Wedding of H.R.H. The Duke of York and the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

Souvenir programme published to commemorate the wedding of the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. The programme was issued by Westminster Hospital, partly to raise funds and partly as a souvenir of the event and includes black and white photos of the hospital wards and a donation form. On the cover are printed medallion portraits of the young couple.
Such penny souvenir programmes were quickly and cheaply mass printed for all royal events that took place in London in the early 20th century. Royal ceremony and pageantry was very much a feature of Imperial London and consolidated the popularity of the extended Royal Family. Londoners were encouraged to support these shows of imperial spectacle, images of which were sent around the world, by providing a ready made flag waving, patriotic crowd. Such programmes as this were thus not only produced as souvenirs but also to encourage participation by informing Londoners where and when the events were taking place.