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Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) was the UK’s longest reigning monarch. She acceded to the throne in 1952, at the age of 25, after the death of her father King George VI. Her ceremonial Coronation took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey.

Eight years on from the end of the Second World War, some rationing was still in place, reflecting the austerity of the post-war years. The Queen’s Coronation seemed to herald a more optimistic and prosperous period. It was also the first major event to be broadcast on television, with 20.5 million people tuning in.

London Transport (LT) was at the heart of making sure such an occasion went without a hitch. LT decorated the network across the capital, distributed millions of posters and maps and laid on extra transport before and during the event, as well as giving directions on the day itself.

Here we illustrate the effort that went into this grand occasion with photographs and posters from our collection.
 

The LT network had to look the part for the special day. Underground stations along the route of the Coronation procession were decorated with special canopies, with this one at Charing Cross (now Embankment) Underground station. These stations were also resplendent with flowers, with some here being potted at Acton Nursery in preparation. Another 30 stations on or near the routes were also decorated with simpler arrangements.

Central London, particularly streets along the procession route, were lavishly decorated. As this poster shows, LT offered evening bus tours of the Coronation lights and sights, these ones starting from areas of north London.

The huge volume of maps and posters had to be distributed across the capital, with these advertising store staff at Shepherd’s Bush engaged in sorting some of them.

In the weeks leading up to the big day, the publicity office had to field huge volumes of enquiries. In the busiest week, around 34,500 telephone and 6,000 written enquiries were received. Normal volumes averaged 1,200 and 500 respectively.

With the LT network akin to London’s largest public art gallery and advertising space, posters were designed, printed and distributed across London’s road and rail vehicles, stops and stations. The gentleman in the photo is also holding a specially printed pocket map.

Preparations were exhaustive and intricate. In this photo, railways operating manager F G Maxwell and two of his staff work on some of the arrangements, a map of the procession route behind them. LT produced 2 million guide maps showing the route and giving detailed transport instructions for visitors looking to gain a good vantage point.

An estimated 3 million people came to see the procession, with many spending the night before on nearby pavements – including here outside Westminster Underground station. By 11pm on 1 June, The Mall and Trafalgar Square were full of overnight guests.

Unfortunately, 2 June 1953 dawned chilly and showery, as shown in this photo. These Royal Marines were among over 20,000 military personnel to take part in the Coronation procession, here joined by crowds, many ferried in by the STL type buses in the background. 

Trains started to arrive in London from 3am, with traffic peaking between 6.30 and 7.30am. These school children, arriving at Temple Underground station, were among 15,000 children to gather on the Embankment where special provision had been made for them to watch the procession.

The fact that the 3 million spectators were able to arrive and then depart again smoothly was a testament to LT’s preparations. As with the day-to-day running of the network, much of that hard work went relatively unnoticed.
 

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