Image ID: 26032

Civic procession for funeral of Edward VII, Carlton, 1910

Station Road
Carlton
Nottinghamshire
England

Edward VII was born on November 9, 1841, the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He married Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 and they had three sons and three daughters. Queen Victoria would not involve Edward, Prince of Wales, in official government matters and Edward chose to indulge in a wild social life becoming implicated more than once in divorce cases. Edward succeeded to the throne upon Victoria's death in 1901, the original Coronation date being set for 26th June 1902, but, due to illness, it was postponed until 9th August 1902. Despite his reputation, Edward VII was committed to his regal role. He played an active part in foreign policy, for example, and despite his social indiscretions was popular as a monarch. Edward died at Sandringham on May 6, 1910, after a series of heart attacks. His coffin lay in state in Westminster Hall before being taken through the streets of London and on to Windsor by train. The funeral was held in St George's Chapel where he was buried on May 20th 1910. His funeral procession is said to have been one of the first occasions when colour news film, Kinemacolor, was used. The Funeral Procession started at Windsor Central Station (GWR) after a steam train had brought the coffin and mourners from London's Paddington Station. Naval ratings pulled the coffin on a gun carriage up the hill out of the station, right into the High Street, past the Guildhall and Parish Church and into the Long Walk by the Park Street gateway. The procession then turned left up the hill towards the castle and proceeded through the Upper Ward and Middle Ward, by the Round Tower, and down the hill into the Lower Ward, finally turning into the Horseshoe Cloisters and the steps of St George's Chapel. (information from www.thamesweb.co.uk) It is believed that the church in the background is the new Baptist Church built in 1900. The previous Baptist Church still stands today (2015) behind the Liberal Club. (Additional information kindly provided by Angela Keyworth).

Date: 1910

Organisation Reference: NCCC002042

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