Her Late Majesty

The school community assembled to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

On Thursday 8th September, just moments before our annual prize giving ceremony, we were greatly saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The following day, the school community gathered to reflect upon the legacy of Her Late Majesty and remember some of the inspiration that the Queen brought to the world. Notes from Mrs Bingham’s whole school assembly can be read here.  Over the subsequent 10-day period of national mourning, hundreds of pupils, parents, staff and visitors added their messages to our books of condolence. On Monday 19th September, the school closed for the state funeral, a national bank holiday.

It was only a few months ago that alumnae, pupils and staff assembled together as a happy community to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee at the sports ground, reflecting on her 70-year reign. At the Coronation, 19 pupils were given special permission by London Country Council to represent South Hampstead and watch the procession from Embankment; they stood in the crowd holding up a banner bearing the words South Hampstead High School, Finchley Road and Charing Cross, captured by film cameras recording the day. Other pupils watched the coronation film, The Queen is Crowned, at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage, and the whole school was given a three day holiday.  Shortly after the Coronation, the Queen visited Hampstead and pupils lined the streets to welcome her, as recorded in our archive photos above.

Some 70 years later, members of the school community once again lined the streets of London, or tuned in from home, to watch Her Late Majesty’s funeral: another significant, historical day to remember.