Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

A short tribute to the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

By Megan Lockhart, Archives Technician

The Oxford County Archives is saddened to hear the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing today at the age of 96 and would like to take a moment to pay tribute to Her Majesty. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, and succeeded to the throne on February 6, 1952, at the young age of 25, reigning for a total of 70 years, the second longest reign in the world and the longest reigning monarch in British history. Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953. The coronation took place over a year after she ascended to the throne because traditionally holding a festival or celebration such as a coronation was considered disrespectful during the period of mourning for her father, King George VI. It was the first coronation to be broadcast on television.

A coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the cover of Life Magazine. She is wearing a diamond studded crown, diamond earrings and necklace, and a blue sash. She is dressed in a white, strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline. The top of the dress is lace and the bottom appears to be organza. The dress is ball gown style with a wide skirt.

Before becoming Queen, Princess Elizabeth married her distant cousin Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey in London. They had four children in total, Charles (b. 1948, now the current King), Anne (b. 1950), Andrew (b. 1960), and Edward (b. 1964).

Queen Elizabeth II's reign was known for being long and mostly peaceful. She was the reigning monarch during a significant period of British and world history which saw the decolonization and independence of more than 20 countries that were formerly part of the British Empire. Queen Elizabeth II was also known for her efforts to "modernize" the image of the monarchy and for her investment and earnest interest in politics and government affairs. The Queen had a reputation for loving animals as well, especially Corgis, and owned more than 30 pet Corgis over her lifetime.

During her reign, the Queen made 22 official visits to Canada since 1957. In October of 1951, Princess Elizabeth (before being crowned Queen Elizabeth II), and her husband The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, visited Oxford County by train and made a stop at the C.N.R. station in Woodstock, Ontario, on October 14. Mayor Fred Childs greeted the royal pair, and Princess Elizabeth made an unscheduled walk along a group of over 7,000 school children. The royal train also slowed down while passing through Ingersoll, Ontario, which provided spectators with an opportunity to wave at and see the princess.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip standing on the back of a train during their visit to Woodstock, Ontario in 1951. Elizabeth is wearing a hat and fur coat, Philip is dressed in a suit. A Royal Canadian Mountie is standing in the foreground.

Oxford County Photograph Collection. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the C.N.R. Station, Woodstock - October 1951. [767ph]

London Free Press, Princess Elizabeth visiting Oxford County, October 1951. The Princess greeted a crowd of school children in Woodstock, Ontario with Mayor Fred Childs. A crowd of children in Ingersoll waited to catch a glimpse of the Princess.

Woodstock Daily Sentinel-Review, “Queen Elizabeth Crowned”, 2 June 1953, front page.

Some people may remember Queen Elizabeth passing through Woodstock, Ontario by car during another Royal visit to Canada in June of 1997. The flags were lowered on September 8, 2022, to half-mast at all Oxford County facilities to observe the death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The flags will remain lowered until the day of the memorial service, which is scheduled for Monday, September 19 at Westminster Abbey.