Queen Elizabeth II Brokenhearted Ahead Yearly Christmas Vacation At Sandringham: What Happened To Monarch?
Queen Elizabeth II never had the same Christmas Day again after her father's death.
Since she began her reign as the Queen, Her Majesty has to commemorate and honor the royal family members during their birthdays. However, it has always been saddening for her to celebrate and mark the milestone of her father, King George VI, who died in February 1952.
This should have been King George VI's 126th birthday. On December 15 of every year, the Queen starts dealing with heartbreak and longing as she remembers her late father before celebrating Christmas at Sandringham.
For this year, Palace has not yet announced whether they have commemorations for the former monarch's special day.
What Happened To King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II?
Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne happened unexpectedly after her father died in his sleep on February 6, 1952. At the time of his death, Her Majesty was in Kenya as part of a tour of the Commonwealth.
King George VI also never expected to be on the throne since his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated and gave way for him. The elder brother abdicated when his relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson became an issue to the public.
He never thought of becoming king and gaining the public attention the responsibility comes with. However, he did not have a choice at all that he was thrust into leading the monarchy during World War II. Despite being an instant monarch, he scored people's hearts with his ideal down-to-earth nature.
Before his death, King George VI suffered from several health issues which alarmed the royal family and his heir to the throne - the then-Princess Elizabeth. His life as a king brought him anxiety and exhaustion, eventually causing him to suffer from lung cancer.
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On the night before his death, his friends did not see a sign he would succumb. However, a royal staff found him dead the following day at 7:30. It was later revealed he suffered from a blood clot that stopped his heart - medically known as coronary thrombosis.
According to NHS, the blood clot that causes the illness prevents the blood supply from reaching its usual destination. This usually leads to a heart attack.
On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II succeeded the throne and became the reigning monarch at the age of 27.
