While yesterday, February 6, marked Waitangi Day for New Zealand, the date also symbolises an important day for Queen Elizabeth II – her accession to the throne. But while 2019 will be her 67th year as Queen, it’s not a day of celebration for the British monarch.
The sad reason lies in the fact that the date also marks the anniversary of her father, King George VI’s, death.
Elizabeth was just 25 when she became Queen. She was in Kenya on a Commonwealth tour when she received the devastating news that her father had passed away in his sleep following his battle with lung cancer, at the age of 56.
Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attending King George VI’s funeral. (Image: Getty)
Sources close to the royal family have previously said the Queen spends the day in quiet reflection.
The Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, told the Telegraph in 2017: “It’s important to understand that for the Queen this marks the anniversary of the day her father died.”
“She has always made it clear that her long reign is a consequence of her father’s early death and so it is not a day for celebration.”
Reportedly, it was Prince Philip who delivered the news to his wife, after hearing a BBC report on the radio.
Commander Michael Parker, who had been with the couple at the time said, “[Philip] looked as if you’d dropped half the world on him.”
“He took [the Queen] up to the garden and they walked up and down the lawn while he talked and talked and talked to her.
“She was sitting erect, fully accepting her destiny.
“I asked her what name she would take, ‘my own of course’.”
Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in the mourning cortege of their late father King George VI in 1952. (Image: Getty)
Undoubtedly still shaken by the tragic loss of her father, Queen Elizabeth returned home to England immediately, to begin her duties as Queen – her coronation was held a few months later, in June 1953.
“By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty,” she said in her speech to the accession council.
“My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than I shall always work as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are all the world over.”
Queen Elizabeth II with her family after her coronation. (Image: Getty)
While there are gun salutes held across the UK each year to mark the occasion, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward, told the Sun in 2017: “The Prince of Wales and the rest of the family have never involved themselves in this anniversary.
“But they all respect the fact that the Queen likes to have this day to herself.”
