mute farewell to her father and predecessor on the Throne, had taken her place in the long and glorious roll of those who have worn the Crown.’
After the funeral at Windsor, around 2,000 people were allowed in to see the wreaths which covered the lawns.
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group