In 1946, Elizabeth turned into engaged to Lt. Philip Mountbatten — later Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. However her father requested that the inside track in their engagement now not be made public till after she grew to become 21.
For her birthday, she delivered a speech throughout a excursion of South Africa that used to be broadcast by the use of radio across the Commonwealth. “I claim sooner than you all that my entire lifestyles, whether or not or not it’s lengthy or quick, might be faithful on your provider and the provider of our nice imperial circle of relatives to which all of us belong,” she mentioned.
The couple had been married in a rather easy rite at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. Elizabeth needed to gather clothes coupons for her get dressed as Britain used to be nonetheless convalescing from the warfare.
They’d their first kid, and Elizabeth’s inheritor presumptive, Charles — the long run Prince of Wales — on Nov. 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace. Their 2nd kid, Anne, used to be born in 1950.
Whilst Philip used to be stationed in Malta on naval accountability, Princess Elizabeth visited him 4 occasions. Alternatively, after King George used to be identified with lung most cancers in 1951 and underwent surgical treatment to take away section of his lung, Elizabeth needed to tackle increasingly more royal tasks.
On Feb. 6, 1952, whilst on a consult with to rural Kenya, Elizabeth won the inside track from her husband that her father had died, which supposed her personal accession to the throne. Her excursion used to be deserted, and the younger lady who had flown to East Africa as a princess returned to Britain a queen.