In 1955 Queen Elizabeth II and Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, presented to the Abbey George VI's sword. This had been given to him by his father and he always wore it with his naval uniform and to ...

She had outlived her husband King George VI by 50 years and had become a much-loved national institution. Weakened by a recent bad cough and chest infection, the Queen Mother's condition ...

Although the Abbey was full to its 2,200 capacity, nearly a billion people worldwide tuned in to watch live coverage or news highlights of the wedding. Elizabeth II's father, His Majesty King George .