HER MAJESTY the Queen has died. She was 96.
The longest-reigning British monarch, she has been Queen since 1952, and much-loved by Reading residents.
She was born on April 21, 1926 in Mayfair, and Christened in May at Buckingham Palace.
The then Princess Elizabeth grew up not expecting to be Queen, but when she was 10, her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated and the crown switched to her father, George VI.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, a decision was made that the Royal Family would stay in Britain, rather than be evacuated to North America or Canada. She was in Buckingham Palace when it was bombed by the Nazis in September 1940, but moved to Windsor Castle for much of the war.
As a child, she was a Girl Guide and also a Sea Ranger.
A teenager when the war started, she played her part in maintaining morale recording messages for BBC Radio’s Children’s Hour, and encouraging the Dig For Victory campaign.
When she was 16, she inspected a military regiment at a parade at Windsor Castle, and when she was 18, she joined the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) – the women’s branch of the British Army, where she trained as a mechanic. This was based at the ATS training section in Camberley.
On VE Day, dressed in her ATS uniform, the princess slipped into the crowds gathered in London to celebrate with others.
In 1985, she told the BBC that she pulled her cap over her eyes as she was terrified of being recognised.
“It was one of the most memorable nights of my life,” she said.
This was typical of the Queen’s attitude to life. On her 21st birthday in Cape Town, she made a speech to the Commonwealth where she promised: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
And in February 2022, in a letter to the nation and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne, she signed off the letter as ‘Your servant’.
In 1947, she married Prince Philip. They had met in 1934 at the wedding of one of his cousins. Typical of the Queen, this was a modest affair as Britain was still recovering from the war. Her dress from material collected by saving clothing coupons from her ration book.
To mark the occasion, Reading’s Simonds Brewery created Old Berks Strong Ale.
Her first born, Prince Charles, was born in 1948, and Anne, the Princess Royal, in 1950. She went on to have two more children, Prince Andrew in 1960, and Prince Edward in 1964.
Life was to change when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952, following a prolonged illness. At the time, she was staying in a remote part of Kenya on a tour, which was abandoned.
Her coronation took place a year later, on June 2, 1953, and was televised, making a key moment in our country’s calendar as neighbours gathered round small screens to watch the event before holding street parties, for many, in downpours.
The Queen has made many visits to Reading both during her reign and before she became Queen.
One of the first was in April 1946, when she attended the circus which had pitched up in Hill’s Meadow for Easter. The visit was kept a secret from both performers and spectators, and they had a ringside seat for the show.
A drive through from Badminton in Gloucestershire to Windsor Castle saw the Queen take the Wokingham Road through the town. It is thought she had been watching horse trials earlier in the day. This took place in 1953, and two years later the trials were moved to Windsor at the Queen’s invitation.
On March 22, 1957, she visited Reading for a civic reception. Reading Museum has a souvenir programme on its website, revealing details. She came into Reading from the Wokingham Road, making their way to the town hall. They also visited the University of Reading.
Footage from Pathe shows the Queen at the university, with people wearing mortar boards and gowns, while she is pictured holding a posy and unveiling a plaque.
In 1968, she opened the Ministry’s Social Securities new computer centre in Queen’s Road
She returned to Reading in May 1978, to open its new Civic Centre. Crowds lined the streets to see the special visitor, who toured facilities including The Hexagon.
In 1982, she opened the Shire Hall complex in Shinfield, joined by Prince Philip. More than 5,000 children are reported to have been in the crowds, and played a fanfare in her honour.
The Royal Berkshire Hospital welcomed her in 2006 to celebrate the merging of the Battle Hospital with the main buildings.
The Queen opened Reading Station twice. In April 1989, she opened a new main entrance, which includes the Brunel Walk shops.
Her most recent visit was in 2014, when she opened the revamped Reading railway station, posing for a famous photo of her in a turquoise blue outfit, surrounded by Network Rail worked in orange fluorescent uniforms.
In recent years, she has remained fit and active, still carrying out visits and chairing meetings.
She contracted covid in February 2022, but recovered, and the town was able to celebrate her platinum jubilee in June with beacon lighting ceremonies, thanksgiving services, street parties and celebrations.
Now, the nation – and the borough – gives thanks to the country’s most faithful servant.
