ACCESSION DAY

'... the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ... Queen Elizabeth the Second'. 

The date 6 February marks an important anniversary in British history. It was on this day, in 1952, that the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became Queen. 

The term 'accession' refers to the start of a reign. When a person first becomes king or queen, they are said to have 'acceded' to the throne. The day of accession obviously varies from one reign to the next as it depends on the particular date in the year that the previous monarch dies.  
 
The length of any reign is measured from the day of accession. The Queen has reigned for over 51 years. This makes her the fourth longest ruling monarch in British history, behind Queen Victoria (64 years), King George III (59 years and 3 months), King James VI and I of Scotland and England (58 years) and King Henry III of England (56 years).

The succession of a monarch is often said to take place in a heartbeat. The moment that a reigning king or queen dies is the moment that their successor accedes. This helps explain the phrase: 'The King is dead, long live the King', which refers both to the dead and succeeding kings. 

The way in which The Queen came to the Throne is unusual. On 6 February 1952, the young Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya as part of a Commonwealth tour that she was carrying out on behalf of her father, King George VI, who had been ill for some time. Due to the communications difficulties of reaching the Royal party in Kenya, it was not until some hours after her father's death that The Princess heard the news and discovered that she was Queen.

In the days after the Accession of a new Sovereign, there is an official proclamation at an Accession Council in St. James's Palace. Many different people are invited to attend, from Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords and high commissioners to members of the Privy Council. 

The Sovereign then reads a declaration and takes an oath to preserve the Church of Scotland. (The monarch takes an oath to uphold the Church of England usually when he or she first visits Parliament). The Sovereign is then publicly proclaimed at St. James's Palace and throughout the country, in York, Windsor and Edinburgh. Gun salutes are also fired to mark the occasion.

Every year, Accession Day is marked by gun salutes from authorised stations in the United Kingdom. Military saluting stations in the United Kingdom are London, Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff and Belfast. In addition, the Union Jack is flown from Government buildings.

Accession Day is not celebrated in any public way by the Royal Family. Although it marks another year reigned by The Queen, it also marks the anniversary of the death of King George VI, The Queen's father. The Queen often spends the day privately. The only exception to this was in 2002, on the 50th anniversary of her reign, when The Queen visited a cancer ward in Norfolk. 

The only other monarch to share the Accession date of 6 February is a Stuart king, James II. On 6th February, 1685, he came to the throne because of the death of his elder brother, King Charles II. He reigned for three years before being deposed in December 1688.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

If you are in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast on Accession Day, listen out for the gun salutes fired on 6 February. Also look on Government buildings for the Union Jack flag, which flies to mark accession day. 

King George VI is buried in St. George's Chapel Windsor, having died on 6 February 1952. He was joined there by his wife, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, after her death in March last year. Visitors can see the chapel where they are buried.