1952

6 February – Princess Elizabeth learns in Kenya that she has succeeded her father, King George VI. A proclamation is issued in London, with 191 signatures.

7 February – The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrive back in Britain and drive to Clarence House.

8 February – The Accession Council takes place at St. James’s Palace, attended by 175 Privy Councillors. The Queen reads her Accession Declaration and signs two copies of an Accession document.

15 February – The Queen, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attend the funeral of King George VI at Westminster Abbey, followed by his burial in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

27 February – The Queen holds her first Investiture, creating 55 new knights at Buckingham Palace.

10 April – The Queen carries out her first public engagement, distributing Royal Maundy alms to poor elderly men and women in Westminster Abbey.

5 May – The Queen takes up residence for the first time at Buckingham Palace, and a new Standard flies from the mast.

5 June – The Queen undertakes her first Trooping the Colour ceremony as Queen.

30 June – The Queen enters the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, for the first time as Queen.

20 July – The Queen makes her first regional visit – to Hemel Hempstead and St. Albans.

4 November – The Queen opens her first Parliament.

25 December – The Queen makes her first Christmas broadcast to the Commonwealth, live on the radio from Sandringham.