She was a young woman of 26 with the world’s expectations on her shoulders but on June 2, 1953, Princess Elizabeth had something much heavier weighing her down: a robe so weighty she needed the help of six ladies just to walk.
It was the day of her coronation and she was wearing the Robe of Estate with itsextravagant six-metre train. Combined with her heavy crown, the young royal could barely move without her ladies-in-waiting.
This Sunday marks 60 years since the fateful day Elizabeth was crowned Queen. Here are our favourite retro pictures of the event.
Elizabeth became Queen when her father died in 1952 but the coronation was delayed.
The delay was to allow a period of mourning for the King.
The service started at 11.15am and lasted almost three hours.
The Queen was just 26 and a mother of two young children at the time of her coronation.
Coronation chicken was invented for the event.
An estimated 27 million people watched the coronation on television.
A further 11 million listened on the radio.
It was the first coronation to be broadcast on TV.
Elizabeth was the 39th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, but on the sixth Queen.
The Queen’s dress was made by Mr Norman Hartnell.
The cover of the coronation special edition of *The Australian Women’s Weekly*.
http://cdn.assets.cougar.bauer-media.net.au/s3/digital-cougar-assets/AWW/2013/09/16/29151/19901.jpg
The Queen during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year.
The Queen at her father’s coronation in 1937.
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