This film is part of Free

Welcome to the Queen
Beautiful documentary record of the royal visit to Teesside in 1956, shot in gorgeous Kodachrome.
Overview
This deliriously beautiful colour documentary was made to commemorate a royal visit to Teesside in 1956, when thousands of folk from towns and villages along the river - from Teesport to Stockton-on-Tees - turned out to greet the Queen. There’s precious little archive film of Stockton, so these gorgeous, glowing Kodachrome scenes of the town decked out in Union flags are all the more irresistible.
The film was shot by the Billingham Film Unit (chemical giant ICI’s in-house filmmaking section), and is a great example of the many local documentaries they produced, alongside more traditional 'industrial process' and training films, which capture the unfolding delights and dramas of life on Teesside.
Related

Governor's Notebook 1 Governor's Notebook 1
Amateur film 1953 2 mins Silent Location: Stormont
An unforgettable day for Lady Wakehurst as the glamorous new monarch delights the crowds at Stormont

Royal Visit to Bearsden June 1965 Royal Visit to Bearsden June 1965
Amateur film 1965 11 mins Location: Bearsden
The Queen and Prince Philip enjoy a day out in the Glasgow suburbs in this sumptuous 1960s amateur film, complete with pipe band, flag-waving schoolchildren and very big hats.

Stranraer Royal Visit 1955 Stranraer Royal Visit 1955
Non-Fiction 1955 11 mins Silent Location: Stranraer
Visit Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, with a Royal accompaniment as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit in 1955, enjoying an agricultural show and pageant along the way.

Jubilee Jubilee
Current affairs 1977 13 mins Location: Bath
A special report looks into the preparations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and her subsequent tour of the South West.

Sierra Leone Greets the Queen Sierra Leone Greets the Queen
Non-Fiction 1961 21 mins
The Queen and Prince Philip's visit in late 1961, the year Sierra Leone became independent from Britain.

Royal Destiny Royal Destiny
Documentary 1953 17 mins
Produced by British Movietone for “Her Majesty’s Central Office of Information”, Royal Destiny traces Queen Elizabeth II’s young life up to her ascension to the throne.

Stockton Races Stockton Races
Non-Fiction 1896 1 mins Location: Stockton-on-Tees
The finish of the final race at Stockton race track

River Carnival River Carnival
Amateur film 1978 7 mins Location: Stockton-on-Tees
Hawaii it is not, but the weather does not put these competitors off taking part in this Teesside river carnival.

Trinity School Trip to Whitby Trinity School Trip to Whitby
Home movie 1947 5 mins Silent Location: Stockton-on-Tees
A charming portrait of school boys from Stockton on Tees in the first age of austerity.

The Official Film of the Railway Centenary The Official Film of the Railway Centenary
Non-Fiction 1925 19 mins Silent Location: Darlington
A grand parade of locomotives to celebrate 100 years of railways and the world’s first passenger trains

Stockton-on-tees Stockton-on-tees
Non-Fiction 1910 4 mins Silent Location: Stockton-on-Tees
Residents of the Cleveland market town smile for the camera in this lively film of Stockton High Street on market day.

Mayor's Sunday Mayor's Sunday
Non-Fiction 1913 6 mins Silent Location: Stockton-on-Tees
Thousands tread the cobbled streets of Stockton-on-Tees to celebrate the Mayor’s Sunday.

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.