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To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee the BFI has conducted an extensive search through the National Archive to unearth a wealth of fascinating and illuminating footage on a range of Royalty-related subjects.

A Royal Occasion is a specially-curated 2-DVD edition which draws upon a number of specially-cared for archival collections to build a comprehensive historical survey of the royal family from the late Victorian era (including Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee) up to the Queen's Coronation in 1953. This superb collection offers the opportunity to see a number of rare and previously unseen films from the National Archive, include silent films, and early colour productions.

knives wrote:I wasn't aware of the COI release, but I was referring to how the BFI needs to get into the tories good graces and something like this is a wonderful way to please them while promoting rare and probably wonderful films at the same time.

MichaelB wrote:I can absolutely guarantee that the BFI would have done something similar regardless of whether the government of the time was Conservative, Labour, Communist...

To coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, the BFI presents a wealth of rare royal films on two double-DVD sets: A Royal Occasion and The Queen on Tour

The BFI celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee with the release of two DVDs packed with rare and previously unavailable footage of the British royal family spanning a period of 75 years. A Royal Occasion: From Victoria to Elizabeth II and The COI Collection Volume Seven: The Queen on Tour, both released on 14 May 2012, will delight anyone with an interest in the monarchy, British history or the development of cinema. In addition to the wealth of remastered films on the discs themselves, both DVDs come complete with illustrated booklets containing comprehensive film notes and essays.

A Royal Occasion: From Victoria to Elizabeth II

BFI curator Jan Faull has conducted an extensive search through the BFI National Archive to unearth a wealth of fascinating footage on a range of royalty-related subjects beginning as far back as 1896. The footage creates a comprehensive historical survey of the royal family on film, from the late Victorian era to the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

This superb collection features previously unseen material, such as silent Topical Budget newsreels and early colour productions, which illustrate the development of British filmmaking techniques. This unique release contains many firsts: the first ever footage of a British monarch on film (Queen Victoria at Balmoral, which is newly restored), the first big British ceremonial event (Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897) and the first colour film of Trooping the Colour (1937).

These surprising films also offer rare glimpses of touching royal moments including the birth of Princess Elizabeth, the Royal Family at home during World War II, and a behind-the-scenes film made by Daimler of the 1947 royal tour of South Africa.

Queen Victoria
Includes Scenes at Balmoral (1896) and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897)

Edward VII & Queen Alexandra
Includes Edward VII at Queen Victoria’s Funeral (1901), Edward VII’s Coronation (1902), King Edward VII launches HMS Dreadnought from Portsmouth Dockyard (1906) and Queen Alexandra’s Drive through London (1916)

George V & Queen Mary
Includes The Queen and the Land Lassies (1918), Queen’s Visit to the East End (1917) and Silver Jubilee (1935)

George VI & Queen Elizabeth
Includes Wedding Cake for Duke of York’s Bride (1923), The Royal Wedding (1923) and Britain’s Baby Princess (1926).

Elizabeth II
Includes Long to Reign Over Us (1953) and Lambeth Rejoices: Coronation Television (1953)

Plus special features including Buckingham Palace Allotment (1918)

RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD953 / Cert E / 2-disc set UK / 1896-1953 / black & white, tinted and colour / English language and silent with music / 287 mins / DVD-9 x 2 / Original aspect ratio 1.33:1 / Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)