The Royal Family Highlights 70th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation

Well, this scene looks pretty familiar. Only a month ago, we watched as King Charles III rode with Queen Camilla in the Gold State Coach, following his coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Now, the royal family has shared a photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II from her own coronation back in 1953.

The photo below was posted to Instagram on Friday, June 2, to mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Courtesy of the Royal Collection Trust, the caption read: “This photograph shows Queen Elizabeth II traveling to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach accompanied by Prince Philip for her coronation in 1953, which was 70 years ago today.”

The rest of the caption noted the similarities between this moment and King Charles's procession in May: “We saw similar scenes in London when King Charles III and Queen Camilla returned to the Palace in the same coach after their coronation just a month ago.”

After rising to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth reigned until her death in September 2022. Just last June, she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, which marked 70 years since she had acceded to the throne. It was the first time in history that a British monarch had celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.

While Elizabeth's role as queen didn't become official until a year after her accession to the throne, her coronation was a landmark moment. It was the first coronation to ever be televised and it was watched by 27 million people in the U.K. and millions more around the world. Meanwhile, 11 million people tuned in on the radio.

For King Charles's coronation, around 20 million U.K. residents watched the ceremony, while 10 million Americans tuned in.

Queen Elizabeth II's reign is one we certainly won't be forgetting any time soon.

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