What were you doing when the Princess Elizabeth became Queen.

I was 9 years old at the time. I can remember when the king died and I complained about the solemn music that was on the radio. I wanted to play Radio Luxemburg which had pop music. My mother snapped "The king's dead. Have some respect."

My main memory of that summer (1953) was of all the street parties I went to and compiling a "Royal Family" album in a beautiful silver scrapbook which my grandmother bought me for the purpose.

The coronation took place the following year in June 1953. I realise that I have made my sister a year older in my first post, as I travelled with my father to London on a coach to see the coronation. It has been planned for Mum to go as well, but she was pregnant with my sister.

I stood at Hyde Park Corner right in front of a policeman who held his cape up for me to stand under - so had a front row seat. The parade passed by our bit after the coronation had taken place. The Queen if Tonga was very impressive and must have been freezing as she had on her traditional robes in the rain sitting in an open coach.
The Queen was on the other side of her huge coach so I only had a glimpse of her. I only have a vague memory of all the other coaches.

Weirdly I have no other memory if the day except the soldiers and sailors marching, the rain and those periscope things people at the back of the crowds used to watch.

Callistemon21

I was six and at an infant school a little walk a short distance away and was put in charge of little friend Susan, who lived next door but one; she was five.
I remember pictures in the papers of the new Queen arriving back home from Kenya.

We lived with my maternal grandparents - housing short due to Plymouth being targeted during the war.
My FIL apparently got leave in the war, got to the top of Haldon Hill and could see a glow - it was Plymouth on fire after the bombing.

‘Little Friend Susan’
That’s stirred a distant memory -was it from Milly Molly Mandy?

What a brilliant thread. Thanks WW
I’ve read every post.
I will ask DH and my dad what they remember.
DH would have been six, and dad five.
My Nan would have been the person to ask, she would have been in her mid twenties and a new mother of two girls.
Sadly she died last year, I miss her terribly

Blimey fanny you must be very young. Well, my daughters age more or less!!

I was 50 last month WW!
So for the past 18 months I’ve been here illegally!

In between my two children.?.

Callistemon you’ve sent my down a very pleasant rabbit hole…

FannyCornforth

Callistemon21

I was six and at an infant school a little walk a short distance away and was put in charge of little friend Susan, who lived next door but one; she was five.
I remember pictures in the papers of the new Queen arriving back home from Kenya.

We lived with my maternal grandparents - housing short due to Plymouth being targeted during the war.
My FIL apparently got leave in the war, got to the top of Haldon Hill and could see a glow - it was Plymouth on fire after the bombing.

‘Little Friend Susan’
That’s stirred a distant memory -was it from Milly Molly Mandy?

Yes, Milly Molly Mandy’s “little friend Susan”. I thought of that, too.

Just in my Moms tum, waiting patiently, as ever to make my first onstage debut. (I was well overdue).

I was 18 months old so don't really recall.

‘Little Friend Susan’
That’s stirred a distant memory -was it from Milly Molly Mandy?

Yes, FannyCornforth, it was and my friend was indeed called Susan.

OH was born in January 1952 so was a tiny baby. I was born in April 1953 and apparently watched the Coronation at my grandparent’s house. I still have my Coronation mug.

I can't remember but assume I was preparing to be born into her reign - a true 'Elizabethan'

I wasn't born until 1955 either. Must have been an occasion. Have seen it on tv and she has served her country well. Must have been a responsibility for a young girl just lost her father . Ascertaining had her share of problems of late bless her

I was six too, going to be seven in the April. I was in hospital, where I had just had my appendix removed (by Enid Blyton's husband!) I had been very ill with peritonitis and "on the danger list" for two weeks. Then I caught chicken pox in the hospital, so it was a memorable time! I'm not quite sure at what point in this drama I heard the king had died but I remember knowing it was momentous.

She's certainly that was. Lol.

Looking forward to starting school. As an only child I couldn't wait for my turn to go, neither could my Mum I suppose.

Toddling around the garden aged 18 months.

I was 6 weeks old

I was 11 and at Newarthill Primary School. I remember an assembly being called and the headmaster. Mr Fulton told us all the King had died and we now must sing God Save The Queen.

I was aged 11, walking along the road to school, fairly late for some reason. A woman walking towards me asked me if I’d heard “the news”. She then told me that the king had died. I remember feeling quite shocked.
Lots of us gathered in a neighbour’s house to watch the coronation on a small TV set. My friend and I kept being told to be quiet so we eventually gave up and went into the garden.

Was at primary school but can't remember much about the February date other than the news Princess Elizabeth had arrived back from Kenya a Queen. The Coronation later on has much stronger memories of parties and souvenirs. Still have my plastic mug, New Testament Bible and silver coin.

Just coming up to my first birthday. His sudden death must have been a huge shock to everyone. Even though he was ill, the public weren’t expecting him to die when he did.

Don't remember what I was doing when she first became Queen on the death of her Father, the King, but got married in August 1953 and my young sailor husband was one of the many who formed the guards along her route to be crowned Queen.