This film is part of Free
Scenes at Balmoral
Queen Victoria and family experience the new 'cinematograph process'
Overview
Victoria’s diary records both the day that the film was shot and the day it was projected. Her review: "it is a very wonderful process"
Queen Victoria’s diary records on October 3rd 1896: "We all were photographed by Downey by the new cinematograph process, which makes moving pictures by winding off a reel of films. We were walking up and down, and the children jumping about." Later (Nov 23rd) the film was projected, and again, the Queen’s diary records that "After tea went to the Red drawing-room, where so-called 'animated pictures' were shown off including the groups taken… at Balmoral. It is a very wonderful process, representing people their movements and actions as if they were alive." So-called animated pictures, indeed. Here, preserved for posterity is the first ever film of Queen Victoria, her dog in her lap, trundling around for the camera.
Related
Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901) Funeral of Queen Victoria (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 5 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
The crowds stand silent as the nation says goodbye to Queen Victoria in February 1901.
Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901) Royal Proclamation of Death of Queen Victoria, Blackburn (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Blackburn
Crowds gather outside the Town Hall to hear the town crier's royal announcement.
Gladstone's Funeral Gladstone's Funeral
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent
The Victorian great and good mark the passing of a political titan
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Apsley House Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Apsley House
1897 1 mins Silent
Unusually detailed shots of the Jubilee procession
The Queen at Sheffield The Queen at Sheffield
Documentary 1897 1 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Sheffield gives the capital a run for its money with an impressive parade celebrating the monarch, a month before the Diamond Jubilee.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Front of Procession Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee - Paul - York Road - Front of Procession
1897 1 mins Silent
Carriages full of well-heeled guests continue in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee procession, filmed for RW Paul.
Dee Valley Dee Valley
School programme and Educational film 1959 18 mins Silent Location: Aberdeen
Journey by steam train on the lost Royal Deeside railway line to Ballater and Balmoral Castle through Cults, Peterculter and Banchory in 1959, in this lovely educational film.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.