The Queen and Us

Famous Britons recall the first decade of the Queen's reign. From watching the coronation to growing up in the 1950s, where the class system, deference and rigid routine defined Britain. They share their experiences from compulsory National Service to the strict daily housework routine; from going ballroom dancing every week to attending Saturday afternoon football matches.

When Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, Britain was a very different place. The country was broke and still living on rations in bombed-out towns and cities. After years of post-war austerity, the coronation of Elizabeth II held the promise of a brighter future for us all. Televised live, it was watched by 20 million across the UK and would forever unite us with the Queen in times of celebration and tragedy.

During the first 10 years of the Queen's reign, Britain began to prosper, and Elizabeth championed industry, science and telecommunications as well as proving she had a unique diplomatic role to play on the world's political stage. Her dedication to the Commonwealth was clear from the moment she became Queen.

Through this period of hardship and social change, our new monarch – a young wife and mother – seemed to represent both the certainty of the past and the excitement of a changing, modern Britain.