"By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty. My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than that I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to uphold constitutional government and to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are the world over. I know that in my resolve to follow his shining example of service and devotion I shall be inspired by the loyalty and affection of those whose Queen I have been called to be, and by the counsel of their elected Parliaments. I pray that God will help me to discharge worthily this heavy task tht has been laid upon me so early in my life."

Mixed panes of the Golden Jubilee Special Stamps are printed in 'A Gracious Accession', the Royal Mail Stamp Book designed by GBH and printed by Enschede. This book also features a pane of mixed 'Machin' definitives as well as a pane of postally-valid 'Dorothy Wilding' definitives, the first stamps to bear the new monarch in the year of her accession.