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On February 5, 1952, Princess Elizabeth climbed right into a treehouse lodge for an evening’s keep. The next morning, when she climbed again down, the whole lot had modified.
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Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had been in Kenya firstly of a deliberate Commonwealth tour after they obtained the surprising information that King George VI had died. They rapidly boarded a airplane to return to the UK, touchdown at London Airport on February 6.
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The brand new Queen Elizabeth II stepped on to British soil for the primary time carrying a black coat and hat. On her lapel, a diamond brooch within the form of a flower sparkled towards the darkish background.
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To be extra particular, the brooch was within the form of a flame lily. The diamond and platinum jewel had been one in all Elizabeth’s twenty first birthday presents, introduced to her by the individuals of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) through the royal household’s tour of southern Africa in 1947.
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In a flash, the brand new monarch was photographed carrying the jewel, and the brooch grew to become iconic—a reminder of each the poise she exhibited and the sorrow lurking simply beneath.
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The brooch had at all times been one in all Princess Elizabeth’s favorites, and she or he wore it usually through the mourning interval that adopted. Right here, she sports activities the brooch through the Olympic Horse Trials at Badminton a couple of weeks later.
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And right here, she wears the brooch as she arrives at London Airport once more in June 1952.
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Certainly, she wore the brooch repeatedly for the remainder of her lengthy life. Right here, she makes one other memorable look within the brooch on the Chelsea Flower Present within the spring of 2019.
