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The Coronation of Their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

Scene from Britain's first ever filmed coronation

Edward VII was the first British monarch to be crowned in the age of moving images - though another half- century would pass before any film camera caught the moment of crowning itself. This film of the Coronation Day parade, on 9 August 1902, is the first of two shots taken from the same camera position for the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company. It gives us crisp, clear images of the military great and good - thanks to the large-format 68mm film stock - but it's the second shot, not this one, that includes a glimpse of the King in his carriage.

Edward had been on the throne for over a year and a half by the time of the Coronation, which was originally scheduled for 26 June, but had to be postponed when Edward was struck down with appendicitis.

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Pomp and Circumstance

Parades, processions and royal visits were a great draw for early filmmakers - not only did they guarantee spectacle but their fixed place in the calendar allowed for planning ahead. Even minor royals commanded endless fascination, while the Queen herself was the greatest celebrity of all.

Even fleeting images of Victoria were hot property and her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 was the grandest event of the era, attracting the biggest assembly of the global film industry to date. Footage from the day played across the Empire and well beyond.

44 videos in this collection

The Victorian great and good mark the passing of a political titan
1

Gladstone's Funeral

  • 1898
The crowds stand silent as the nation says goodbye to Queen Victoria in February 1901.
2

Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)

  • Hyde Park
  • 1901
Crowds gather outside theTown Hall to hear the town crier's royal announcement.
3

Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901)

  • Blackburn
  • 1901
4

The Queen at Sheffield

  • Sheffield
  • 1897
Unusually detailed shots of the Jubilee procession
5

Queen Victoria's Jubilee

  • 1897
Carriages full of well-heeled guests continue in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee procession, filmed for RW Paul.
6

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Front of Procession

  • 1897
The head of the colonial procession and the Horse Guards approach Westminster Bridge during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
7

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Leaders and Life Guards

  • 1897
The Band of the First Life Guards approaches Westminster Bridge during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
8

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Bands

  • London
  • 1897
Images from the first leg of the solemn procession
9

Funeral of Queen Victoria: Funeral Procession at Cowes

  • Cowes
  • 1901
As the coffin arrives in the capital, the spectacle of the State Funeral starts to gear up
10

Funeral of Queen Victoria: Procession Starting from Victoria Station

  • Victoria Sta
  • 1901
Victoria's funeral procession passes through central London, drawing well-dressed crowds
11

Funeral of Queen Victoria: The Marble Arch

  • Green Park
  • 1901
The birth of a new royal tradition
12

Funeral of Queen Victoria: The Procession passing into Windsor Park

  • Windsor Great Park
  • 1901
The funeral procession approaches Paddington
13

Queen Victoria's Funeral: Soldiers Manoeuvre in Square

  • 1901
The Edwardian era kicks off with the proclamation of the new King.
14

Proclamation of King Edward VII, Market Place, Accrington (1901)

  • Accrington
  • 1901
The future George VI heads to Australia
15

Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert and Liner Ophir

  • 1901
16

Afternoon Tea in the Garden of Clarence House

  • 1897
Queen Victoria arrives for a garden party at Buckingham Palace following her Diamond Jubilee
17

H.M. The Queen at Garden Party, Buckingham Palace, June 1897

  • Buckingham Palace
  • 1897
After a procession in Cowes, the funeral enters its second major phase
18

Queen Victoria's Funeral: Ships Fire a Salute in the Solent

  • 1901-02-01
Queen Victoria and family experience the new 'cinematograph process'
19

Scenes at Balmoral

  • Balmoral Castle
  • 1896
In Dublin, the crowds go wild for a rare glimpse of Queen Victoria as she enters the city in spectacular style
20

The Late Queen's Visit to Dublin: Royal Procession Entering the City Gates

  • 1900
This camera position, in one of the raised stands right by St Paul's, will have cost RW Paul a pretty penny.
21

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (St Paul's: North 2)

  • 1897
Queen Victoria can just be made out under her umbrella in this sequence filmed in St Paul's Churchyard during her Diamond Jubilee.
22

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - St Paul's South - Arrival of Queen's Carriage

  • 1897
The moment preceding the arrival of the Queen's Carriage
23

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (St Paul's: South 4)

  • 1897
The head of the procession approaches Westminster Bridge
24

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (York Road 5)

  • 1897
The Guards and Princes arrive at St Paul's during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
25

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (St Paul's: North 1)

  • 1897
An impressive array of Queen Victoria's Life Guards and Royal Horse Artillery
26

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Prestwich Footage

  • 1897
The Queen arriving at St Paul's
27

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee unidentified Lumiere film (3)

  • 1897
28

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (St Paul's: South 3)

  • 1897
29

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (York Road 3)

  • 1897
A clear view of the head of the procession at Westminster
30

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (York Road 1)

  • 1897
31

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Unidentified (2)

  • 1897
Pomp and circumstance: crucial glimpses of the monarch's funeral, the media event of its age
32

Queen Victoria's Funeral - Prestwich

  • 1901
33

Their Majesties Entering and Leaving the Victoria Tower Entrance of the Houses of Parliament

  • 1901
A look back at history as recorded by the cinematograph
34

Through Three Reigns

  • 1922-10-19
35

Trooping the Colour

  • 1900
36

Diamond Jubilee Procession Taken from Apsley House

  • 1897
The Queen's coffin near the start of its long journey
37

Funeral Cortege Arriving at Trinity Pier

  • 1901
38

Gladstone's Funeral - Entering Westminster Abbey

  • 1898
A conquering Boer War hero enjoys a rapturous homecoming parade
39

Lord Roberts' Arrival in London

  • London
  • 1901
Royal Carriages approach Westminster Bridge
40

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Paul (York Road 4)

  • 1897
The big occasion, as celebrated in a small town
41

Coronation Procession at St. Boswells

  • St Boswells
  • 1928
42

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra

  • 1902
A soon-to-be-crowned King Edward VII waves off Prince George, en route to Australia
43

King Edward, Prince of Wales, and Members of the Royal Household Passing Between the Royal Yacht and the S.S. "Ophir"

The finest and most realistic Military Film ever taken!'
44

Charge of the 12th Lancers

  • 1897
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