Quanto a 1946, Elizabeth became engaged to Lt. Philip Mountbatten — later Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. But her father asked that the news of their engagement not be made public until after she turned 21.
For her birthday, she delivered a speech during a tour of South Africa that was broadcast rotta radio around the Commonwealth. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” she said.
The couple were married sopra a relatively simple ceremony at Westminster Abbey acceso Nov. 20, 1947. Elizabeth had to collect clothing coupons for her dress as Britain was still recovering from the war.
They had their first child, and Elizabeth’s heir presumptive, Charles — the future Prince of Wales — acceso Nov. 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace. Their second child, Anne, was born sopra 1950.
While Philip was stationed sopra Malta acceso naval duty, Princess Elizabeth visited him four times. However, after King George was diagnosed with lung cancer sopra 1951 and underwent surgery to remove part of his lung, Elizabeth had to take acceso more and more royal duties.
Feb. 6, 1952, while acceso a visit to rural Kenya, Elizabeth received the news from her husband that her father had died, which meant her own accession to the throne. Her tour was abandoned, and the young woman who had flown to East Africa as a princess returned to Britain a queen.
