Overview of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Imagery
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London, and official photographs from the event have been preserved by the Royal Collection Trust and other institutions. The ceremony marked the formal investiture of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. High-resolution images of the coronation are available through the Royal Collection Trust website and the BBC Archive, which provide access to official photographs, newsreels, and documentary footage. The event was the first coronation to be televised, and the BBC's broadcast footage remains a primary source for visual records of the ceremony.
The official portraits from the coronation were primarily captured by photographer Cecil Beaton, whose images became iconic representations of the event. The Royal Collection Trust holds the rights to many of these photographs, and they are used in official publications, exhibitions, and educational materials. The BBC Archive and the Imperial War Museum also host additional photographs and film footage from the day, offering a comprehensive visual record of the ceremony and the surrounding events. These sources are considered authoritative for historical and research purposes.
Key Visual Elements and Ceremony Details
The coronation ceremony included the presentation of regalia such as the St Edward's Crown, the Sovereign's Orb, and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, all of which are depicted in official photographs. The ceremony was conducted by Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and involved the anointing, investiture, and enthronement of Queen Elizabeth II. The images show the Queen processing through Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach, which was drawn by horses and escorted by military personnel from the Household Cavalry and other units.
The visual records also capture the role of the choir, the orchestra, and the congregation, as well as the presence of dignitaries and members of the royal family. The Gold State Coach used in the coronation procession is now part of the Royal Collection and is displayed at the Royal Mews in London. The BBC's coverage of the coronation included both still photography and film, and these materials are accessible through the BBC Archive and the British Film Institute's collections.
Where to Find Official Coronation Photographs
The primary source for official coronation photographs is the Royal Collection Trust, which manages the images and other works of art held in trust for the monarch. The trust's online catalog provides access to high-resolution scans of Cecil Beaton's coronation photographs, as well as other images from the event. The BBC Archive also offers a digital collection of newsreels and documentary footage from the coronation, which includes both black-and-white and color recordings.
For commercial or academic use, the Royal Collection Trust provides licensing information for reproductions of the photographs, and the BBC Archive offers guidance on accessing and using its archival materials. The Imperial War Museum and the British Film Institute also hold relevant photographic and film collections that document the coronation and its broader historical context. These institutions are recognized as authoritative sources for visual records of the event, and their collections are regularly updated with new digitization efforts.