Queen Victoria - Two Sequences of Footage

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Professor6871 - that it was not john brown has been sorted out in the comments already - and yes there were a number highlanders in Q V's staff, the likeliest candidates

[Professor6871]

The person'sdescription of his upload obviously didn't do his his home work. John Brown died in 1883 well over 13 years before this film was made of Queen Victoria. There may have been a Higlander in background seeing it was in Balmoral, but it wasn't the famous John Brown. Or is he going to claim it was the ghost of him.

[Simeon644]

damn if only they had IS on cameras then

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Simeon644 - i must be having a dumb moment but what is 'IS'?

[Simeon644]

@nickwallacesmith Image stabilisation lol

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Simeon644 - thanks for the enlightenment - still a lot of clouds here but now one less!

[Eddy2730]

It's said that one of the people featured in 'The World's Oldest People', a TV documentary that was on Channel 4 four-and-a-half years ago, actually had firsthand memories of Queen Victoria coming to Leeds and waving to her! Mind you, that was only during that person's childhood.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Eddy2730 - yes it's extraordinary that there's anyone still alive that's had first hand experience of queen victoria - she died 100 years ago!

[Eddy2730]

@nickwallacesmith It was actually 110 years ago that she died.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Eddy2730 - my lousy maths has pout me ten years behind the times! i hope it means i could be ten years younger than my age.

[ver3919d5]

C,est...émouvant de voir que ces personnes ont réellement existé...

[TheNEK1995]

pure class...x

[nickwallacesmith]

hi TheNEK1995

the life does look pretty elegant and attractive!

[ultravioletgaia]

cant wait for the blue-ray!!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi ultravioletgaia - i'm hanging out for the 3D version!

[lajmh]

About 8 seconds in, you can see John Brown. He's the one wearing the kilt (not a skirt, silly nillies).

[nickwallacesmith]

hi lajmh - good to hear from you again. sadly it's not john brown as he died in 1883 (December 8, 1826 – March 27, 1883) well before this film was made - wonder who it was? the queen liked highlanders very much and often had them on staff. cheers

[sauroid1]

Anglophile here, just great to see V R I in action. Have never seen this before.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi sauroid1 - glad you like it - i've just found some film of V R I on tour in ireland in 1900 - will post it soon - it's in a carriage and a long way off so it's hard to really see the queen at all - but there's so little footage it's worth uploading. did you see the footage of the queen during her Jubilee? cheers

[AIKevorkian]

Wonderful! My first time seeing Her Majesty on film! Wow, thank you!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi AIKevorkian - considering the queen died in 1901 it's surprising that there's as much film about as there is - i've uploaded what i've been able to find here and in other little videos. cheers

[Eddy2730]

@AIKevorkian I second that!

[TheLiberalKnight]

@Yakutska21 Well most monarchs are kings, and besides, after Elizabeth II we have Charles III and William V to look forward to (or not)

[elvaelvirababe]

I had no idea footage of Queen Victoria existed. Films today really do exaggerate quite a bit on historic apparel. Or maybe I'm just not viewing this right.

[Amyart5]

~Thanks Nick....BTW. Maharaja Dileep singh did stay at Osborne House in his early days very interesting as l know that there was and still is a durbar Room with Indian decoration..at Osborne House - The famouse Koh-I-Noor once belonged to the father of Dilip Singh (the last Sikh Ruler of India - Maharaja Ranjit Singh).... l love your original video and the feel of how Sikhs lived alongside with Queen Victoria.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Amyart5 - good to hear from you again. yes, good to know that indian royalty lived in the residences of queen victoria - i didn't know that about the Koh-I-Noor diamond - thanks or that - pity the diamon was re-cut - at one time it used to be the biggest diamon in the world. cheers

[Amyart5]

at 0:21/ 0:45...there is a sikh guy in a turban......Maharaja Dilip Singh? she kept the Kori Nor close and the Maharaja close to her...he was bought up in Britain alongside her own children.... so l was wondering if this is taken in Isle of White?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Amyart5 - somenne commented earlier i could be/was  isle of wight. and someone else again that the turbaned man was a household servant - there are in fact a number of indians recored as having worked in the royal households - it was in part an inclination and partly political since the queen'd been created empress of india. must do some more research to clear it up - good to hear from you, nick

[bobo4890]

i adore victoria

[nickwallacesmith]

hi bobo4890 - she is pretty great - and great to have these few glimpses! cheers

[Aless81]

Thats just amazing, :) I love English Royal history!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Aless81 - yes, amazing to have caught this on film at the dawn of the new technology and just before the old queen died

[shariahdeon]

@Aless81  i also love british royal family history

[vereno1986]

It couldn't possibly be Brown, he died in 1883...

