Queen Elizabeth II smiling in Yellow

How the royals popularised radio, photography and videography

I bet you never thought the Queen was a film and photography trailblazer, but the fact is that the documentation of the Windsors have been at the forefront of new media for hundreds of years.

4 of the top 10 most viewed TV moments in UK history involve the royal family. Any royal event continues to cause huge stirrings in the local and global populace. Whether it’s a wedding, birth, funeral or exclusive interview, it is certain to be a hit with the viewers. And creative reimaginings of royal stories are hugely popular too. In the last decade alone, hit TV shows and films have flourished inexorably: The Crown (2016-2022), The King’s Speech (2010), The Queen (2006), Victoria (2016-19)…the list goes on.

2022 marks both the Queen’s platinum jubilee and now her passing. Not long ago, the entire country was celebrating 70 years of her reign. Now, we mark her passing. In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring service and contributions to our society, we’ve put together a little timeline of important moments in media that demonstrate the royal contribution to film, photography and radio.

A Timeline of the Royals in New Media

1842

The first royal to be formally photographed was Prince Albert. William Constable took a daguerreotype in 1842.

1854-1860

William Bambridge was the first unofficial royal photographer, around 1854-1860, although these were not intended for public viewing.
Some of these early photographs can be found in the Royal Collection, including a portfolio album filled with cartes-de-visite.

1894

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert gave their patronage to the Royal Photographic Society in 1894 only a few years after the society’s establishment.

Victoria & Albert were great lovers of art and contributed a number of photographic pieces to the Royal Collection, as well as paintings.

1932

King George V was the first monarch to do a radio broadcast with his Christmas message on Christmas Day 1932.

1939

King George VI made his famous radio address in 1939 at the onset of WWII.

This speech became the subject of blockbuster movie The King’s Speech in 2010.

1953

Queen Elizabeth II is crowned. The broadcast was watched by more than 20 million people

The televised coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 was the biggest influence in the popularisation of the domestic television set in the UK. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was captured by British Pathé who produced 9.5mm cine film.

1957

Queen Elizabeth II gives her first televised Christmas Message.

“I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion”

Read the transcript of that historic speech.

1986

To celebrate 50 of BBC Television, a short film was put together to highlight the changes and impact of royal broadcasting. The Story of Royal Broadcasting can still be viewed online.

1997

The most watched TV event in UK history was the televisation of Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.

1997

Prince Charles becomes patron for the Royal Television Society.

2011

Prince William and Kate Middleton get married. 36.7 million UK viewers tuned in.

2018

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married and attract a huge audience in the US, beating the gloabl viewing numbers of William and Kate.

2022

Queen Elizabeth II sees in the Platinum Jubilee this year - reigning for 70 years.

Buckingham Palace partnered with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to extended licensing hours so people could celebrate the Jubilee in pubs and bars across England and Wales.