All through her historic 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II has been head of state by means of among the most momentous occasions in fashionable world historical past from the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, to the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Within the yr that the queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, the primary celebration of its variety within the thousand-year historical past of the British monarchy, Newsweek seems again at among the most historic occasions which have occurred throughout her reign.
1953 Coronation
Elizabeth II grew to become queen on February 6, 1952, after the loss of life of her father King George VI occurred whereas she was on a royal tour in Kenya. She instantly traveled again to Britain the place she started her new duties as queen. Nevertheless, she was not formally topped for over a yr.
Elizabeth's coronation happened at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, and was attended by the topped heads of Europe in addition to a particular delegation from the U.S. headed by Normal George Marshall.
1963 Assassination of President John F. Kennedy
The queen met President Kennedy and First Girl Jacqueline Kennedy at a reception hosted at Buckingham Palace in June 1961. The Kennedys have been on their manner again to the U.S. from their go to to Paris and so a semi-formal dinner was given of their honor by the queen. This assembly was dramatized in season 2 of The Crown.
When in 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas the queen together with different world leaders despatched her condolences to his widow. In Might 1965, the queen invited Jacqueline Kennedy to Britain for the revealing of the British nationwide JFK memorial in Runnymede. Throughout her speech she mentioned:
"The unprecedented depth of that wave of grief, blended with one thing akin to despair, which swept over our individuals on the information of President Kennedy's assassination, was a measure of the extent to which we acknowledged what he had already completed, and of the excessive hopes that rode with him in a future that was to not be."
1966 Aberfan Catastrophe
One of many biggest nationwide tragedies that the queen has witnessed in her reign occurred within the Welsh mining city of Aberfan in 1966. Heavy rain brought about a landslide that engulfed a faculty constructing, killing 116 kids and 28 adults.
At first, the queen reportedly refused requires her to go to the catastrophe space instantly following the occasion as a result of she feared that her presence would detract consideration away from the rescue efforts which have been nonetheless ongoing. It was eight days later that the queen lastly visited Aberfan and the households of these killed.
In a 2002 guide, creator Gyles Brandreth recounted a dialog with the queen's former non-public secretary Martin Charteris by which he mentioned that the delay in visiting Aberfan was one of many main regrets that the queen has of her reign.
1969 Man Walks on the Moon
When Apollo 11 efficiently landed a person on the moon for the primary time in 1969, the queen despatched a message studying: "On behalf of the British individuals, I salute the ability and braveness which have introduced man to the moon. Might this endeavor enhance the data and wellbeing of mankind."
1977 Silver Jubilee
The queen celebrated her first milestone jubilee in 1977 marking 25 years on the throne. Avenue events, a river procession, thanksgiving providers and a visit within the Gold State Coach all shaped a part of the festivities that have been watched by tens of millions world wide.
1981 Charles and Diana Wedding ceremony
The marriage of the queen's son, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana was watched by a world viewers of 750 million individuals. The ceremony happened at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981 and was adopted by a balcony look at Buckingham Palace the place the brand new princess appeared for the primary time as a member of the royal household.
1989 Fall of Berlin Wall
On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall dividing East Germany and West Germany was dismantled by protesters following a five-day gathering opposing the oppressive division. The bringing down of the wall, accomplished in 1991, signified the autumn of the iron curtain and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
The queen first visited West Germany in 1965 within the spirit of reconciliation after World Warfare II.
1992 Annus Horribilis
In a speech given at London's Guild Corridor in November 1992 marking her fortieth yr on the throne, the queen mentioned: "Nineteen ninety-two just isn't a yr on which I shall look again with undiluted pleasure. Within the phrases of one in every of my extra sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis.'"—Latin for "horrible yr."
This sentiment was prompted by a wave of criticism launched on the royals following the separation of Charles and Diana, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's separation, and the divorce of the queen's daughter, Princess Anne. These occasions have been troubling for the queen and her unhappiness was compounded when a severe fireplace broke out at Windsor Citadel destroying lots of the semi-state flats.
1994 First Go to to Russia
The queen was invited to make her first (and solely) state go to to Russia in 1994 after the autumn of the iron curtain. The go to was rigorously constructed in order to not trigger any offense on each ends with the queen's Russian cousins, Czar Nicolas II and Czarina Alexandra Feodorovna, murdered by the Bolsheviks in 1918.
The go to adopted a lunch hosted by the queen at Windsor Citadel in 1989 for then-President Mikhail Gorbachev.
1997 Dying of Diana
Princess Diana died in a tragic automobile crash in Paris' Pont de Alma tunnel on August 31, 1997, after being chased by paparazzi and pushed by a dashing, drunk driver. The princess' loss of life despatched shockwaves world wide. On the time, the queen was staying at her Scottish retreat with Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, who have been on their summer season trip.
The queen's preliminary want to maintain her grieving grandsons away from the general public eye was criticized. After 5 days, she made the journey to London to be with the individuals and make a particular speech earlier than the deliberate funeral:
"I admired and revered her for her vitality and dedication to others, and particularly for her devotion to her two boys. This week at Balmoral, we've got all been making an attempt to assist William and Harry come to phrases with the devastating loss that they and the remainder of us have suffered. Nobody who knew Diana will ever overlook her. Thousands and thousands of others who by no means met her, however felt they knew her, will bear in mind her."
2001 September 11 Assaults
Following the September 11, 2001 assaults in america, the queen paid her personal particular tribute to the People residing and dealing in Britain, in addition to those that had been personally affected by the assaults.
For the primary time in its historical past, the queen licensed the army band exterior Buckingham Palace to play the American nationwide anthem throughout the Altering of the Guard for the gathered crowds earlier than she then attended a memorial to these killed and injured held at St Paul's Cathedral.
2002 Golden Jubilee
For the queen, her Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years on the throne, adopted a interval of private unhappiness. In February 2002, her solely sister, Princess Margaret, died after a protracted sickness. Only a month later their 101-year-old mom additionally handed away.
Regardless of these private losses the queen undertook the complete schedule of deliberate celebrations all year long together with international excursions and home visits, with central occasions deliberate in London together with a pop live performance and pageant.
2011 First Go to to the Republic of Eire
The British crown's lengthy and painful historical past in Eire had prevented any monarch from visiting till 2011 when it was agreed that the time had come for that to alter.
The queen made a three-day go to to the nation and paid many tributes to her hosts together with sporting the nationwide colour, inexperienced, and opening her state dinner speech in Gaelic.
2012 London Olympics
The world's consideration was targeted on Britain in 2012 with the queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics all happening all through the summer season. The queen's look in a video performed on the Video games' opening ceremony with co-star James Bond was warmly obtained. In declaring the occasions open, she adopted her grandfather and father within the royal custom.
2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic escalation and lockdowns all through Britain in 2020 noticed the queen broadcast solely the fifth message to the nation in her 70-year reign. Although the queen's Christmas speech is an annual custom, this type of broadcast has solely been undertaken in essential circumstances resembling the start of the primary Gulf Warfare or the loss of life of Princess Diana.
Throughout her speech, the queen made a unifying assertion of reassurance ending with the phrases:
"We should always take consolation that, whereas we could have extra nonetheless to endure, higher days will return: we might be with our pals once more; we might be with our households once more; we'll meet once more."
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