2-854-378 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

National Westminster Bank, Prince's Street, City and County of the City of London, Greater London Authority, 1952. A view from Cornhill towards the National Westminster Bank, looking over crowds gathered outside the Royal Exchange and on rooftops of nearby buildings and the Bank of England, for the public proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Exchange. Princess Elizabeth was formally proclaimed Queen on 8th February 1952, following the death of her father, George VI, on 6th February. An accession proclamation was published in the London Gazette on 6th February and in The Times on 7th February. The formal proclamation ceremony took place at St James' Palace at 10:00am, when Elizabeth proclaimed herself Queen. After the ceremony, the accession proclamation was read to the public from the balcony of St James' Palace overlooking Friary Court, and then in Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street, and the Royal Exchange, by the Garter Principal King of Arms and Officers of Arms.