Queen Elizabeth has been a fixture in this world since she took the throne in 1952 following the death of her father King George VI, so her death on Sept. 8, 2022 some 70 years later has had quite an impact on the world.
This week a friend of The Bowie News, Gil Swift, shared a vintage newspaper from his collection of historic editions, and ironically it showcases the death of King George and the new ruler Queen Elizabeth. The News staff enjoys seeing historic newspapers, and we wanted to share this with our readers.
The banner headline proclaimed “The King Is Dead.” King George died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 56. His 15-year reign was torn by World War and social revolution in the colonial power.
Elizabeth, age 25, was in Kenya with her two children and husband Prince Phillip when she received the news.
The story states “the man who didn’t want to be king,” gave his heart and his health to his people, died from an apparent heart attack. He came to the throne after his brother, the Duke of Windsor abdicated.
Queen Elizabeth was the first reigning British queen since Victoria who died in 1901. She would go on to become the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Most of the 1952 edition is filled with stories of the world’s response, history and photos much like today. Newspapers once again recording history.