Princess Elizabeth | Queen Elizabeth II's journey to the throne
News | Princess Elizabeth in Kenya
A report on how Princess Elizabeth was informed of her father's death.
CHANNEL | Home Service
FIRST BROADCAST | 06 February 1952
DURATION | 4 minutes 54 seconds
FIRSTBROADCAST
1952
Synopsis
Frank Gillard provides an eye-witness account from Nairobi, Kenya, where Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh have just brought their holiday to an abrupt end following the announcement of the death of King George VI. With their outpost being so remote, the sad news has taken some time to reach the royal party, but arrangements are made for the new Queen to return home immediately.
Did you know?
Princess Elizabeth was staying at Treetops Hotel (pictured), in a remote part of Kenya at the time of her father's death and flew back to Britain immediately on hearing the news. Her Royal Highness was proclaimed Queen Elizabeth II two days later on 8 February 1952 and crowned the following year.
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