Queen Elizabeth, who last year
celebrated the diamond jubilee of her
ascent to the throne, marked the 60th
anniversary of her coronation Sunday. Although Elizabeth became queen upon
the death of her father, King George
VI, in February 1952, her formal
coronation didn’t take place until 16
months later to allow for a mourning
period as well as time to plan for a formal ceremony at Westminster
Abbey. The event was the first televised
coronation in British history and
provided the nation, along with most of
the world, a rare peek into royal life. It
also set the tone for Elizabeth’s reign as
queen. Though the actual coronation
anniversary falls on Sunday, June 2, the
87-year-old monarch will commemorate
the day on Tuesday with a celebratory
service at Westminster Abbey. More than 2,000 guests are expected to
attend, including her grandson, Prince
William, and his pregnant wife, Kate,
the Duchess of Cambridge. The coronation celebration will
culminate in a four-day festival from July 11-14that coincides with Kate's due date. The new royal baby will be the third in
line to the throne, behind the child’s
father and grandfather, Prince
Charles. Fit for a queen: 60 years of