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
1854-1860
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
1939
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
“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
1997
Prince Charles becomes patron for the Royal Television Society.
2011
2018
2022
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.