The Monarch will mark an
incredible new milestone next month as she marks the 70th year of her reign,
but there’s a possibility she could miss out on poignant annual tradition.
The monarch, 95, usually
spends Christmas at Sandringham and remains at her Norfolk estate until after
the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death.
The King passed away on 6
February 1952 at Sandringham House. Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen has
stayed at her Norfolk estate to mark the anniversary in private.
However, for the second
year running, Her Majesty has stayed at Windsor Castle during the festive
period amid rising coronavirus cases. Unlike last year, however, a lockdown has
not been imposed and there’s a chance the Queen could decide to spend some time
in Norfolk near the anniversary.
The monarch last traveled
to her Sandringham estate in November, following an overnight stay in hospital.
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Princess Elizabeth arriving back in the UK following her father’s death in 1952
Princess Elizabeth learned
of her father’s death during a trip to Kenya with Prince Philip in 1952. The couple had been due to travel
to Australia and New Zealand, but the tour was canceled, and they returned
home to the UK.
The new monarch, dressed
in black as a mark of respect, was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill
as she stepped off the plane in London on 8 February. The Queen’s coronation
took place the following year in June 1953 and was the first such event to be
televised.
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King George VI pictured with daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, in 1946
Plans have been unveiled to mark the
monarch’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year, with a four-day bank holiday
weekend in June. Events include the Queen’s annual birthday parade, Trooping
the Colour, along with a service of Thanksgiving, a concert at Buckingham
Palace and the Big Jubilee Lunch.
The Platinum Jubilee
Celebration from 12 to 15 May will see 1,000 performers and 500 horses mark
significant moments in royal history through a 90-minute performance that will
include actors, musicians, and global equestrian displays.
Fortnum & Mason have
also launched a Platinum Pudding Competition, which aims to find a dish to
dedicate to the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. Recipes will be judged by an
expert panel including Dame Mary Berry.
