55 years on the throne

It was on this day in 1952 that King George VI passed away in his sleep from a coronary thrombosis at the age of only 56. As a result of his death, his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, automatically succeeded him on the throne. Princess Elizabeth was in Africa and had to hurriedly return to Britain. Although she was not formally crowned until June 1953, Elizabeth became the reigning monarch on this day 55 years ago.

Picture courtesy the BBC.