More than one year ago, she was made Queen in Westminster Abbey’s holy ceremony.
More than 20 million people around the globe watched Her Majesty’s Coronation on June 2, 1953.
However, the signed written oath of her on that historic day is rarely seen.
This incredible document was among the many that the National Archives has digitized to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
It was signed by the Queen, which’solemnly’ promised that she would govern New Zealanders, Australia, Canada, and Canada, along with those who remained under the British Empire.
Her Majesty, as Head of the Church of England, vowed to keep the Laws of God’ and the Protestant Reformed Religion established through law.
The original BBC televised plans are also among the hundreds of digital documents online.
They explained how all the technical resources of BBC would be available to cover the Coronation day, from “dawn until after midnight”
A letter written by Clement Attlee, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, wishing Elizabeth well for her 21st Birthday – it is the third item in the archive. This was four years prior to Elizabeth becoming Queen.
More than 20 million people around the globe watched Her Majesty, The Queen’s Coronation. The written oath she took on this historic day is rarely seen. This incredible document is part of a treasure trove that the National Archives has digitized to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
In her Coronation oath, the Queen swears that she will govern the people of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Pakistan according to their respective laws.
‘I will, to my power, cause Law and Justice to be carried out in all my judgments.
I will keep the Laws, of God, and true confession of the Gospel to the best of my ability.
“I will do everything I can to preserve the Protestant Reformed Religion as it is enshrined in law.”
‘And I shall maintain and preserve inviolably that settlement of the Church of England and its doctrine, worship, discipline and government, as is provided by law for England.
“And I will preserve to the Bishops of England and the Clergy thereof, as well to all Churches that they have committed to my charge, any rights or privileges which by law shall be applicable to them, or to anyone else.
“The things that I promised before, I will keep and perform.”
It was necessary for the Queen to make a written vow. This is required by the Coronation Oath Act 1689. It is required that the legislation assures the monarch’s promise to preserve the existing Protestant Church.
The Queen made her first oral oath during the Coronation ceremony by answering questions posed by Geoffrey Fisher (Archbishop of Canterbury at the time).
Her Majesty pledged as the head of Church of England that she would uphold the ‘Laws of God,’ as well the Protestant Reformed Religion established through law’. Above: Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop de Canterbury, crowns the Queen.
It was necessary for the Queen to make a written vow. This is required by the Coronation Oath Act 1689. It is required that the monarch swears to preserve the existing Protestant Church. Above: Queen Victoria at her Coronation
She is seen with Prince Philip on the Coronation Day in the Gold State Coach. This coach dates back the 18th Century.
The Queen then rose from her seat and went to the Abbey’s altar. There she put her hand on the Bible, and gave the last line of her oath. After kissing the holy text, she signed the written vow.
The Bible was then presented to Her Majesty by the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, James Pitt-Watson, who said: ‘Our gracious Queen: to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, we present you with this Book, the most valuable thing that this world affords.
“Here’s Wisdom, This is the Royal Law. These are the vibrant Oracles of God.
Canada, Australia and New Zealand were no longer part of the British Empire at the time she took the oath.
The Queen was still Head of State until South Africa’s independence in 1961. The same thing happened in Sri Lanka in 1972.
BBC documents revealing how the corporation covered the Coronation revealed that there were “750 commentators and observers as well as engineers and support staff”.
It added: ‘Television as well as sound will cover the four main phases – the Queen’s Procession to the Abbey, the Coronation Service, the State Procession and the Queen’s appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
The entire staff for television’s Outside Broadcasting Units will be manned by ’20 cameramen’ and 100 people, 8 of which are commentators. The Colonial Office and Queen Victoria Memorial have special control rooms.
Richard Dimbleby was the BBC’s veteran broadcaster and it was his coverage that lasted seven hours.
A BBC camera is captured during Queen’s Coronation 1953. This was the time that the Gold State Coach passed.
Richard Dimbleby, a veteran broadcaster (pictured), was the BBC’s front man for coverage over seven hours
During the BBC’s June 1953 broadcast of Queen’s Coronation, technicians can be seen gazing at the screens.
The original BBC broadcast plans are among many of the digitally digitized documents online. The original plans for the BBC’s televised Coronation ceremony were revealed by them. They explained how all the technical resources of the BBC would have to be used from dawn until after midnight.
A diagram of the arrangement for television cameras and BBC commentators is included in these documents.
It was impossible to live-broadcast the broadcast from either the United States of America or Canada at that time so recordings had to be transmitted across the Atlantic within minutes.
This document shows how the Royal Air Force’s Canberra bomber plane performed this feat. The footage was sent to the countries ‘for the same evening’.
To ensure that the film arrived ready for use in Canada and the U.S., technicians had to work on it during takeoff.
Only one fifth of Britons had a TV at the time. The majority of viewers watched television on the sets of their friends or family.
A survey found that 17 people watched each television show. Television viewers were twice as many people who listened to it over the radio.
A third document is a letter that Clement Attlee wrote to Elizabeth wishing her well for her 21st birth in 1947. This was five years prior to Elizabeth becoming Queen.
Attlee mentioned the difficulties of World War II in his 1947 letter to her wishing her a happy birthday. Above: Attlee, 1940
But, even though the broadcast was a success, politicians had debated whether it was right to display the Coronation on the screen.
One MP asked, “Is there anything unseemly about the possibility that a viewer could view this solemn, significant Service while having a cup at his elbow?”
The Queen, however, insisted on the transmission. The televisation was encouraged by Prince Philip, who is the chairman of the Coronation Commission.
Attlee made reference to the Second World War hardships in his letter of 1947 wishing Attlee a Happy Birthday.
She replied, “I beg you to send to Your Royal Highness my congratulations on Your twenty-first Birthday.
Your Royal Highness is a person who has seen some of the most challenging and noblest times in these islands’ history. To those like myself, these years and others are a testament to the Royal Family’s steadfast leadership as well as selfless devotion. They have been regarded by many as the best blessings and strongest fortresses of our land.
“The simplicity and understanding that Your Royal Highness has displayed have made you an inspiration to everyone at home.
During World War II, the Queen was a mechanic and driver.