In 1897 Queen Victoria celebrated her 60th year as monarch. A spectacular event was staged in London with a processional route lined with troops from all corners of the Empire and millions of the Queen’s subjects. It was the media event of the decade, and the pioneer filmmakers fought for the best positions. A large number of their films survive and are preserved in the BFI National Archive, including this sequence which has been restored with its original tinting. Look out for Queen Victoria herself, sitting under a white parasol in the final carriage, drawn by no less than eight horses.

‘A Royal Occasion: From Queen Victoria to Elizabeth II’ is available now on BFI DVD – http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Occasion-Queen-Victoria-Elizabeth/dp/B007A0QTR6…