IN 1937, 11-year-old Princess Elizabeth watched her father, King George VI, being crowned in a splendid ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

Fifteen years later, early in 1952, King George’s health was failing and illness forced him to abandon a tour of the Commonwealth, planned for later in the year.

Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, her husband of five years, took his place, flying off from London Airport - now Heathrow - on January 31.

On 6 February, while visiting Kenya - the first country on the tour - she received the news of her father's death and her own accession to the throne.

Elizabeth was just 27 years old when, the following year, she sat on the throne in Westminster Abbey and was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.

That day people across Britain gathered to mark the historic occasion. With the Second World War still fresh in people's memories, it was great to have something to celebrate. Street parties took place the length and breadth of the country as people gathered to mark the historic occasion.

The party pictured is being held in Peel Place, Burley-in-Wharfedale. It was sent in by a T&A reader and previously published in the paper in 2013.

It’s a marvellous picture, with a woman at the head of the table dressed as Queen Elizabeth, complete with robe and crown. She has girls and boys as her ladies and men-in-waiting. Sitting around their neatly laid table, everyone looks very happy.

The first widespread street parties took place across Britain in 1919, in the wake of the First World War when they were called peace teas.

A day of national peace celebrations was declared on July 9, 1919. A peace committee was set up to decide how communities across Britain would mark the occasion.

In addition to large events in towns and cities, local peace teas were encouraged. These were formal sit-down affairs mainly for children, many who had been left orphaned after the war and the Spanish flu pandemic. This is how street parties began to develop around children sitting at a table for tea.

People of all ages continue to love street parties. Communities dress their streets with flags, bunting and balloons. They get together, eat, drink and have fun. Some wear fancy dress.

Street parties have many social benefits. They bring neighbours together and encourage a sense of community. Back in 1952, most, if not all, of the residents of Peel Place will have known each other. Nowadays, neighbours come and go, many not even knowing the names of those they live alongside. Street parties help to create bonds between people - they can even result in lifelong friendships.

People who have lived in the same street for years and never met, may find themselves sitting side-by-side drinking wine and eating salmon and cucumber sandwiches.

Street parties are not only organised for royal occasions, although they remain the main reason they are held.

Today, Elizabeth ll’s son Charles will be crowned king. The country will be awash with parties, in streets, roads, lanes, cul-de-sacs, squares and groves where glasses will be raised in his honour.