Royal coronations tend not to come along very often. When King Charles III is crowned on Saturday, it will be only the sixth such ceremony in 120 years. The last one took place in 1953 when the late Queen Elizabeth II acceded the throne. The one before that in 1937 saw George VI become king.
Our wonderful video clip, courtesy of the North East Film Archive, recalls a street party held in Newcastle 86 years ago to celebrate George VI's coronation. The silent colour footage was captured by amateur filmmaker S J Rosslyn Smith, a member of Newcastle & District Amateur Cinematographers Association.
If the 2023 coronation is due to take place amid a reported general lack of interest around the UK, there was no such apathy shown at our 1937 party. The unnamed Newcastle street is festooned in union flags and bunting, with children and adults wearing patriotic red, white and blue as they sit down enthusiastically to enjoy their coronation tea.
