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Private Notes
In 1952, the sudden death of King George VI changed Elizabeth's life forever. Elizabeth was just 25, and mother to Prince Charles, 3 years old, and Princess Anne, 18 months old, when she came to the throne. Winston Churchill was her first Prime Minister. Britain was still bandaging its war wounds and the coronation sparked the biggest party since VE Day. The country was relieved when rationing ended and enthralled as the queen named the new royal yacht Britannia. Terrible floods brought England back to earth and the Suez Crisis took the U.K. to the brink of war. But Britain was starting to party again, with the help of rock 'n' roll. Harold Macmillan's Britain had never had it so good. As the 1950s drew to a close, Elizabeth II had made a dazzling impression on the world. She and Prince Philip were expecting their third child and her glamorous sister was secretly engaged to be married. The 1960s was going to start with a bump.
The arrival of the 1960s found Britain in an optimistic mood. Post-war austerity had given way to something of a consumer boom and the times were a-changing. The royal family was expanding fast. The queen gave birth to Prince Andrew in 1960, ten years after Princess Anne. Then Prince Edward was born in 1964. The queen's sister, Princess Margaret, followed suit with a son and a daughter following her marriage to an untitled society photographer. Four lads from Liverpool were topping charts and breaking hearts on both sides of the Atlantic. The whole world, though, stopped in its tracks following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. At home, the U.K. mourned the passing of the great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, while England rejoiced a year later after winning the 1966 World Cup. Swinging London's pop culture dominated the world: Mary Quant's mini skirt would become one of the decade's defining trends. The queen rounded off the 1960s by crowning Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, as Concorde took to the skies. A spectacular close to this colorful decade.
The 1970s were a mix of gloom and glitter. The queen and Prince Philip celebrated 25 years of marriage, and their daughter, Princess Anne, wed fellow equestrian Mark Phillips. But the troubles in Ireland spread to mainland Britain. Strikes forced a three-day working week, and a fuel crisis sparked food shortages and mounting discontent across the country. The long, hot summer of 1976 was burned into memory – both for the heat wave and civil unrest. But in 1977, the queen's Silver Jubilee revived the nation, with street parties and bunting stretching mile after mile. The queen was greeted by an outpouring of affection both at home and across the Commonwealth. But Royal tragedy followed with the assassination of Prince Philip's uncle, Earl Mountbatten. And after Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister in British history, the two most important positions in the country were now occupied by women.
When the 1980s began, there was one question on everybody's lips: whom would Prince Charles, the world's most eligible bachelor, take for a bride? We soon had our answer and a shy nursery teacher, Lady Diana Spencer, became famous around the world. Marriage preparations consumed the country and their union would become "The Wedding of the Century." The invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982 became both a constitutional and personal matter for the queen; not only was she Head of State, but mother of a serving pilot, Prince Andrew. Victory was followed by further national celebration, with the birth of a future king, Prince William. There was further happiness when Prince Harry arrived in 1984. Two years later, royal wedding bells would delight the nation again, when Prince Andrew married the feisty Sarah Ferguson. The indomitable Margaret Thatcher won a third term and survived the Brighton bombing. A politically charged decade – at home and abroad – ended with the exhilarating fall of the Berlin Wall. Through times of celebration and turmoil, the queen still reigned supreme.
The 1990s began joyously for the queen, as she became a grandmother for the sixth time, and prepared to mark 40 years on the throne. But this would be the decade in which the monarchy endured some of the worst crises of modern times. In 1992, the Royal Family's private lives became a media sensation as three of Her Majesty's children suffered the pain of marital breakdown. After Windsor Castle was ravaged by fire, the queen proclaimed 1992 an "Annus Horribilis." Her Majesty proudly opened the Channel Tunnel in May 1994, and weeks later marked the 50th anniversary of D-Day. When Tony Blair's New Labour swept into power, Cool Britannia ruled the day – and the Royal Yacht Britannia said farewell. But 1997 would be remembered above all for the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. However, the queen and Prince Philip's Golden Wedding anniversary brought much-needed cheer, and the decade ended on a high note for Her Majesty when her youngest son, Prince Edward, wed Sophie Rhys-Jones. What would the new millennium have in store for queen and country?
The new millennium has witnessed powerful events and poignant moments for queen and country. The whole nation celebrated the 100th birthday of the queen Mother in 2000. But the devastating events of 9/11 ushered in a dark new era, and London itself would be traumatized by terrorism. There was personal sorrow as the queen reached a great milestone; she lost both her sister and mother early in her Golden Jubilee year. But the queen was heartened by the outpouring of pride and affection from a grateful nation, and as she turned 80 four years later, her sense of duty remained as strong as ever. Her son and heir, Prince Charles finally married Camilla Parker Bowles. Princes William and Harry followed family tradition by joining the Armed Forces, as war in Iraq and Afghanistan dominated the headlines. And with the global economy in dire straits, the whole world was captivated by the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
This is the story of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. From nationwide street parties to spectacular pomp and pageantry on the river Thames, millions turned out to thank Queen Elizabeth II for 60 years of selfless dedication.
