Churchill was Prime Minister, Truman President of the USA and Stalin ran Russia. In Germany Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was laying the base of the German economic miracle. King Farouk was tottering on the throne of Egypt, and the Tunisians were rebelling, then against the French.
Although the Second World War, in Europe at least, had ended nearly 7 years before, it was still at the front of people's minds: after the mass celebrations life was not much different for many people. Indeed Britain still was at war, in Korea, in Kenya where we were fighting the Mau Mau rebellion, and, officially, with Japan where the peace treaty had yet to be signed. In 1952 Japan was refused entry into the United Nations.
Rationing continued in Britain, and was still in place for tea, sweets and sugar; meat rationing would not be ended for a further two years.
The first commercial jet flight had not yet taken place, no one had climbed Everest, homosexuality was illegal, as was abortion, and murderers were executed. There was only one TV channel.
The average house price was £2,200.
After 60 years of dramatic change, and a number of family upsets, the Queen remains highly popular with her people, as this year's celebrations will show. She has pledged to continue in the job for as long as she lives.
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