Media on ascension of Elisabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in February 1952 after her father’s death. This is what The Economist wrote then:

“England’s greatest monarchs have been queens; and it would be a hardened heart indeed that did not respond to the historical echoes. The great name that the new queen bears brings to mind another young princess, four centuries ago, who was also in her twenty-sixth year when she was called to the throne, and who went on to write the most glorious chapter in English history. The nearer parallel is with the new queen’s great-great-grandmother who, at an even earlier age, started 115 years ago the longest and most fruitful reign of all her royal line. Queen Elizabeth II begins her reign better known than the first Elizabeth and better prepared than Victoria. Long may she reign. And may the second Elizabethan age be no less victorious than the first. “

And this is an excerpt from The New York Times on the same subject:

In the days of Queen Anne the nation also prospered, and Victoria’s long reign between the Napoleonic wars and the first World War was the most peaceable and stable period of modern times. For years the British, watching Princess Elizabeth grow to womanhood and become a wife and mother, have known that she would some day be their Queen and they were manifestly happy that it should be so. Since last summer they have been vaguely aware that the King possibly might not survive his illness. So, despite the suddenness of the King’s death, the nation was prepared for a new reign and considered itself fortunate in having Elizabeth.

And The New Yorker writes:

At the moment, there is nu other topic of conversation here. Wherever you go, in the streets and in the shops and on the buses, people start talking about the King as though they had suffered a loss in their own families. Some of them say sadly that England has had blows in the last few years but that this is the worst blow of all. Many people think, however, that the young Queen will have a uniting and perhaps inspiring effect on her people as time goes on, and point out hopefully that England has always done famously under her rulers on the distaff side. The events of the last few days have been an enormous national shock, though. When the English sing “Long may she reign” now, they will mean it and wish it with all their hearts.

Truly amazing to read such optimistic notes from more than 60 years ago, and to realize that after all her reign satisfied these expectations.