Golden Jubilee of the Accession of
HM Queen Elizabeth II
6th February 1952 - 2002

Issue Date: 6 February 2002









When Princess Elizabeth was born, it was never considered that she would succeed to the throne. It was the abdication of her uncle, King Edward VIII in favour of her father King George VI, which ultimately lead her to the throne.

Princess Elizabeth began to represent her father, King George VI on state occasions during 1951, and it was a role that was to prepare her for the responsibilities of monarchy that lay only one year ahead.

Due to the continued ill health of King George VI, Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip prepared for a Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand visiting Kenya and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) en route. They left the United Kingdom on 31st January 1952.

The visit to Kenya was the King's idea as he had always held Kenya and its people in great affection. The people of Kenya had given the Princess a hunting lodge at Sagana as a wedding present and she was anxious to see it. Furthermore, a few miles away was 'Treetops', an observation hut in a large tree, overlooking a water hole and salt lick where wild animals would come and drink at night. With the Princess's great interest in cine-photography, this was an opportunity not to be missed.

Princess Elizabeth spent the night of 5th February 1952 in 'Treetops' and it was the early hours of 6th February, that her father King George VI passed away at Sandringham and the young Princess became the Queen. She left 'Treetops' on the morning of 6th February unaware that the responsibilities of monarchy had already passed to her. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the forty-second Sovereign of England since the Norman Conquest, only the third monarch to succeed whilst away from home and the sixth Sovereign Queen. News of her father's death was given to the Queen later that day and the transition from Princess to the responsibilities of monarchy offered little time for grieving. Letters to immediate family had to be written and telegrams had to be sent to those countries on the royal itinerary, postponing, but not cancelling, the planned visits.

Frantic arrangements were put in place to ensure the Queen's safe return to England and the Argonaut aircraft touched down at Heathrow during the afternoon of 7th February. On the tarmac, the Queen was received by the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill and other senior members of the Privy Council. Amongst the others present were Antony Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, the Home Secretary and Clement Attlee, a former Prime Minister. The Duke of Gloucester went aboard the aircraft with messages from other members of the Royal Family. A car was waiting and, at just after 5 o'clock, the Queen returned to Clarence House in London.

The sittings in the Lords and Commons were suspended and authority for the inauguration of a new sovereign passed to the Accession Council. The council is much older than Parliament and historians of the constitution can trace its beginnings back to the great Council of the Elders, 'The Witan of the Anglo-Saxon Peoples'. It was the 'Witan' in those distant times, who often selected the man most suitable for kingship.

Over 300 members of the Accession Council were summoned as soon as the death of King George VI had been announced. High Commissioners from the Commonwealth were also included to hear and sign the Proclamation. After signing, the Proclamation was published in the London Gazette.

Even as the Queen was beginning her journey home, the Accession Council meeting was being held. Because the Queen was out of the country it had to be held in two parts, the second part being when the new monarch makes a formal declaration and signs the necessary statutory instruments. It was therefor, not until 8th February that the new Queen signed the first documents of her reign. With due ceremony, the proclamation was read in villages, towns and cities across the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth.

After the Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall, the funeral of King George VI took place at Windsor castle on 15th February 1952 and it was only after this, the formal plans for the Coronation could begin in earnest.

The souvenir sheet bears images common to all participating countries including as the fifth stamp, the 'Annigoni' portrait of Her Majesty the Queen. Pictures of the orb and sceptre, traditional symbols of the monarchy are also included.

The "Sovereign's Orb" (representing Christian sovereignty, the Sovereign being the head of the Church of England) is placed in the Sovereign's right hand during the Coronation. The Orb was made for Charles II's coronation. Made from unmarked gold and set with over 600 precious stones and pearls, the Sovereign's Orb is hollow and weighs 42 ounces (1.32kg) and it is 6.5 inches (16.5cm) in diameter.

Since 1661 the Orb has been used at all coronations, and was placed on Queen Victoria's coffin at her funeral.

The Sovereign's Sceptre dates from 1661. It is 36.5 inches (92.2cm) long, mainly gold, and it is decorated with champleve enamel and 393 precious stones, including the Cullinan I diamond. At just over 530 carats, Cullinan I is the largest top quality cut diamond in the world. The sceptre (symbolising the Sovereign's temporal power under the Cross) is presented at the Coronation. The first recorded appearance of the sceptre in the coronation dates from the ninth century.

At the bottom right hand corner of all souvenir sheets adjacent to each countries own individual Coat of Arms is the Royal Coat of Arms. This is reproduced by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen.

The text of the Accession Proclamation reads as follows :

PROCLAMATION OF ACCESSION

'Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George VI, of blessed and glorious memory, by whose Decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCESS ELIZABETH ALEXANDRA MARY.

We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these His late Majesty's Privy Council, with representatives of other Members of the Commonwealth, with other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor, Alderman and citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim, THAT THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCESS ELIZABETH ALEXANDRA MARY is now, by death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become Queen Elizabeth II by the Grace of God, Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom Her Lieges do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess, Elizabeth II, with long and happy years to reign over us.'

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN


Minisheet First Day Cover



Stamp Set First Day Cover



Technical Details

Layout and design - Andrew Robinson
Printer - The House of Questa
Process - 5 colour Lithography
Stamp Size - 30.56mm x 38.00mm
Pane: 50 (2 x 25) Gutter design shows official Jubilee logo
Stamp Size - (Annigoni portrait) - 38.10mm x 50.80mm
Souvenir Sheet Size - 95mm x 162mm
Perforation - 14 per 2cms
Paper - CA Spiral Watermark
Release Date - 6 February 2002

20p Value
Royal Sitting Room - 19th July 1945 Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II) reading in her apartment at Buckingham Palace, London. Courtesy of Hulton Archive.

37p Value
1977 The Queen in New Zealand as part of her Jubilee Tour. Courtesy of Tim Graham.

43p Value
Royal Mother - 1949 Princess Elizabeth holding Prince Charles shortly after his Christening ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. Courtesy of Hulton Archive.

50p Value
13th June 1994 The Queen attending the Garter Ceremony in Windsor. Courtesy of Tim Graham.

50p Value
The Annigoni Portrait, Courtesy of Camera Press.

Crown Jewels Courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces Enterprises Ltd.





Copyright: FI Philatelic Bureau Created and Maintained by: Cyberpoint Limited