[nickwallacesmith]

hi vereno1986 - yes, i think someone some time ago commented on it not being Brown - probably for the reason you give, thanks for sharing, best

[bodie9991]

Is that John Brown stepping in at 0:08?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi bodie9991 - some websites have said it is and some disagreed - he looks a good candidate for John Brown though to me!

[georgeh1231]

it would be amasing to actually see her in real life in the 1800's

[nickwallacesmith]

hi georgeh1231 - yes it would be amazing - i often envy those people in the crowd so close to her - and i also remember the attempts on her life - quite a few over her reign

[SamhainBe]

Happy Empire Day!

[nickwallacesmith]

@SamhainBe - and a happy empire day back, best, nick

[pigeonpsycho]

it's a shame she didn't kick the Rothschild out

[sewitt60]

Thank you for that Nick. 

[nickwallacesmith]

@sewitt60 - glad you like it, cheers

[gilbertonota10]

oh my God this is Gold!!

[nickwallacesmith]

@gilbertonota10 - yep, great someone had the idea of recording the old queen just when film was coming in

[nybiatch85]

amazing footage i wanna be royalty!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi nybiatch85 - yep, it looks like a pretty great life - lots of leisure and no financial worries!

[418sadeyes]

What I wouldn't give to go back in time, and be there!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 418sadeyes - looking at the film, that time and place seems so tangibly near - as if you could just step through the frame into that world - i wish too!

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith One time I read a book, called "Time and Again". It was really great, the main characther

would stare at a picture of long ago, and before he knew it, he would be there. He met a woman from 1875. He brought her back to 1980. I may be wrong about the title. Do you know, I sometimes stare at a pic at the museum, hoping i go back in time. It hasn't happened yet, but I keep hoping. I wish I had lived back in 1850. I just love those times.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 418sadeyes - amazing! i've done the exact same thing in front of a picture - i imagine a large photograph would work even better - must look for one in a gallery and try it - i'll keep you posted if any time travelling that happens!

my favorite period is 1870-1880 - not sure why - just before the time of the thomas edison footage

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith Where I live, there have been some French Impresionists paintings. I love Renoir. There is one painting, where they are all at a Sunday lunch, and he painted himself in, anyway, I stood in front of it, and stared for half an hour. Nothing happened, of course. But who's to say!! You're right about old photographs, I have some great books of the Civil War (Brady & Gardner) I do the same thing. If it happens to you, you must come get me!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 418sadeyes - i love renoir too - did you mean his painting 'le moulin de la galette'? some of those in the painting look out to the viewer as if saying 'why don't you join us?' - wish i could, though i'd probably need a period costume to fit in - keep you posted about any move into the C19 i achieve!

i uploaded some film of renoir painting in his studio - filmed in the late C19 or early C20 - did you see it? someone identified his son at his side

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith Nicky, I don't know if that's the name, I have so many books, I had to put them in storage..Actually, that's what took me so long to reply to this...I went trying to dig it up, and couldn't find it, ..I'm not very pc litterate, so I don't know how to look it up to find the name...But there are about 8 or 10 people, Renoir has a hat on. I don't remember his son being in it, you could be right. I sound as if I were there, yes?

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith No, but I sure will right now...Back in a flash....OR will I????

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith BTW, where did you get this film??

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 418sadeyes - i got the video in bits and bits around you tube - and the first sequence from a video called 'Victorian Ladies 2/2 Princess Alice & Queen Victoria's Funeral' where she talks on camera about her interactions with the queen as a very young girl - if you search google 'Victorian Ladies 2/2 Princess Alice & Queen Victoria's Funeral' you see it - it's nice, hope you like it

[418sadeyes]

@nickwallacesmith Ok, just got back..Here's the gossip..Edward smelled like cigar smoke..Alix looks MUCH younger than her yrs..Georgie and May just a baby boy, also called Edward..Man, was it hot over there..Alice Keppel is the talk of the town..oh yeah, the Queen has a great sense of humor, believe it or not..Met Wilheim, what a horried creature!!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 418sadeyes - a good thumbnail sketch of the main protagonists, great!

