As the United Kingdom mourns Queen Elizabeth II, only a minority will remember first-hand what life was like when the country last buried a monarch.
Images taken in 1952, following the death of the Queen’s father, King George VI, reveal how much the country—and the world—have changed.
The Funeral Procession of King George VI
In February 1952, crowds poured into central London, hoping to catch a glimpse of George VI’s funeral procession. Although the time-honored ceremonies remain consistent, the people witnessing them have evolved significantly.
Back then, almost everyone in the streets was White and more formally dressed, typically wearing a hat and overcoat.
Food rationing was still in place following World War II, and the memories of its hardships were fresh in people’s minds.
Only about 1.5 million households owned a television set, making this event a rare opportunity for many Britons to witness moments beyond newspaper and radio reports.
Some spectators held mirrors aloft to catch a glimpse over fellow mourners’ heads.
Londoners read the news of King George’s death on February 6, 1952. He was 56 years old when he died in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis.
Modern Ceremonies and Technology
When the Queen’s coffin traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday, a sea of smartphones was visible above the crowd. This scene was marked by a diverse array of faces, with many attendees dressed in casual clothing, some even wearing Union Jack-themed attire. Modern technology has made it possible to broadcast these ceremonies live to millions around the world.
What remains unchanged is the profound sense of history being made—and the public’s desire to be part of that moment.
A crowd gathers outside Buckingham Palace following the news of the King’s death. PA Images/Getty ImagesPrime Minister Winston Churchill leaves St. James’s Palace after attending a meeting of the Accession Council, which is automatically summoned on the death of the sovereign.Members of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a gun salute in London. Mirrorpix/Getty ImagesThe ceremony for the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne is held in London on February 8, 1952.Dignitaries raise their hats and cheer for the Queen after the reading of the proclamation at the Royal Exchange in London.Gerald Wollaston, the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, reads the proclamation of the Queen’s accession.A gun carriage carrying the King’s coffin makes its way from Sandringham to Wolferton station in Norfolk, England, before being transported to London on February 11, 1952.The coffin is taken from a train at King’s Cross Station in London on its way to Westminster Hall, where the King would lie in state until his funeral.From left, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret attend the arrival of the King’s coffin at Westminster Hall on February 11, 1952.The King’s coffin lies in state at Westminster Hall. PA Images/Getty ImagesBritish boxer Alex Buxton, center, is among the mourners waiting in line to pay their respects to the King in Westminster Hall.The King’s funeral procession makes its way through London on February 12, 1952.Workers look out of office windows to watch the funeral procession on February 15, 1952.The King’s coffin makes its way through the streets of London on its way to Paddington station. Ron Case/Keystone/Getty Images
