The BFI Player has released a new free collection of over 50 films of Jubilee celebrations in the UK to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
The collection of historic films begins with early silent footage of Queen Victoria’s procession for her Diamond Jubilee on 20 June 1897, celebrating 60 years on the throne.
It then moves on to George V’s Silver Jubilee on 6 May 1935, by which time amateur filmmakers were capturing celebrations across the country.
The films from this collection include a carnival in Bognor Regis and parades and a pageant in Wolverhampton.
The collection then shows colour footage from the 1970s of local celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee on 7 June 1977.
The celebrations in 1977 include pancake tossing and slow bicycle races in Pulham Market and the Queen’s visit to Bath as part of a tour of the South-west.
Rosemary Collins is the features editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine