Advertisement

Homepage

PRINCESS ELIZABETH | The Making of a Queen

About this collection

This collection follows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's journey from Princess to Queen, from her first broadcast at the age of 14 to the announcement of her accession at 24.

The programmes reveal the role that the young princess played both during the difficult days of World War II and in the years following, when the nation struggled to recover from the devastation of war. They also recall the huge public affection Princess Elizabeth attracted through her early dedication to her country and the newly formed Commonwealth.

Princess Elizabeth Collection

Photograph of Princess Elizabeth with King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at the BBC studios in 1939.

Children's Hour

Princess Elizabeth

BROADCAST 1940
4 MINUTES

A message from Princess Elizabeth on Children's Hour.

go to Children's Hour: Princess Elizabeth
Photograph of the royal family attending the VE thanksgiving service in 1945.

The 90th Anniversary of ...

Speech by HRH Princess Elizabeth

RECORDED 1945
3 MINUTES

Princess Elizabeth celebrates the achievements and service of the YWCA.

go to The 90th Anniversary of the YWCA: Speech by HRH Princess Elizabeth
Photograph of Princess Elizabeth naming a ship in 1946.

Empire Day, 1946

Speech by HRH Princess Elizabeth

BROADCAST 1946
8 MINUTES

A tribute to the people and ideals of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

go to Empire Day, 1946: Speech by HRH Princess Elizabeth
Photograph of Princess Elizabeth recording her speech in South Africa.

The 21st Birthday of Princess Elizabeth

BROADCAST 1947
6 MINUTES

Princess Elizabeth's speech to the Commonwealth from Cape Town.

go to The 21st Birthday of Princess Elizabeth
Photograph of Cape Town.

Royal Tour of South Africa, 1947

BROADCAST 1947
10 MINUTES

BBC television film on the royal tour of South Africa in 1947.

go to Royal Tour of South Africa, 1947
Photograph of Buckingham Palace on the day of the Royal Wedding.

News

Announcement of the Royal ...

BROADCAST 1947
1 MINUTE

The betrothal of Princess Elizabeth is announced.

go to News - Announcement of the Royal Betrothal
Photograph of Princess Elizabeth and King George VI in a carriage travelling to Westminster Abbey.

The Royal Wedding, 1947

BROADCAST 1947
18 MINUTES

Newsreel of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.

go to The Royal Wedding, 1947
Photograph of presenter John Snagge.

The Birth of HRH Prince Charles

BROADCAST 1948
1 MINUTE

The announcement that Princess Elizabeth has had a son.

go to The Birth of HRH Prince Charles
A photograph of Coventry Cathedral.

News

Princess Elizabeth at Coventry ...

BROADCAST 1949
7 MINUTES

Newsreel footage of the young Princess's civil duties.

go to News - Princess Elizabeth at Coventry and Oxford
Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool.

News

Royal Visit to Lancashire

BROADCAST 1949
5 MINUTES

A warm Lancashire welcome for the royal couple as they visit Liverpool and Manchester.

go to News - Royal Visit to Lancashire
A photograph of a BBC camerman in 1950.

News

Royal Visit to Alderney

BROADCAST 1949
3 MINUTES

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh meet delighted crowds.

go to News - Royal Visit to Alderney
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at a horse race, 1949 © Getty Images.

News

Channel Islands Welcome Royal ...

BROADCAST 1949
6 MINUTES

Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visit Jersey, Sark and Guernsey.

go to News - Channel Islands Welcome Royal Visitors
The Christening of Princess Anne © Getty Images.

News

Princess Anne's First Journey

BROADCAST 1950
2 MINUTES

Newsreel of the first public appearance of Princess Anne.

go to News - Princess Anne's First Journey
Photograph of the Acropolis, Athens.

News

Princess Elizabeth in Athens

BROADCAST 1950
4 MINUTES

An enthusiastic welcome in Athens for Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.

go to News - Princess Elizabeth in Athens
A photograph of the Queen at Trooping the Colour in 1956.

Trooping the Colour

BROADCAST 1951
9 MINUTES

Princess Elizabeth takes the salute for the first time.


go to Trooping the Colour
Photograph of the White House, Washington DC.

Princess Elizabeth in Washington DC

RECORDED 1951
4 MINUTES

President Truman welcomes the royal couple to Washington DC.

go to Princess Elizabeth in Washington DC
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at London Airport, 1952 © Getty Images.

News

The King and Queen See the Royal Departure

BROADCAST 1952
5 MINUTES

King George VI's final farewell to his eldest daughter.

go to News - The King and Queen See the Royal Departure
Princess Elizabeth returns home, 7 February 1952 © Getty Images.

The Death of George VI

BROADCAST 1952
1 MINUTE

John Snagge announces the death of King George VI.

go to The Death of George VI
Treetops Kenya, 1952 © Getty Images.

News

Princess Elizabeth in Kenya

BROADCAST 1952
5 MINUTES

A report on how Princess Elizabeth was informed of her father's death.

go to News: Princess Elizabeth in Kenya
 

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.