The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953

Early 1950s London was still recovering from the Second World War. The economy was struggling and you could see bombed-out buildings across the city. Decorations like these in Piccadilly sought to create a sense of optimism using images of ‘Britishness’. The Times called the event a “holiday from reality”.

Despite the gloomy weather, some three million people lined the streets of London. Everyone hoped to catch a glimpse of the new monarch as she travelled between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Many camped on the streets in the days before to get a good spot.

This watercolour by Kenneth Wynn was painted from the balcony of the department store Selfridges on Oxford Street. You can see the Gold State Coach that transported Elizabeth along the procession route. Its vivid colours evoke the pageantry and festivity of the event.

The coronation ceremony was filled with centuries-old rituals, as well as symbols of Britain’s imperial history. Elizabeth was crowned queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. She wore a dress featuring flowers of Commonwealth countries designed by London couturier Norman Hartnell.

The BBC set up its biggest ever outside broadcast – in 44 languages – to provide the first live coverage of a coronation. At that time, only two million people in Britain owned a television. But around 27 million watched the live coverage, many gathering in the homes of friends and neighbours.

Londoners organised coronation parties to celebrate the event. Here, photographer Henry Grant snaps children from a primary school in Streatham taking part in a coronation pageant. Each class performed a show representing countries of the empire for an audience of parents and teachers.

A wide range of souvenirs were sold to commemorate the coronation, spanning mass-produced products and high-end, limited edition goods. The government banned the import of foreign commemorative items and removed purchase tax on souvenirs, giving a boost to the struggling post-war economy.