21 Photos From Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation 70 Years Ago

King Charles III will officially be crowned the King of England on May 6 — 70 years after his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.

As we gear up for Charles’ coronation, let’s look back at the first-ever televised royal British coronation.

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in February 1952 at the age of 25 when her father King George VI passed away.

She was officially crowned sovereign on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. Her coronation took more than a year to prepare.

More than 8,000 people attended the coronation in Westminster Abbey. Among the crowd, 129 nations and territories were represented.

More than 20 million people in Britain and 85 million Americans watched the coronation. Many wound up purchasing a television set just to tune in.

The ceremony — which lasted three hours — consisted of the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture, the enthronement, and the homage.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation gown, designed by Norman Hartnell, was rich with detail.

The satin gown was embellished with seed pearls, sequins, and crystals. Its details paid homage to the U.K. flowers stitched in gold and silver.

St. Edward’s Crown was placed on Elizabeth’s head during the coronation ceremony. The crown weighs more than four pounds, is made of solid gold and 444 stones, and is worth almost $4 million.

Made in 1661, it is more than 400 years old and considered the most sacred of crowns. Therefore, it is only used for the crowning.

The Sovereign’s Orb is considered the second-most important object in the coronation. The golden globe is encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphire, and pearls.

The orb, which is placed in the monarch’s right hand during the coronation service, symbolizes that the sovereign’s power “is derived from God.”

Following the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip rode in the Gold State Coach to Buckingham Palace.

The Queen’s procession route was five miles long and took two hours to complete. This time around, Charles’ route will be 1.3 miles.

Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, and Oxford Circus were along her route.

Upon arriving back at Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip appeared on the balcony, waving to crowds below.

Fireworks were set up over the Thames River following Coronation Day.

Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, and Princess Margaret look on as Elizabeth is crowned. He was the first child to see his mother crowned as sovereign.

Joining King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla on the balcony in 2023 will be Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princes George and Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Charles’ sister Princess Anne.