The Queen through the decades: 60th birthday stamps

Queen Elizabeth came to the throne in February 1952, after hearing of her father's death whilst on a visit to Kenya with her husband Prince Philip. She was crowned in 1953 at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony broadcast to the world via the still-new medium of televison.

Since Her Majesty's accession in 1952 there have been various royal stamp issues. These have celebrated her coronation, anniversaries and birthdays. There have also been stamps for the birthdays and marriages of various members of her family. 

For her 60^th birthday in 1986 many portraits from throughout her life were tried out in proposed designs for stamps. Six images were chosen for the final designs by Jeffery Matthews.

There were two 60th birthday stamps: the first has photographs of her as a two year old child, a teenager, and as a new Queen. The second stamp has familiar portraits; in uniform for trooping the colour in 1958, outdoors in a warm headscarf, and on the 30th anniversary of her accession in 1982.

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