Coronation connection: Pella woman was at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
When Queen Elizabeth II was crowned as monarch that in 1953, her 4-year-old son, Prince Charles, was there. And so was Pella resident, Beverly Graves.
Graves was only 6 years old when she stood with her family to witness history.
“I was very fortunate to be able to be in England in 1953,” said Graves. “We all had little paper crowns on our heads and they serve strawberries and cream and celebrated the coronation of the Queen.”
Beverly was in England, visiting her grandmother. Her dad was an American serviceman during World War II, and that's when he met her British mom.
“I've always been so proud of being half British, you know, and something has always been very important to me,” Graves said.
Beverly's mom moved to America in 1946, and that's where they grew their family.
While she's never lived in England, Beverly still has family there and looks back fondly at her memories of visits.
“I keep in touch with several of my cousins, and we write to each other, and when we go, we stay with a couple of them,” Graves said.
She'll perform at the Pella Opera House on Saturday. But before it starts, she'll be tuned in to the coronation.
“I'll be interested to see if it is like the pomp and circumstance of it all is the same as what I remember,” she said.
That's something she'll never forget.
“Thinking back on, it's like, wow, you know, I got to be here when the Queen was getting her crown,” Graves said.