A Royal Rite

Queen Elizabeth II, left, Prince of Wales, Charles, center, and Prince William stand during the singing of the national anthem in London's, Westminster Abbey, Monday June 2, 2003, during a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the coronation.

Three generations of the British Royal family - Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, Charles, and his eldest son, Prince William, at Clarence House in London, Monday, June 2, 2003, before a dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of her Coronation. The Prince of Wales was hosting the meal at his new residence, formerly the London home of the late Queen Mother.

Queen Elizabeth II; her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, Charles, left; his eldest son, Prince William, second left, and the Queen's husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, right, pose for a photograph at Clarence House in London, Monday June 2, 2003.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth arrives at Westminster Abbey, in London, June 2, 2003, where a service took place to mark the 50th anniversary of her coronation in 1953. The celebration follows a year-long golden anniversary jubilee.

In this 1953 file photo, Britain's newly crowned queen wears the bejeweled Imperial Crown and carries the Orb, in left hand, and Scepter with Cross as she leaves Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953, at the end of the coronation ceremony.

Queen Elizabeth II, center foreground, leads the procession through Westminster Abbey's nave after her coronation in London, England, June 2, 1953. The Queen of England is flanked by the Bishop of Durham Rev. Arthur Michael Ramsay, left, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells High Rev. Harold William Bradfield. Maids of honor follow behind, carrying the cape.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, with Prince Charles, center, and Prince Phillip, leaves Westminster Abbey, in London, June 2, 2003, after a service to mark the 50th anniversary of her coronation.

Prince William arrives at Westminster Abbey, in London, June 2, 2003, for a service to mark the 50th anniversary of his grandmother's coronation as Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Oldest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, William is second in line to the throne, after his father.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with her husband Sir Dennis Thatcher arrive at Westminster Abbey, June 2, 2003, for a service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Sir Edmund Hillary arrives at Westminster Abbey, June 2, 2003, for a service to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the coronation of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. News that he had become the first man to climb Mount Everest reached the UK 50 years ago, at the same time as the coronation.

Camilla Parker-Bowles with her father Bruce Shand at Westminster Abbey, in London, June 2 2003, where a service took place to mark the 50th Anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Her presence seemed a sign of the queen's gradual acceptance of Parker Bowles as a companion to her son and heir, the Prince of Wales.