Wednesday 1 June 2022 05:31 PM Clips reveal Queen Victoria's 1897 jubilee, King George V's 1935 gong and ... trends now
This week marks the culmination of celebrations to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with an array of events planned for the weekend.
From Trooping the Colour to a party in front of Buckingham Palace, millions of Britons are preparing to take part.
Now, a new film collection released to celebrate the Queen's 70-year rule shows the pomp and pageantry of previous jubilees.
Included is a clip of Queen Victoria arriving at St Paul's Cathedral during her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, when film was in its infancy.
Also seen are uproarious celebrations that took place in Stepney, in London's East End, in 1935 to mark King George V's Silver Jubilee.
Another clip shows a carnival that processed through Clacton, in Essex, during the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The collection of more than 50 clips has been put together by the British Film Institute. Named Jubilee on Film, it show how royal celebrations have been captured on video cameras for the past 125 years.
The collection also charts the development of film itself, going from grainy black and white clips shot by professionals to clearer colour filmed by ordinary Britons.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - 1897
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, on June 20, 1897, brought the fledgling film industry to London. The first motion picture had been captured by French filmmaker Louis Le Prince just nine years earlier.
More than 40 cameramen from around the world attended Victoria's milestone, which came 33 years after the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert.
Filmmakers all looked to document the official procession at various locations along the route to provide an official record of the ceremony that they could sell to nations across the world.
Another clip in the BFI archive shows a different part of the procession as it passes through Westminster. It showcases the Queen's Life Guards and the Royal Horse Artillery.
As had been her custom since the death of her husband, Victoria wore mourning black as she continued to be gripped by grief.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, on June 20, 1897, brought the fledgling film industry to London. The first motion picture had been captured by French filmmaker Louis Le Prince just nine years earlier. Above: The Queen is seen in her carriage with her daughter Princess Helena and daughter-in-law Alexandra of Denmark as it processes through London to St Paul's Cathedral
The film that gives a fleeting glimpse of the Queen shows the moment that Her Majesty arrived at St Paul's. It also gives a snapshot of the thousands of spectators that lined the route. Some were seen hanging out of windows whilst waving handkerchiefs
Another clip in the BFI archive shows a different part of the procession as it passes through Westminster. It showcases the Queen's Life Guards and the Royal Horse Artillery
Victoria and her daughter Princess Helena and daughter-in-law Alexandra of Denmark - herself a future queen - took part in a parade in an open carriage along a six-mile route from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral.
The film that gives a fleeting glimpse of the Queen shows the moment that Her Majesty arrived at St Paul's. It also gives a snapshot of the thousands of spectators that lined the route.
Some are seen hanging out of windows whilst waving handkerchiefs.
Victoria, who was then little more than a month short of her 77th birthday, was considered too old to struggle up St Paul's' stone steps in front of the huge crowds.
Officials did consider building a ramp so that her carriage, complete with its detachment of horses, could go into the cathedral.
Instead, the service was held in her presence outside the church.
She said of the day: 'No-one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets... The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching.
Queen Victoria is seen posing for an official photograph to mark her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. By then, Her Majesty was reaching her 77th birthday and was crippled by arthritis
'The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with joy.'
Victoria had been feted to an even greater extent ten years previously during her Golden Jubilee. But the Queen took more of a backseat on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.
The event marked the first time that its name had been used in the context of a 60th anniversary.
At the time of Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the British Empire was at its zenith, with 450million people under Her Majesty's rule.
Not only was she Queen of the United Kingdom, but also of India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other nations.
King George V's Silver Jubilee - 1935
On May 6, 1935, the country celebrated the Silver Jubilee of King George V, Queen Victoria's grandson.
He had come to the throne in 1910 after the death of King Edward VII.
George's Silver Jubilee was a major broadcast event on radio and was carried by the BBC, European broadcasters and NBC and CBS in America.
The BFI's video from the 1935 occasion shows one of the many thousands of street parties that took place around the country.
On May 6, 1935, the country celebrated the Silver Jubilee of King George V, Queen Victoria's grandson. Above: The King and his wife Queen Mary are seen on the balcongy of Buckingham Palace with their granddaughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret
The BFI's video from the 1935 occasion shows one of the many thousands of street parties that took place around the country. It shows the people of Stepney in London's East End jubilantly jumping up and down and cheering on their street beneath reams of bunting
One man is seen dancing and attempting to do a cartwheel whilst wearing a dress and paper crown, as residents crowd around him
It shows the people of Stepney in London's East End jubilantly jumping up and down and cheering on their street beneath reams of bunting, before one man is seen dancing and attempting to do a cartwheel whilst wearing a dress and paper crown.
Surrounding him are Stepney residents who laugh as they enjoy the display.
A second clip then shows residents of the village of Great Hucklow, in Derbyshire, dancing in the street. Also seen are children from the village taking part in an egg and spoon race.
As with his grandmother's Diamond Jubilee, the 1935 celebrations in London began with a carriage procession through London to St Paul's Cathedral, where a thanksgiving service was held.
The Duke of York - the future King George VI - is seen with his wife and daughters Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret leaving St Paul's Cathedral after the thanksgiving service
Seen above is one of the thousands of street parties that took place around the country to mark the Silver Jubilee. Residents of a Manchester street sit beneath reams of bunting
It was followed by another procession back to Buckingham Palace, where the Royal Family - including a very young Princess Elizabeth - appeared on the balcony.
In the evening, the King delivered a memorable message from the Palace that was broadcast on radio across the nation.
At the time, Britain was a little over four years away from the Second World War, with King George having led the nation through the First World War 20 years earlier.
The Queen's Silver Jubilee - 1977
Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee began on February 6, 1977 - the anniversary of her accession.
One of the videos released by the BFI that shows one of the thousands of street parties in 1977 was filmed in Clacton, Essex.
It shows an array of colourful costumes as residents turned out in their droves to parade through the town centre.
Some wore giant papier mache heads as carnival queens - including Miss Clacton Junior - appeared on giant floats.
The film was captured by amateur filmmaker Herbert Gregory.
Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee began on February 6, 1977. - the anniversary of her accession. Above: The Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Philip and Earl Mountbatten of BUrma
The Silver Jubilee brought welcome relief to a country that was mired in debt and industrial problems.
In her 25 years on the throne, the Queen had witnessed a range of crises, from the Suez fiasco to the war in Vietnam and the threat of nuclear conflict amid tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Whilst there had also been some highs - such as England winning the 1966 World Cup - the lows had also been significant. They included the tragedy of the 1966 Aberfan disaster, when coal spoil from a mine engulfed the village school.
In 1972, the Queen had celebrated her silver wedding anniversary, whilst her own daughter Princess Anne had married in 1973.
One of the videos released by the BFI that shows one of the thousands of street parties in 1977 was filmed in Clacton, Essex
It shows an array of colourful costumes as residents turned out in their droves to parade through the town centre. Some wore giant papier mache heads as carnival queens - including Miss Clacton Junior - appeared on giant floats
The film was captured by amateur filmmaker Herbert Gregory. Above: Another part of the procession seen passing through Clacton
The Queen's Silver Jubilee was a joyous occasion. Her Majesty conducted a tour of the Commonwealth before returning to the UK and giving an address to both Houses of Parliament.
She then toured Scotland before she returned to London for the high point of the celebrations. It included a
