Queen Elizabeth II Marks 70th Anniversary of Father’s Death

Today, January 31, marks the 70th anniversary of the last time Queen Elizabeth II saw her father, King George VI, before his passing.

On this day in 1952, the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, and Prince Philip were at London Airport, where they embarked on a royal tour of the Commonwealth.

The King, along with the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, waved off the royal couple as they boarded a plane for the first leg of their journey to Nairobi, Kenya.

It was also the last public appearance of King George VI.

Days later, the Queen received the sad news that her father had passed away in his sleep at Sandringham.

Prince Philip broke the news to her while they were in Kenya.

Despite her grief, the Queen immediately discussed the practicalities of returning to England.

She and her entourage traveled back to London on the Royal Boat Aragonaut, stopping to refuel in Libya.

Upon landing in London, the Queen emerged from the plane wearing a black dress, which had been brought on board for her to change into.

Waiting to greet her on the tarmac were dignitaries, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The Queen officially became the monarch in February of 1952 after the death of her father.

This year, the anniversary of King George VI's death is especially emotional for the Queen.

Not only will it be 70 years since his passing, but it will also be the first time she has marked his death without her beloved husband, Prince Philip, by her side.

The Duke of Edinburgh spent the final years of his life at Wood Farm in Sandringham, while the Queen stayed at Buckingham Palace.

She would regularly visit him when she didn't have engagements.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Palace confirmed the unexpected sad news about the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which are set to take place later this year.

A bumper bank holiday weekend of celebrations will pay tribute to the Queen's incredible 70-year reign during the first weekend in June.

However, the anniversary of her father's death on February 6 is a somber reminder of the sacrifices she has made for her country.

Currently, the Queen is spending time at Sandringham, staying in Wood Farm, where Prince Philip spent his later years.

The couple lived apart in the final years of his life, but the Queen would regularly travel up to see him when she didn't have engagements.

In her book, The Other Side of the Coin, the Queen's personal adviser and dresser, Angela Kelly, shared a lighthearted moment she had with the Queen during a royal tour to Australia in 2006.

Ms. Kelly said the Queen was hoping to see a kookaburra while down under, but she didn't have any luck spotting one of the birds, which are native to Australia.

Ms. Kelly saw a cuddly toy version at a market in Sydney and decided to have a bit of fun before giving it to the monarch.

She put the stuffed toy in a cage on the balcony outside the Queen's room at Government House, where they were staying.

When the Queen looked outside and shouted, “It's a kookaburra,” Ms. Kelly went to open the cage doors, but the Queen stopped her, fearing the toy would fly away.

Ms. Kelly then told the Queen that the kookaburra was dead, which horrified the Queen until she learned it was just a prank.

As the Queen marks this solemn anniversary, we remember her steadfast commitment to her country and her unwavering dedication to her role as monarch.