Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert and Liner Ophir

The future George VI heads to Australia

This film, showing the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert being tugged into harbour, was taken in 1901 as part of the record of the Prince of Wales' departure for Australia. Plans for the trip were hurriedly changed after the death of Queen Victoria, with the newly-crowned King Edward VII sending his son in his place. This fragmentary film would have formed part of the new diet of what we'd now call current affairs programmes, which were becoming an important section of cinematograph exhibitions.

The same programmes might also feature dispatches from the Boer War or the Boxer Revolution in China. Perhaps this film could be considered a precursor to the 'soft news' item?