My coronation memories
Sixty years ago, a little girl from North Wales named Jacqueline was lucky enough to travel with her mother to London and take her place in the stands, near Hyde Park Corner, on Coronation Day.
Inspired by this historic event, Jacqueline produced a beautiful illustrated magazine commemorating the event. She called it God Save The Queen.
Last week, this enchanting document found its way to The Lady, sent by Jacqueline, who is now a regular reader of the magazine. And it is a wonderful evocation of how a young child saw that day in June, a day that would, in her words, ‘make world history’.
Filled with exquisite coloured drawings, newspaper cuttings, quizzes, puzzles and her vivid memories of the event, we reprint some of its most beautiful pages here. Truly, a Coronation tribute fit for a Queen.
JACQUELINE ON THE CELEBRATIONS
‘Then came the fi reworks, about £5,000 worth, and it was a terrific show, rockets of all colours, a volley of shells, shaking the ground and lighting up the sky… giant Roman candles and waterfalls.
‘At about 11 o’clock, we started our way back to the hotel. Now you could hardly move for people; the whole nation was celebrating. We worked our way to the nearest Tube station, only to find it was closed. We got to Trafalgar Square at about 1 o’clock… everyone in the streets was gay, many were singing and dancing, and a long line of the Conga wended its way around Nelson – the policemen just smiled.’
JACQUELINE ON THE FLY-PAST
‘Instantly, all eyes were focused on the sky, and the jets roared over: Sabres, flying in formation to salute the Queen. First, a broad arrowhead of 12 Meteors, then a group of Sabres, flying in “boxes” of four aircraft, and finally another arrowhead of Meteors.’
JACQUELINE ON THE NEW QUEEN
‘The crowd were wild with joy, periscopes were up and flags were waving. The sun broke through the clouds, showing us a happy, smiling Queen, beautiful and radiant, her crown on her head, the orb and sceptre in her hands, glistening with jewels, and beside her, her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It was a wonderful scene, like one out of a fairy book.’
JACQUELINE ON THE BRITISH SPIRIT
‘It was not a very pleasant day… the wind was blowing hard, and it was pouring with rain. But this did not dampen the spirits of the people… ‘The crowd below me cheered for anything. A man on a bicycle went past, raising his hat and bowing, while the crowd cheered madly.’
Inspired by this historic event, Jacqueline produced a beautiful illustrated magazine commemorating the event. She called it God Save The Queen.
Last week, this enchanting document found its way to The Lady, sent by Jacqueline, who is now a regular reader of the magazine. And it is a wonderful evocation of how a young child saw that day in June, a day that would, in her words, ‘make world history’.
Filled with exquisite coloured drawings, newspaper cuttings, quizzes, puzzles and her vivid memories of the event, we reprint some of its most beautiful pages here. Truly, a Coronation tribute fit for a Queen.
JACQUELINE ON THE CELEBRATIONS
‘Then came the fi reworks, about £5,000 worth, and it was a terrific show, rockets of all colours, a volley of shells, shaking the ground and lighting up the sky… giant Roman candles and waterfalls.
‘At about 11 o’clock, we started our way back to the hotel. Now you could hardly move for people; the whole nation was celebrating. We worked our way to the nearest Tube station, only to find it was closed. We got to Trafalgar Square at about 1 o’clock… everyone in the streets was gay, many were singing and dancing, and a long line of the Conga wended its way around Nelson – the policemen just smiled.’
JACQUELINE ON THE FLY-PAST
‘Instantly, all eyes were focused on the sky, and the jets roared over: Sabres, flying in formation to salute the Queen. First, a broad arrowhead of 12 Meteors, then a group of Sabres, flying in “boxes” of four aircraft, and finally another arrowhead of Meteors.’
JACQUELINE ON THE NEW QUEEN
‘The crowd were wild with joy, periscopes were up and flags were waving. The sun broke through the clouds, showing us a happy, smiling Queen, beautiful and radiant, her crown on her head, the orb and sceptre in her hands, glistening with jewels, and beside her, her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. It was a wonderful scene, like one out of a fairy book.’
JACQUELINE ON THE BRITISH SPIRIT
‘It was not a very pleasant day… the wind was blowing hard, and it was pouring with rain. But this did not dampen the spirits of the people… ‘The crowd below me cheered for anything. A man on a bicycle went past, raising his hat and bowing, while the crowd cheered madly.’