Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

The coronation of Elizabeth II as queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London. She acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, being proclaimed queen by her privy and executive councils shortly afterwards. The coronation was held more than one year later because of the tradition of allowing an appropriate length of time to pass after a monarch dies. It also gave the planning committees adequate time to make preparations for the ceremony.

Prince Philip has walked two steps behind Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth ever since she became Queen in 1952. For many years before then and many years since he has been the supporting man, husband and father that the Royal Family has needed him to be.

A unique celebration of the Queen's ninety years as she reaches her landmark birthday in April. Film-maker John Bridcut has been granted special access to the complete collection of Her Majesty's personal ciné films, shot by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen herself, as well as by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Much of it has never been seen publicly before. Various members of the Royal Family are filmed watching this private footage and contributing their own personal insights and their memories of the woman they know both as a member of their own close family and as queen. Among those taking part are the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent and his sister Princess Alexandra, who has never before given an interview.

6 février 1952. L'Angleterre est en deuil : Georges VI s'est éteint, mais le Royaume acclame déjà sa nouvelle reine : Elisabeth II. La petite princesse occupe une place centrale dans le coeur des sujets britanniques, alors que les préparatifs s'organisent pour son couronnement. Toutes les figures importantes du Royaume se pressent dans l'Abbaye de Westminster pour célébrer avec faste l'événement le plus attendu d'Angleterre. Le 2 juin 1953, des milliers d'Anglais assistent enfin au moment historique du couronnement de leur reine.