It was the early afternoon of February 6, 1952, and the couple were in Kenya on the first stop of the Commonwealth tour they’d undertaken in place of her father, George VI, who had been unwell. They’d spent the previous night at an exclusive hotel, Treetops, built into the branches of a giant tree and famed for letting guests see wildlife up close as the animals used the watering hole below.
An excited Elizabeth, 25, hardly got any sleep because she kept getting up to observe the nocturnal visitors, and that morning she delighted in photographing elephants and rhinos. Then she and Philip travelled 32km to Sagana Lodge, a private fishing lodge that had been purpose-built for the couple and given to them as a present for their wedding in 1947.
Philip was having an afternoon nap when he was woken by his private secretary, Commander Michael Parker. Michael, a good friend who had served in the navy with Philip during the war, had just been alerted to some news coming in from the UK by a local reporter who was covering the tour. According to a message from the news service Reuters, the king had died in his sleep.
British officials had actually sent a coded telegraph to Government House in Nairobi to let Elizabeth know her father had passed away and that she was now Queen, but embarrassingly, the decoding book was locked away in a safe and the only person with the key was out of the office working on the royal tour. The message went unread.
Esta historia es de la edición February 7, 2022 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 7, 2022 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The perfect GETAWAY
From lengthy airport clinches to party ghosting, Michéle examines goodbyes
Message in a BOTTLE
Kevin makes a discovery in his shed that piques his detective skills
Empowered & thriving! PERFECT AT ANY AGE
Weekly editor Marilynn bravely shares her bold new approach to living her best life at 50 and beyond
Nature goals FIND YOUR GREEN SPACE
From stressed to refreshed! Lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Brockis shares the simple steps you should adopt to give your wellbeing a boost
Nature & the city KELLY & MARLEY'S WILD PROJECT
The podcaster’s eyes have been opened to a new way of life
TikTok star Paris 'I'M BRINGING OUR KAI TO THE WORLD
After a tough start to motherhood, the foodie tells how she reclaimed her life
Love and the city! WENDYL'S CHANGE OF HEART
After a decade in the country, she’s given up the good life to return home
New TV star Andy 'I THOUGHT BEIN AN ALL BLACK WAS TOUGH!' Кро
It was a big shift channelling his talent into the hit show Moving Houses, but the sporting legend is a natural
Babies and beyond! INES HEALS BRAD'S HEART
The actor is embracing life with his zero-drama’ partner
Spreading the joy SIR ASHLEY'S KINDNESS CLUB
The Kiwi health legend is taking a jab at teaching kids important life skills