[Dirkdebruyne]

@nickwallacesmith hope you can step out of it before you realize there's no social security, no decent affordable health care, horrible living conditions for most working class people, the smell, no tolerance for minorities or alternative life styles, horrible jails, child labor, etc etc....you may enjoy a lovely sejour in the life of the rich of those days in any number of tv drama's (as do I) but only few were Lord La-Di-Da or went on the Grand Tour...it was a miserable life for most...

[nickwallacesmith]

hey Dirkdebruyne - you are dead right - unless you were middle or upper class and had money, like was totally grim, with no resorts i.e. social security. my tardis time travelling is a romantic fantasy, wearing some heavily rose tinted spectacles.

[alixstkf1872]

Nicholas & Alexandra as a young couple in Balmoral. how sweet.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi alixstkf1872 - yes, i guess apart from everything else this special occasion was the reason for the recording of it on film - everyone seems so comfortable together too

[petermca]

Victoria, the last of the Hanovers - and now we are under Elizabeth II, the last of the Saxe Coburg-Gotha line, the dynasty of her husband Prince Albert (still biologically thru the male line). One day it will be the House of Mountbauten

[nickwallacesmith]

hi petermca - yes, that's right - and if william and kate have girls ... another change!

[OldFashionedGirl81]

Does anyone know what song is playing?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi OldFashionedGirl81 - it's a section of edward elgar's 'enigma variations' - lovely isn't it!

[OldFashionedGirl81]

@nickwallacesmith Thank you so much! It's very beautiful!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi OldFashionedGirl81 - no problem, glad to help - the music really does beautifully epitomise the times - the English reflecting back on an empire fast just passing into history

[oddchick26]

Is that Nicholas and Alexandra at 0:18?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi oddchick26 - i hadn't noticed before - but the film was taken in 1896 and Nicholas was crowned in the same year. wit Wikipedia sayig, int this context:

'Despite a visit to Great Britain before his accession, where he observed the House of Commons in debate and seemed impressed by the machinery of democracy, Nicholas turned his back on any notion of giving away any power to elected representatives in Russia'

so maybe you are right!

[bestfriendsgirl]

@oddchick26 Yes, that's Nicky and Alix! This piece of film is referenced in "The German Woman" by Janet Ashworth. In this fictionalized memior, Alix mentions being present when her grandmother Queen Victoria had her first "moving picture" made.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi bestfriendsgirl - good to hear there's a reference to the filming - hard to imagine there wouldn't be - it was such a novel thing then!

[bestfriendsgirl]

@oddchick26 Yes, that's Nicky and Alix! They visited Alix's grandmother, Queen Victoria, in 1896 with their first child, Olga Nicolaievna and were present the first time she was filmed. Their coronation, earlier in 1896, was also filmed and is one of the oldest motion picture images in existance.

[mathieuverboud]

Hi Nick

I am a doc film maker from Paris. May I ask you where to find clips of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1987 ? I wish to include some in a film I am doing right now. It seems to me British Pathe owns the archives of the event but maybe not all.

Thanks for the tip

Best

Mathieu

[TheDaniellacat13]

WOW! I just re-watched the excellent movie Mrs. Brown yesterday and this is so exciting to see Victoria and the real John Brown in two of these clips at Balmoral!

[achimvr]

Her mother and also her husband was german.

[nickwallacesmith]

@achimvr - that's right = and early in her reign a lot of her courtiers too

[achimvr]

@nickwallacesmith thanks, that i did not know. i love these old footage, too, the more the better. doesn't matter whether from germany, england or else ;)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi achimvr - i love old footage and have no preferences in any direction, country or race wise - and find it odd when people do, best, nick

[AnnaKaiulani]

I so loved seeing this footage ~ especially at Balmoral ~ Would you consider forwarding a copy to the National Library of Scotland film archive department i wonder ~ this is a gem and thank you so much for making it available for viewing

[nickwallacesmith]

hi AnnaKaiulani - this is footage that is out of copyright - there's a 50 year period after the death of the last participants - so anyone could forward a copy of the film - i have no propriety ownership over it - please forward it if you have the address and contact detail, best, nick

[AnnaKaiulani]

@nickwallacesmith ~Thanks for kind reply ~ will happy to forward to NLS and to my friends also ~ remarkable footage and a joy to see ~ wonder if Julian Fellowes scriptwriter of Young Victoria has viewed it. Am sure you've had fun trying to identify all the Balmoral guests in the footage ~ Best, Anna -D

[nickwallacesmith]

hi AnnaKaiulani - i must say i do the same - people spotting in old footage - occasionally someone emerges and i think i get the ID right!

