London's May Queen

Excitable children in their Sunday finery gawp at cameras during the parade for London’s May Queen.

The All-England May Queen festival was first held at Hayes Common, Bromley, in 1913, organised by a Dulwich folklore enthusiast. This film from 1916 shows that year’s May Queen, Miss Cecily Smith, sitting in a decorated cart pulled by children, preceded by other children carrying banners. She carries a sceptre, and like many of the girls is wearing white and garlands of flowers. Children gawp at the camera as they pass, before Smith receives her crown on the common.