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On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth II has a date with history

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, June 2, 1953. Getty Images - Keystone

Text by: Patricia Blettery Follow

9 mins

The coronation of Elizabeth II, on June 2, 1953, symbolically marks the beginning of her reign.

That day, she takes on the royal office in a lavish ceremony that says little about her real functions, but a lot about her influence.

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In the streets of London, this June 2, 1953, the crowd rushes to see

the Queen in her carriage, leaving Buckingham Palace to reach Westminster Abbey.

Elizabeth II wears a white dress.

Each State having a link with the Crown is represented there.

From a distance, it is difficult to see the Canadian maple leaf, the lotus flowers from India and Ceylon, or the silver fern from New Zealand which appear on the garment. 

It has been a year since the Queen took office.

The time of meditation after the funeral of King George VI, the difficult economic context and the influence of Prime Minister Winston Churchill postponed the date of the coronation, wanted how a moment of popular fervor.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, her husband, wanted the ceremony to be fully filmed.

The event is broadcast live on television in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, but also in cinemas and concert halls.

A recording is sent by air to Canada and the United States.

This media coverage, which goes far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom, marks the beginning of a new era which will allow the British monarchy to be seen by all, thanks to the power of images broadcast live.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a ceremony commented by Jacques Sallebert

The queen, a power of influence

Elizabeth is the first woman to accede to the throne since the accession of Queen Victoria 115 years ago.

As a constitutional monarch, the Queen has many obligations.

She is head of the armies and of the Anglican Church.

It has theoretical and symbolic powers since the one who leads government policy is the Prime Minister.

During the ceremony, the young woman will receive all the symbols of her powers.

By the sacred anointing on the forehead, hands and chest, (a moment that will not be filmed by the cameras), she becomes the only representative of God on Earth in England.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Church, presents him with the golden royal robe, the Sword of the Offering, the bracelets offered by the countries of the Commonwealth, the orb (sphere surmounted by a cross), the royal scepters, the scepter with the Cross, symbol of justice, in the right hand and the scepter with the Dove in the left hand, symbol of mercy.

Then the crown of St. Edward, symbol of royal authority, is placed on the head of the sovereign.

Three times, the audience chanted the words "

in the abbey.

After the blessing, Elizabeth II installed on the throne sees the Archbishop of Canterbury and all the bishops who offer their loyalty to him, followed by the peers of the United Kingdom.

Kneeling, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen's husband, was the first to pay homage to her and swear allegiance to her. 

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The Queen of England is first and foremost Head of State.

And the guest list illustrates it well.

They are more than 8,000 to have attended the coronation of Elizabeth II, in stands specially installed, under the vaults of Westminster.

Foreign delegations and representatives from 129 nations and territories attended.

On this June 2, 1953, she promises to lead the peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, of Pakistan, Ceylon and its other territories in accordance with their respective laws and customs.

Head of the Commonwealth, a community of states belonging or having belonged to the British Empire, the new sovereign has a diplomatic role and represents her country abroad.

Members of Parliament and the government are also present.

Winston Churchill, dressed as a Knight of the Order of the Garter, architect of the English victory over Nazi Germany, new Prime Minister for two years when Elizabeth took office, has known the sovereign since she was a little girl.

He established a relationship of trust with her during their weekly meetings since February 1952. In consultation with her, he chose the date of the ceremony and thus accompanied the beginning of her reign.

"

", underlines Isabelle Rivère in

, published by Fayard.

And, if the queen does not govern and legislate, she will, with this fine connoisseur of English political life, learn to measure the power relations between institutions, parties and personalities.

With him, she discusses the economic situation of her country, relations with other kingdoms, with the governments of other Commonwealth countries and foreign heads of state.

An extraordinary destiny

The abdication of King Edward VIII to be able to marry the American Wallis Simpson in 1936 sealed Elizabeth's fate.

In 1937, it was his father, the Duke of York, brother of King Edward VIII, who, at the age of forty-one, became king under the name of George VI.

Elizabeth becomes, overnight, heiress to the throne.

She was then 11 years old.

Very early, she will learn French, constitutional law and live to the rhythm of her father's royal office, protocol and the upheavals of History.

The rise of tensions in Europe, the provocations of Nazi Germany precipitate the United Kingdom into the Second World War.

14-year-old Elizabeth first addressed the English in 1940, in an early radio address to children evacuated from England's big cities.

During the conflict, she appears more and more often alongside her father.

The royal family, under the bombardments themselves, but refusing to leave London, acquires a strong following.

At the beginning of 1945, the young woman joined the ranks of the female auxiliaries of the army.

From 1948, his sick father gave him more and more space.

It was in Kenya, during a trip in which she replaced him, that she learned of his death.

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