How Elizabeth Became Queen in Kenya

Being as it is that Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was the first in history to be televised, it should not therefore come as much of a surprise that her diamond jubilee celebrations are being so widely observed across not just her commonwealth realm but beyond.

The reigning British monarch ascended to the throne in 1952, 60 years ago after her father King George IV died following a long illness. The most spectacular thing though is that she assumed the position while holidaying in Kenya! The then princess was going on tour of Australia and New Zealand by way of Kenya, with her husband Phillip Mountbatten. She was visiting the world famous Treetops hotel in Nyeri when the news came of her fathers demise.

Asked what regnal name she would choose, the Queen stuck with ‘Elizabeth’ and thus commenced her now 60 year reign. CNN’s David McKenzie sought to dig deeper around the area in Kenya where Elizabeth became Queen and he met this octogenearian who has fond memories of the excitement at the time.

Have a look at that report in the video below…