Plans for the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations are well underway, with a programme of events scheduled to take place over an extended bank holiday weekend at the beginning of June.
The special occasion to celebrate her majesty’s 70-year reign marks the first time in British history that a monarch has reached this milestone and celebratory events have been planned around the country and across the Commonwealth.
Formal events include a platinum jubilee concert, Trooping the Colour, a pageant and a Service of Thanksgiving.
The occasion is also an opportunity for many to reflect on the past 70 years and all that she has achieved.
But when was the Queen crowned sovereign and how old was the Queen when she became the Queen? Here’s everything you need to know.
How old was the Queen when she became the Queen?
Princess Elizabeth was just 11-years-old when she watched her father King George VI being crowned king at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1937.
And on 2 June 1953, her own coronation took place. She was just 27-years-old.
By this stage, Queen Elizabeth II had already been serving as the head of the British royal family for 16 months, following the death of her father at the age of 56 from coronary thrombosis in February 1952.
She was in Kenya at the time and became the first sovereign in over 200 years to accede while abroad.
What were the Queen’s early years like?
The Queen was born on 21 April 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather, King George V.
Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930. The two princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and their governess, Marion Crawford. Lessons concentrated on history, language, literature, and music.
During World War II, she and Princess Margaret spent much of their time safely away from the London blitz and separated from their parents, living mostly at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, and Windsor Castle.
After meeting her future husband, Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, their engagement was officially announced on 9 July 1947 when she was just 21-years-old.
Their marriage took place in Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947, and their first child, Prince Charles, was born on 14 November 1948 at Buckingham Palace.
According to the 2018 documentary The Coronation, the Queen began preparations for her coronation at the age of just 11-years-old.
Her father, King George VI, apparently made her note down a review of his own coronation in 1937 in order for her to understand all the different elements involved.
“I thought it all very, very wonderful and I expect the Abbey did too,” wrote the future Queen, according to Vanity Fair.
“The arches and the beams at the top were covered in a sort of haze of wonder as Papa was crowned, at least I thought so.”
The young Elizabeth added that the service became “rather boring” towards the end, however, because “it was all prayers”.
In 2015, the Queen surpassed Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
Join former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond to reflect on the Queen’s 70 incredible years on the throne at a platinum jubilee panel event run by The Independent on Thursday 17 May at 6.30pm.
The broadcaster and journalist will be joined by The Independent’s Associate Editor Sean O’Grady, Deputy Voices Editor Sunny Hundal and hosted by Deputy Lifestyle Editor Laura Hampson to explore the highs and lows of her majesty’s seven decades on the throne.
For more information and to sign up for a ticket visit our Eventbrite page.
