THOUSANDS of people gathered outside Taunton’s Municipal Buildings when Queen Elizabeth II was proclaimed the new monarch of the United Kingdom in February 1952.
The Platinum Jubilee will celebrate the Queen’s accession to the throne, which took place on February 6, 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI.
Elizabeth was in Kenya with her husband Philip when she received the news and promptly returned to London, where she arrived by plane on June 7.
The following day, the Accession Proclamation was read at St James’s Palace and at locations across the UK – including Taunton – following the convening of the Accession Council.
The front page of the Somerset County Gazette on Saturday, February 9 ran the headline ‘Queen Proclaimed in County’ after the proclamation was read at the Municipal Buildings.
The newspaper’s front page said: “The ceremony at Taunton was invested with a county atmosphere, as befitting the county town, and here the procession was read by the high sheriff, Sir Robert John Sinclair.
“There was a gathering of several thousands, including 1,100 children from Taunton’s colleges and senior schools. The ceremony was most impressive in character.”
At the ceremony, the high sheriff read the proclamation, which said: “We therefore do now hereby with one voice and consent of the tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory become Queen Elizabeth the Second by the grace of God. God save the Queen.”
After the ceremony, the mayor of Taunton sent a telegram to the Queen.
It said: “We the mayor, aldermen and burgesses of Taunton send to Your Majesty loyal greetings on your succession to the throne of this Kingdom, Commonwealth and Empire, and express to Your Majesty the earnest hope that your reign may be long and blessed with happiness.”
The County Gazette also published pictures of King George VI’s three tours of Somerset – one as the reigning monarch and two as the Duke of York.
It also shared details of Elizabeth’s three tours of the West Country as a princess.
“Somerset was included in two of the tours, but the county town has yet to receive an official visit from her,” the newspaper said.
“But it was being recalled this week that there was an occasion in October 1949 when Taunton entertained her unaware.
“This was when the Royal Train carrying Princess Elizabeth to Devon for a visit halted overnight on the outskirts of Taunton on the branch line between Athelney and Durston.
“Authority, of course, knew of the arrival of the royal visitor and the area was cordoned off by police officers.
“The next morning, the seven-coach train conveyed the Princess and her entourage through Taunton across the Devon border to Hele.”
Articles in that week’s County Gazette also shared messages of sympathy to the Royal Family after the death of the King from communities and schools across Somerset.
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