Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive is a free public access resource for teachers, students, historians and anyone who has an interest in moving images. Spanning from 1897 to the present day, the films in the Digital Film Archive cover all aspects of life in Northern Ireland and includes everything from dramas to documentaries, newsreels and features, animation to amateur footage.
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State visit of Leopold III the former King of Belgium
A dethroned King is treated to an impressive spectacle as he is given the Freedom of Enniskillen
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Overview
An impressive regiment of 120 guards and their regimental band greet the former King of Belgium as he arrives to receive the Freedom of Enniskillen. Leopold III inspects the guard of honour as their Colonel-in-Chief. Since Leopold I there have been close ties between the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the Belgium royal family. These were rekindled when the 5th Dragoon fought to recapture Belgium from the remaining German forces during World War II.
To avoid civil war in the midst of a violent general strike King Leopold III abdicated in favour of his son on 16th July 1951. He was Colonel-in-Chief of the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. In these colour rushes by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board Leopold is wearing the regiment’s uniform with the sash of the Order of the Garter. On his return from Northern Ireland he visited the Queen and his close friend PM Sir Anthony Eden. Other famous visitors to Enniskillen include Charles Stratton better known as Tom Thumb in 1871.
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