Royal Family at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, 1952

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
   

   

Princess Margaret joined King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (wearing the Coronation Earrings for likely the last time) for a Gala Performance of ‘South Pacific’ at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in London on this day in 1952 (70 years ago), the King’s first public appearance in months, following Christmas at Sandringham, only a few days before his death.

   

It had just been announced that the King and Queen would travel to South Africa in a few months as the King recovered, while Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were to take their place on a major Commonwealth Tour. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke had completed their extensive Tour of Canada in the Autumn, following a busy Summer, with the Opening of the Festival of Britain, the Danish State Visit (the KIng’s last public appearance), the Norwegian State Visit, as the Princess and the Duke, who had given up his Naval Careerbecame full-time working Royals in the last few months of King George VI’s life.

30

Leave a Reply