Royal celebrations showcase | The National Archives

Excitement is mounting for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012, as the nation prepares to celebrate only the second British monarch to reign for 60 years. The National Archives’ image collections cover royal celebrations throughout history, and you can see a selection below.

Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Tributes came in from all corners of the British Empire, and several decorative tributes from our collection of ‘addresses’ to Queen Victoria (from the UK and Australia) are shown here. Find out more about images from our record set PP1 in our Jubilee exhibition.

We also hold rarely seen illustrations depicting a young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on their wedding day and elaborate advertising posters celebrating the pomp of occasions such as Edward VII’s accession to the throne in 1901.

The general public has always put on a good show for royal events. Our photographic images tell the story of celebrations across the country. An 1887 Golden Jubilee procession in honour of Queen Victoria took place in Sidmouth, Devon. A less formal approach is portrayed in our images of Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire and March, Cambridgeshire, which have a street-party feel.

A more recent photograph here shows proposed street decorations for King Edward VIII’s 1936 coronation. You can also see one house’s tribute to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Street decoration scheme for the coronation of King Edward VIII, 1936
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/work-21-283-street-decoration-scheme-for-coronation-of-edward-viii-1936.jpg
Catalogue reference: WORK 21/283
Decorated portrait of Queen Victoria, 1897
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-134(ii)-(3)-queen-victoria-decorated-portrait-1897.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/134 (ii) (3)
Victoria and Albert's wedding procession illustration, 1840
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/ext11-82-(19-of-31)-victoria-and-albert-wedding-procession-illustration-1840.jpg
Catalogue reference: EXT 11/82 (19 of 31)
Victoria and Albert's wedding procession illustration, 1840
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/ext11-82-(31-of-31)-victoria-and-albert-wedding-procession-illustration-1840.jpg
Catalogue reference: EXT 11/82 (31 of 31)
Jubilee address to Queen Victoria from Adelaide, 1897
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/pp1-636-jubilee-address-to-queen-victoria-1897-city-of-adelaide.jpg
Catalogue reference: PP 1/636
Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee procession in Sidmouth, 1887
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-381-pt1-(9)-jubilee-procession-in-sidmouth-1887.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/381 pt1 (9)
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee tribute from Brighton
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/pp1-393-(2)-brighton.jpg
Catalogue reference: PP 1/393 (2)
Programme of Pain's fireworks for King Edward VII, 1901
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-179-f147-programme-of-pains-fireworks-for-edward-viii-1901.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/179/f147
Address by King Edward VII on his accession to the throne, 1901
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-177-f182-address-by-edward-VII-on-accession-to-the-throne-1901.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/177/f182
High Street Hoddesdon on Jubilee day, 21 June 1887
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-381-f229-high-street-hoddesdon-on-jubilee-day-21-june-1887.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/381/f229
Roasting an ox at March on coronation day, 1902
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-491-f294-roasting-an-ox-at-march-on-coronation-day-1902.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/491/f294
A building's tribute Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897
/images/imagelibrary/showcase/royal-celebrations/copy1-431-(4)-queen-victoria-diamond-jubilee-1897.jpg
Catalogue reference: COPY 1/431 (4)

This is just a selection. Contact licensing@nationalarchives.gov.uk for more image solutions.

Sharing will require cookies. Show details

Street decoration scheme for the coronation of King Edward VIII, 1936Catalogue reference: WORK 21/283Decorated portrait of Queen Victoria, 1897Catalogue reference: COPY 1/134 (ii) (3)Victoria and Albert's wedding procession illustration, 1840Catalogue reference: EXT 11/82 (19 of 31)Victoria and Albert's wedding procession illustration, 1840Catalogue reference: EXT 11/82 (31 of 31)Jubilee address to Queen Victoria from Adelaide, 1897 Catalogue reference: PP 1/636Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee procession in Sidmouth, 1887Catalogue reference: COPY 1/381 pt1 (9)Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee tribute from BrightonCatalogue reference: PP 1/393 (2)Programme of Pain's fireworks for King Edward VII, 1901Catalogue reference: COPY 1/179/f147Address by King Edward VII on his accession to the throne, 1901Catalogue reference: COPY 1/177/f182High Street Hoddesdon on Jubilee day, 21 June 1887Catalogue reference: COPY 1/381/f229Roasting an ox at March on coronation day, 1902Catalogue reference: COPY 1/491/f294A building's tribute Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897Catalogue reference: COPY 1/431 (4)