Card of the Day: H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth

Wasn’t she cute? You can still see the face of Queen Elizabeth II in this photo from her childhood which graces the eleventh card in the 1935 Silver Jubilee Series by Godfrey & Phillips.

This card boasts a photo taken by the celebrated Marcus Adams in 1934. At this point in her life, Princess Elizabeth had no idea that she would one day be Queen, nor even, that her father, the then-Duke of York would one day be King George VI.

Elizabeth was a favorite of her grandparents King George V and Queen Mary whose Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 1935. When the Duke of York ascended the throne in the place of his elder brother, Edward VIII, Queen Mary took great care in preparing her favorite grandchild for the throne.

When George VI died in 1952, Queen Mary was in her eighties and was experiencing bouts of ill health, yet she was tirelessly devoted to her granddaughter. The Princess was abroad with Prince Philip at the time of her father’s death. When Princess Elizabeth hurried back for the funeral, Queen Mary wished to be the first to greet her grandaughter stating that her “Grannie and loyal subject” should be the first to kiss the new Sovereign’s hand.

By 1953, Queen Mary was dying from lung cancer, a fact that was hidden from the public. In typical form, Queen Mary continued as best she could with her official duties and stated firmly that should she die before the coronation, the even should proceed without any note of mourning. And, so it did.

Thanks to Queen Mary’s advanced preparations, the new Queen’s coronation went off beautifully and was a historic event which would have made her beloved grandparents most proud.