This film is part of Free
Wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten
Royal nuptials at Westminster Abbey, attended by the great and good including King George VI and Winston Churchill
Overview
It's 20 November 1947, and Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, spinster, ties the knot with Philip Mountbatten, bachelor, in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey - filmed for the benefit of cinema audiences not invited to the big do. A Mexican wave of curtsies follows the 21-year-old future queen as she glides up the aisle, followed by her parents and other dignitaries including Winston and Clementine Churchill. The whole affair is rather solemn, but the newlyweds do crack a smile at the end as they pose for the cameras.
These crisp images have presumably detached themselves from a longer film, but were acquired by the BFI National Archive as part of a mixed 16mm reel of assorted royal weddings lacking any titles or other information.
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.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.