In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip undertook a major 6-month Commonwealth tour, becoming the first reigning monarch to visit Australia. From February to April 1954, she toured every Australian state and territory. The extensive tour also included stops in New Zealand, Bermuda, Jamaica, Fiji, Tonga, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Aden, Uganda, Malta, and Gibraltar.
February 3, 1954. Queen Elizabeth II was the first, and to date, the only reigning British monarch to visit Australia. When the 27 year old sailed into Sydney harbour on 3 February 1954, she practically stopped the nation.
Petrov Affair. In April 1954 Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov, Soviet spies who were masquerading as diplomats in Canberra, defected to Australia. The defection and the information that the Petrovs passed onto Australian authorities had global implications, through the identification of spy networks around the world.
Introducing the magnificent Queen Elizabeth Rose, a splendid Grandiflora variety bred by Walter Lammerts in 1954. This rose pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne and is beloved for blending the sophistication of hybrid tea roses with the generous blooming nature of floribundas.
Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, trainer to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, was a leading figure in British racing for almost half a century. Born in Ireland in 1887, he was raised at the family's home at Middleton Park, Co. Westmeath and educated at Eton.
The Visit to Victoria of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
What events took place in 1954?
From top to bottom, left to right: the Battle of Dien Bien Phu ends in a decisive Vietnamese victory; Jonas Salk announces the polio vaccine; the 1954 FIFA World Cup sees West Germany win its first title; the Geneva Conference ends the First Indochina War, dissolves French Indochina, and divides Vietnam at the 17th ...
The London Crusade was the first major evangelistic campaign conducted by Billy Graham outside the United States. It took place in London in 1954 and ran for three months, from 1 March to 29 May. Most meetings were held at Harringay Arena, with one event in Hyde Park and another at Wembley Stadium.
2022. I had the unforgettable honour to be the guide for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia on 19 October 2006, almost 16 years ago. Her passing makes me retrace the minutes that were allotted to the visit and remember her. As a queen.
Early Latin versions of the name were Estia and Hestia. It may be that the name Estonia originated from the Aesti described by the Roman historians in about 98 CE. The name is often said to be from the Germanic, meaning eastern wayt.
Yes, the core story in The Crown's "Ritz" episode—Princess Elizabeth (now Queen) and Princess Margaret sneaking out to celebrate V-E Day in the London streets and partying at the Ritz—is true, though details like who they met and exact conversations are fictionalized for drama. The late Queen Elizabeth II confirmed she joined the massive celebrations on May 8, 1945, and described it as one of the most memorable nights of her life, though she was with a larger group (around 16 people) and wore a uniform cap pulled down, not just with Peter Townsend and Porchey.
One, Israel. Prince William was the first British royal to travel to Israel. The queen never went there during her reign. That was due to political tensions between Israel and Palestine.
Photograph, 1953. The state visit to Northern Ireland occurred just a month after Elizabeth II's coronation in London. The Queen and Prince Philip visited Lisburn, Hillsborough, Belfast, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Lisahally and Londonderry.
In Britain, rationing ended, Queen Elizabeth II made her first major overseas tour, and Roger Bannister achieved one of sport's greatest feats. Explore our newspaper archives to purchase your own authentic 1954 newspaper!
In 1954, a year of breakthroughs, the first successful polio vaccine rolled out and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional. In England, Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.
The first electric drip brew coffeemaker is patented in Germany and named the Wigomat after its inventor Gottlob Widmann. Staley T. McBrayer invents the Vanguard web offset press for newspaper printing in Fort Worth, Texas. The angle grinder is invented by German company Ackermann + Schmitt (Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge).
Weaving present day footage, exquisite archival, and never-before-seen moments of Her Majesty found in Monty's cluttered garage, The Cowboy and the Queen is the inspiring story of a true horse whisperer and his magical 30-year relationship with the longest reigning monarch.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II attended the funeral of her close friend Henry Herbert, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, known as "Porchey," and also attended the funeral of his wife Jeanie in 2019, which was a rare honor showing their deep friendship and shared love for horses and the countryside. Porchey, a racing companion, died in 2001, and the Queen's attendance at his funeral was a significant gesture for a non-royal, highlighting their special bond.
