Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free

Coronation Scenes
The streets of Westminster and Camberwell are festooned with bunting and banners in preparation for the Coronation of George VI in this remarkable colour film from A E Ford.
From the collection of:

Overview
A E Ford's nostalgic colour film captures Westminster's streets and buildings bedecked with banners, bunting and Union flags as well as a variety of historic tableaux and gaudy statuary. We also see soldiers from India, looking splendid in their turbans, marching past the camera and boarding buses while military bands parade along Whitehall. Amid the London traffic we get a rare glimpse of a blue Air Mail post-box before moving to bunting festooned houses in Camberwell.
The 'Air Mail' pillar box seen briefly from 3 minutes 17 seconds into the film, was of a type introduced by the GPO in 1930. Coloured blue, the boxes were designed specifically for Air Mail letters and cards and were prominently located in tourist areas. By 1936, the GPO had installed 139 of these boxes in London, and a further 174 in the rest of the country. Unfortunately, the GPO found that separate boxes for Air Mail and ordinary post was too expensive and in 1938 the blue 'Air Mail' boxes were phased out, while standard red pillar boxes could now accept all sorts of mail. Today, apart from other examples in museums, an 'Air Mail' pillar box can be seen outside Windsor Castle, but only as a tourist attraction.
Related

Hitchin Coronation Celebrations Hitchin Coronation Celebrations
Non-Fiction 1936 8 mins Silent Location: Hitchin
By George! (and Mary)... Patriotic crowds pack the streets of Hitchin for exuberant coronation celebrations.

Jewish Ex-Service Men's Coronation Parade 1 Jewish Ex-Service Men's Coronation Parade 1
Amateur film 1937 4 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A proud expression of Jewish identity and heroism at a Coronation parade to the Eldon Square World War One memorial in Newcastle.

Coronation Street Party - Parc-Y-Dre Road, Ruthin, 1953 Coronation Street Party - Parc-Y-Dre Road, Ruthin, 1953
Amateur film 1953 8 mins Silent Location: Ruthin
Right royal revels in Parc-Y-Dre Road involving a decorated donkey, a mystery man and a pile of greenery and cardboard that will provide a community beacon at dusk.

Coronation of Edward VII (1902) Coronation of Edward VII (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 0 mins Silent Location: Westminster Abbey
A short glimpse of the new King's delayed coronation procession through London.

Great Britain Coronation Great Britain Coronation
Anthology 1937 24 mins
Weatherproof bunting, fog, clockwork dolls and a Hollywood exodus to London: this sideways look at preparations for the Coronation of George VI provides a wry American take on a very British ceremony.

Woodford Celebrates the Coronation Woodford Celebrates the Coronation
Documentary 1953 2 mins Silent Location: Woodford
A great parade in celebration of the day of Elizabeth II's coronation, complete with a guest appearance from the Prime Minister!

The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.

Royal Wedding 1947 Royal Wedding 1947
Amateur film 1947 3 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Inhabit the unique perspective of an amateur filmmaker in the crowd at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, 1947.

Candidate for Murder Candidate for Murder
Amateur film 1951 6 mins Location: Westminster
A film-noir unpacking the various self-reflexive thoughts one might fall victim to after committing the ultimate sin, with a twist ending.

VJ Day in Central London VJ Day in Central London
Documentary 1945 2 mins Silent Location: Westminster
This nostalgic and charming window into VJ Day celebrations has its eye on all, from the soldiers and civilians to the local wildlife.

Southport AJEX Parade 1976 Southport AJEX Parade 1976
Amateur film 1976 6 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Southport branch of the Association of Jewish Ex-Service Men & Women join up with other groups in London for the annual Rememberance Parade.

War Looms Over London (September 1938) War Looms Over London (September 1938)
Amateur film 1939 3 mins Silent Location: Westminster
Atmospheric film capturing the mood of the capital ahead of the war. From ARP adverts to the building of bombshelters, London prepares for war.

New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.

Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.

New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.