Queen Elizabeth II Seated on Throne

Photograph taken from the television broadcast of Queen Elizabeth II crowned and seated on the throne, taken during the Coronation, 2 June 1953. One of a collection of ten photographs of the television coverage of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, broadcast live on 2 June 1953, helped make television watching into a mainstream activity. More than 20 million people watched the Service on television, marking the first time that a television audience had outnumbered a radio audience. Many people bought or rented televisions for the first time so that they could watch, and friends and family were invited to crowd around at viewing parties.

Television recorders were not available at the time, so taking a photo of the television was one way to keep a record or memento of a live event.