Following the death of her father King George VI in 1952, Princess Elizabeth (1926-2022) ascended to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II and assumed the duties of a British monarch. Her coronation took place a year later in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. This publication by The Singapore Standard serves as a pictorial record of the various celebrations commemorating the Queen's coronation across the world, with a focus on territories under British colonial rule, including Singapore. Singapore marked the coronation with elaborate fanfare, organising a week of festivities from 30 May to 6 June 1953 that included the official opening of the refurbished Queen Elizabeth Walk and the Esplanade Gardens, coronation parades and nightly float processions. The celebrations left a lasting impression on Singapore's social history as they were one of the largest and most spectacular national events to take place in the postwar decade of the 1950s. It also underscored the intimate ties and connections between Singapore and the British monarchy, a relationship that lasted well after Singapore’s independence in 1965.This publication reflects Singapore's past under British colonial rule, prior to its attainment of full internal self-governance, merger and separation with Malaya, and eventual independence as a sovereign nation state in 1965.
