Diamond Jubilee: The moment that Princess Elizabeth became Queen
Marking the start of the five months of Diamond Jubilee celebrations Queen Elizabeth II renewed her vow to serve, saying in a message to her subjects that she wanted to, "Dedicate myself anew to your service".
After the passing of King George on 6 February 1952, Princess Elizabeth learned about her accession to the throne while on a trip in Kenya. Princess Elizabeth immediately flew back to England as Queen and was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. While she received the news of her father's death in February 1952, the Coronation ceremony did not take place until 2 June 1953 in Westminster Abbey. During the Coronation ceremony, thousands of people stood in the heavy rain to catch a glimpse of the young Queen. The Ceremony was broadcast on radio and, for the first time, on television, allowing millions of people around the world to partake in the celebration, the press service of the British Embassy to Kazakhstan said.
Her Majesty ascended to the throne at the age of 25 and has reigned for six decades, a period which has encompassed a great deal of social and economic change. During her reign, leaps in science and technology have allowed man to walk on the Moon, innovations have brought the internet and social media to the everyday lives of millions of people around the world, advances in medicine have found cures for many diseases and the European continent was divided and sewn back together after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Gun salutes mark Queen's Diamond Jubilee
On 6 February this year the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne was marked in London for Queen Elizabeth with a special church service and a series of gun salutes and marching bands at Tower Bridge and in a snow-covered Hyde Park.
Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the Queen on the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. He said, "Today is a day to pay tribute to the magnificent service of HM the Queen. With experience, dignity and quiet authority she has guided and united our nation and the Commonwealth over six varied decades."
Over the course of 2012, members of the royal family - including Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge - will fan out across the globe and travel to Commonwealth countries in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The celebrations in Britain will culminate in a four-day public holiday on June 2-5. Some of noteworthy events are the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons and Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession. On Saturday 3 June, 1,000 boat flotilla from the UK, the Commonwealth, and around the world will participate on the Thames led by the Queen who will travel in the Royal Barge. On Monday 4 June, the BBC Concert and Buckingham Palace will feature UK and Commonwealth artists and tickets will be available to the general public by lottery. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons event will also take place on 4 June when 2,012 Beacons will be lit across England and the Commonwealth and the Queen will light the National Beacon , once used as a symbol of communication but now become a symbol of unity for any outdoor gathering or celebration. On Tuesday 5 June there will be a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul Cathedral and formal carriage Procession by the Queen.
The Royal Household launched a festive new website, www.TheDiamondJubilee.org , allowing users to send the Queen a message, listing 60 interesting or amusing facts about her, and featuring a photo timeline of world events during her reign.