[american2015]

wonderful thank you for going to the trouble of posting it!!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 652ndkennard - why have you flagged this post as spam? it means my youtube site will probably be locked by Goggle

[Lemon020202]

lol awhh why so short. I love these victorian eras...i hope the modest styles come back. Men here such gentialmen back then and ladies were so proper and classy! love it and how they took care of their skin with umbrellas!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Lemon020202 - it's a very attractive era and it's great to be able to get a glimpse into it through the little bit of film that exists! gloves to keep hands un-tanned too!

[Lemon020202]

@nickwallacesmith I know wow. huh....but we need more video up on youtube. I hope they post more video in the 1800's

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Lemon020202 - i love finding 1800s film and uploading it here - there's more to come, believe me, best, nick

[ampdavolts]

@Lemon020202, a message from 1900:

Beauty is a fleeting thing

faster than life on a wing.

We shade life with parasols,

In hope to forestall sunshine scalds.

[RebeccaOCT]

Hi Nick,

I am currently making a programme on transport during the Victorian era and was wondering where this amazing footage of Victoria came from originally.

Any information would be great.

Thanks

Rebecca

[nickwallacesmith]

hi RebeccaOCT - i would love to be able to help but i honestly can't remember where i found it - i'll check through my video folders and see if anything jogs my memory

[BoldReiver]

After chatting w/ some friends who are expert on the era & on the Royals, they confirm that this is *not* John Brown leading the cart, as he died in 1883 & the first motion picture was aprox 1888. However, there is agreement that the kilted gentleman does resemble Brown, and could be a brother of his who also was in the Queen's employ.

Incidentally, the dark coloured collie leaping joyfully around @ the head of the cart is thought to be Victoria's dog "Roy".

[nickwallacesmith]

hi BoldReiver - yes, you are right about the date sequence and i think that;s an interesting idea that the man in question could be a relative - makes sense in so many ways - he'd be trusted and also allow the queen to maintain contact in a sense with john brown

and great to have a name for the dog - thanks for putting that in!

[BoldReiver]

@nickwallacesmith - it's a great snapshot of history. Thanks for posting it!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi BoldReiver - what i like so much is that it's domestic footage in a sense - as opposed to some great public occasion - for me it brings the people up close and intimate, don't you think?

[BoldReiver]

After chatting w/ some friends who are expert on the era, they confirm that this is *not* John Brown leading the cart, as he died in 1883 and the first motion picture was about 1888. However, there is agreement that the gentleman resembles Brown & could be his brother who also was in the Queen's employ.

The dark coloured collie in the foreground at the head of the cart is thought to be her dog "Roy".

[brohmanski]

and Victoria's good Man, John Brown...

[nickwallacesmith]

hi brohmanski - i thought so as well but as someobe earlier pointed out, John Brown, who died in 1883, well before this footage in the 1890s - so i woulder who he is

[brohmanski]

@nickwallacesmith - Oh, that's right...! I didn't check the date on that before I posted...one of my favourite period films is "Mrs.Brown", I only presumed the Highlander would have been Mr.Brown - but good point. Would Victoria have replaced him with another I wonder...hmmm? Thanks for the Head's-up :)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi brohmanski - yes, i liked the film too. quuen victorai had a thing for things scottish and stayed there often enough, and the royal family does today, i think as much as anything else for political reasons - not keen on an independent scotland, though there are moves and if i recall a more independent local parliament, good to hear from you again, nick

she obviously had a thing for highlanders

[BoldReiver]

@brohmanski - Are you certain on the date of the first one of Victoria being led around in the cart? I ask because the man in question conforms in detail with all known photos I have seen /or possess of John Brown.

Victoria loved all things Scottish, and at Balmoral surrounded herself with Highland retainers. MacLeay did a series of wonderful paintings of these gentlemen in the Highland finest.

[julianreischl]

Great material, but it needs to be steadied and remastered...

