Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began with a passing that stunned the world.
King George VI died in his sleep February 6, 1952 after 15 years on the throne, leaving his 25-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth II as his successor.
The 56-year-old was believed to have died from a blood clot in his heart.
Elizabeth, the longest-reigning British Monarch, was in Kenya on a tour to Australia when she was informed of the news of her father’s death, immediately returning to England alongside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. King George saw the pair off for their trip on Jan. 31 at the London airport, his last public appearance.
The News is looking back at notable events from Medicine Hat and the World’s history as we enter our 141st publishing year.
In London, England, the news was stunning.
“Our king?” said a British housemaid who works for a Canadian family in London. “Why, that’s impossible.”
Alberta premier Ernest Manning spoke on the grief of Albertans in the Feb. 7, 1952 News.
“Perhaps never before in history has the death of a reigning monarch brought such a deep sense of personal loss and sorrow to the people of the empire and throughout the world,” Manning said.
“Our feeling of personal loss is highlighted by the fact that his Majesty was known not only as the root of a great empire and commonwealth, but as an outstanding example of a man devoted to his family and to all those throughout the world who take pride in being linked with the British empire.”
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I visited Medicine Hat on Friday, May 26, 1939 with thousands pouring into the city from southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Montana to join citizens in meeting Canada’s King and Queen during the 15-minute stop.
Queen Elizabeth II reigned as monarch for 70 years, 214 days until her death on Sept. 8, 2022. Her reign wasn’t the longest of any British monarch, the second-longest of any sovereign state and the longest of any queen regnant. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was the monarch of 15 realms at her death.
Her son Charles III took the throne on Sept. 8, 2022, sworn in on May 6, 2023.
