Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953 in Westminster Abbey when she was 27 years old. Clive Irving, author of new biography ‘The Last Queen’, suggested Her Majesty’s first 10 years on the throne brought her “enormous stress”.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Mr Irving spoke about the period.
The magazine asked the royal author whether he would have anticipated her successful reign at her coronation.
Mr Irving responded: “I think very few people would have, and she was very peculiarly lacking in that confidence herself.
“The first 10 years of her reign she had to endure enormous stress, not only learning how to be the Queen, but also enduring a campaign that [Prince] Philip and Dickie Mountbatten waged to get the family name changed.”
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Queen Elizabeth II ‘lacked confidence’ but kept monarchy alive with ‘mystique’ author claims (Image: getty)
Queen Elizabeth II: In February, Her Majesty will mark her 69th year on the throne (Image: getty)
Her Majesty’s coronation was the first British coronation to be televised and 27 million people in the UK tuned in to watch the event live.
Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, along with more than 8000 guests, watched the coronation inside Westminster Abbey.
The then-Princess Elizabeth became Queen following the death of her father, King George VI, in February 1952.
In February, Her Majesty will mark her 69th year on the throne.
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Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in June 1953 (Image: getty)
