Film shows joy and spectacle of royal visits

The curtain will go up on A Right Royal Yorkshire Occasion on September 8, one day before Queen Elizabeth will officially become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

The film has been created for Beningbrough Hall, the National Trust property near York, and focuses on the many royal visits that have been made to the region over the years.

Put together by the Yorkshire Film Archive, based at York St John University, it includes rare footage of Queen Victoria making a stately trip to the region.

As well as footage of various members of the Royal family, it also shows how Yorkshire families celebrated with street parties and flag flying. The video montage will play at Beningbrough Hall until November 1.

The hall’s head of visitor operations, Jane Whitehead said: “This is the only chance visitors can see this fantastic short film created especially for us. It’s quite moving in parts and people might even spot themselves in the crowds.”

The film’s showing also marks the final few weeks of the two-year exhibition Royals: Then and Now which features contemporary royal portraits alongside pictures of their ancestors on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

Graham Relton, Archive Manager, Yorkshire Film Archive said: “Professional and amateur filmmakers alike get out their cameras for special occasions, and there are none more special than a royal celebration.

“Whether it’s a formal visit or the fun of a local street party with bunting, we have brought together over 70 royal films from the Yorkshire Film Archive vaults. From Whitby to Wakefield, Harrogate to Hull, the footage spans 115 years and captures the pomp and ceremony of A Right Royal Yorkshire Occasion.”