THE people of Oxford turned out in their thousands to honour their new monarch.

This was the scene at Carfax on Saturday, February 9, 1952, when the former Princess Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen, three days after the death of her father, King George VI.

The reading of the Proclamation, a time-honoured tradition, took place in towns and cities throughout the country.

The Oxford Mail reported in its final edition that day: “In the shade of old Carfax tower, at the heart of her ‘ancient and loyal city’, the ‘high and mighty’ Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was proclaimed Queen in Oxford at noon today.

“Many of the huge crowd had waited since well before 11 o’clock, watching the arrival of members of the official bodies who had places of honour around the red-draped dais erected for the occasion.”

They included the Red Cross, St John Ambulance, British Legion, fire brigade and the county regiment.

Traffic had been banned from the city centre, and although it was winter, the sun shone brightly.

A few minutes before midday, the civic procession, led by the City Marshal and Chief Constable, Charles Fox, came into view.

The Mail report continued: “At noon, the buglers sounded a fanfare, the troops presented arms and the mayor, Alderman William Osborn King, began to read the impressive phrases of the Proclamation.

“Then the bugles rang out again, the band played God Save the Queen, the Legion standards dipped in salute, while the flags of the city, at half mast since Wednesday, slowly rose to the top of their poles, where they will remain for six hours before being lowered again.

“The mayor called for three cheers for Queen Elizabeth and the crowd heartily responded.

“As the last echoes died away, the bells of Carfax Tower rang out.“ The picture was sent in by Linda Tidbury, of St James Road, Radley, who also supplied the picture taken in the mayor’s parlour at the Town Hall.