Transport for London's Role in Coronations
Royal coronations are national events that spur great international interest and attract millions of people to London. What part have TfL and our predecessors played?
TfL and our predecessors have been involved in planning and delivering the public transport for 4 coronations: George V, George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, and King Charles III
Front Cover of Central London Railway Souvenir Booklet for Coronation of King George VI (1911-06-22) by Central London RailwayTfL Corporate Archives
1911 Souvenir Booklet
Produced by the Central London Railway for the coronation of King George V - but in truth a promotional booklet advertising places of interest along the Central line!
Coronation Arrangements with Map of Procession Route (1937-05-12) by London Passenger Transport BoardTfL Corporate Archives
1937 Map of Coronation Procession
This was used as a template for the 1953 coronation map!
Sadly, there's little documentation in the collections reflecting our role in the coronations of George V and George VI.
It's with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, that the collections really begin to demonstrate the key role that transport, and therefore this organisation, plays in putting on such a hugely significant event.
How We Got Them There (1953-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Preparations
London Transport Executive (LTE) started planning for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation months in advance; special road and rail timetables were drawn up as well as arrangements made to staff the intensive services
Proposal by WHSmith for decoration (2053-01-12) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Station Decorations
60 stations were redecorated to exhibit a “bright, fresh appearance” to spectators
Many were the Departments that had a Coronation Part (1953-07-01) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Station canopies in the coronation area were decorated with coloured draping, bunting and flowers - including 6,000 geraniums arranged in special displays, with reds, whites and blues dominating
Government and public buildings were flood-lit as a celebratory symbol. LTE hosted bus and coach tours which “captured the imagination of the public” who were offered a “grandstand view” of the decorations along the procession route and coronation area
Train recording dials for 2 June 1953 (1953-06-02) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Spectators needed to be in their places early in the morning, which dictated many of the services proposed. Selected train services operated between 3am and 5am to transport spectators to their chosen viewpoint along the procession route
Frequency of Trains
Train recorder dials captured each time a train passed through a station, with a red line created to show the number and therefore frequency of trains. The red numbers indicate the number of trains each hour
Coronation 1953: Map of Proposal for Working and Staffing Trains and Stations (1953-06-02) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Some stations were open all night, but others that lay on the processional route were closed. The closing of Westminster Station caused St James's Park Station and Piccadilly Circus Station to come under increased pressure
Map of 1953 Coronation Area (1953-06-02) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Coronation Map
2 million copies of a special map showing the coronation area were distributed free to the public
Many were the Departments that had a Coronation Part (1953-07-01) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Requests for the Coronation map poured into the public relations office and a team of clerks gathered from various sections had to be organised to deal with the task
Map of 1953 Coronation Area (1953-06-02) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
An empty white roundel indicated an underground station remained open all day (e.g. Tottenham Court Road); black and white stripes indicated it was closed until after the procession (e.g. Trafalgar Square) and if filled, it was closed all day (e.g. Covent Garden)
It showed where pedestrian access could be found to access the processional area (the white cuttings into the coloured areas), and the colours used were replicated in the windows of buses to help people get to and from destinations along the route
One of the LTE's major commitments was to bring into the Coronation area 10,300 policemen and women, as no procession can be delivered without them. Similarly transport of the troops, marines and bandsmen all taking part needed to be arranged
4,000 schoolchildren from north and east London were conveyed to the Embankment by bus. It is interesting to note that the official central road services report said: “The orderly movement of the operation and the steady flow of the children proceeding to their stand was very well carried out.”
And Got Them Back Home (1953-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
A special squad of 22 inspectors wearing yellow armbands marked Travel Information were posted in the coronation area to deal with the flood of questions
Once an event is finished, you need to get the crowds home!
These photos are of Green Park and Oxford Circus within minutes of the barrier opening. The caption for these images says, “an orderly queue was quickly formed."
Photograph of Crowds on the Mall for the Coronation (1953-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The evening saw another wave of passengers as people who'd remained at home to see the events on TV, travelled uptown to mingle with the festive crowds and to see the fireworks display at the Embankment
LTE saw 10,000 train trips and 44,000 bus journeys run in and out of the procession area. 5.5 miles of the transport network was sealed off as traffic flows on Coronation Day were anticipated to be different in direction, volume and timing from normal week-day services
Coronation Traffic Strories by Members of Staff (1953-07-01) by London Transport ExecutiveTfL Corporate Archives
Plans are only as good at the people who put them into action. First-hand accounts appeared in the staff magazine. Richard Powell's is read by a member of current TfL staff
Metro - A Very Royal Occasion (2023-05-04) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
Using Archives for Current Planning
The Archives were used extensively to support transport planning for the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023. We shared our research and relevant sources with the project team, providing a contextual framework on which they could build
The Archives also set about collecting the records that told the story of how TfL was involved in another Coronation.
Santander Cycles Hire Bikes feature special decorations for the Coronation of King Charles (2023-05-02) by Nick TurpinTfL Corporate Archives
Cycle hire bikes received special decorations
Buses and even bus stops were adorned
Crowndels installed at Embankment Underground Station District and Circle line Platforms (2023-05-02) by Eleanor BentallTfL Corporate Archives
'Crowndels' were installed at key Underground stations
Customer service staff were issued a booklet with information to assist members of the public attending the coronation
A travel advice leaflet was issued
Travel Advice for Coronation of King Charles III (2023-05-06) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
Map for Coronation of King Charles III (2023-05-06) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
It included a map with information about station closures and the procession route
Travel Advice for Coronation of King Charles III (2023-05-06) by Transport for LondonTfL Corporate Archives
A Royal Address
And there was a special surprise for anyone using the tubes or buses....
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.
This story has been enhanced using images from the collections of The J. Paul Getty Museum. All enquiries regarding this video should be made directly to that institution.
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