[nickwallacesmith]

hi julianreischl - yes, it does need work - the british film institute should have a go at it - i've seen some of their remastering and it's great

[julianreischl]

@nickwallacesmith Let's just see, then... :-)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi julianreischl - as it's culturally important footage i'm surprised nothing has been done for the film already - i guess funding is probably the issue - but let's wait and see as you say :>

[maasplodge]

brilliant

[nickwallacesmith]

hi maasplodge - glad you liked it - as i did

[Edmund24]

Fantastic!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Edmund24 - great you liked it!

[beatlefied70]

GOOD JERKING OFF MATERIAL.

[Edmund24]

@beatlefied70 prick

[rclark231]

Jhd75fish - to use your language " WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH you". How about a little respect for the dead. I wonder where this vitriolic hatred comes from - you've got some serious issues....

[nickwallacesmith]

hey rclark231 - thanks for taking a strong stand on Jhd75fish's comment - appreciated - really

[kanga888]

miserable old bag

[owtatowttowt]

first shown in the Belmont,, Aberdeen c1890? nae sure. good though.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi owtatowttowt - from all i've read about this footage it's supposed to have been shot at Balmoral in 1896, but maybe your reading has been wider than mine. best, nick

[csclarinet]

thanks for posting!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi csclarinet - glad you enjoyed it, best, nick

[peor1sem2ela]

Que maravilhosas imagens, testemunha da História. Belíssimo.

Paula(Brasil).

[nickwallacesmith]

Oi Paula (Brasil) - sim, esse tipo de filme é como uma máquina do tempo que pode levá-lo de volta para o passado!

[snmantri]

Beautiful and amazing, shot almost 115 years ago. It is surreal to watch the Queen in motion pictures as there is very little surviving film footage of her. Thanks for posting this. Also, the Highlander would not be John Brown, who died in 1883.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi snmantri - yes it is amazing and yes also that there's so little footage of the queen - glad you liked the post and thanks for the information on john brown - appreciated - now the question is who the man might be - maybe some not known person though - who'll not ever be identified. best. nick

[dearmalika]

OMG! This is so interesting! Thanks for posting it!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi dearmalika - glad u liked it - it seems so intimate this footage

[Lavitz234]

Excellent footage! Thanks for posting it !

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Lavitz234 - glad u enjoyed it - i loved putting it together - a win win situation!

[324wilson]

Very rare and very amazing!

Thanks for posting this!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi 324wilson - isn't it - i eas so surprised when i came across it - glad you liked seeing it too

[WILDCATSBR]

wow, im 16 years old and LOVE this sort of stuff - thank you so much for uploading :)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi WILDCATSBR

glad you enjoyed it

i'll see what else i can upload

best nick

[kpeppw]

@WILDCATSBR Really? me too!! i think its totally awesome:)

[WILDCATSBR]

@kpeppw It's nice to know we have something in common :)

[paleo2569]

I can't thank you enough for posting this footage! I really appreciate this.

Christine in Ohio

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Christine

very glad you enjoyed it - and appreciate your kind words

thanks!

best, nicjk

[warhols25]

great

[nickwallacesmith]

thanks - the footage is pretty fascinating - interesting to try to identify people in it!

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Hatrevivalist

you are right - i think it's the fact that it's an ordinary moment in their lives - a walk outside, perhaps after lunch - lets you connect and so go back in time

good to hear from you

nick

[Hatrevivalist]

I wanted more to be transported back and see it live so much style so lacking today

[NELSONatTRAFALGAR]

@Hatrevivalist

Here, Here..!!!!!

[Hatrevivalist]

This video is wonderful. The hats are amazing thanks for sharing

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Fire8386

thanks - the music is from elgar's 'enigma variations' - the 'nimrod' section

cheers, nick

[Fire8386]

Great post. What is the piece of music that is playing?

[nickwallacesmith]

hey ThomasSmithThomas

it does!

many of the related male royals looked alike

but apparently the czar didn't visit in 1896 - but in 1909

thanks for your comment! nick

[ThomasSmithThomas]

at 0.22, that looks like the Tsar. It could be King George or the Kaiser too as all looked the same, or similar, but could anyone tell me if its the Tsar?

[lorie76yt]

Hi TST,

You've probably already gotten an answer to this but, PPPZZZ02 answered this earlier in the comment list and is correct. Tsar Nicholas and his wife Alexandra visited Queen Victoria in 1896 shortly after their daughter Olga was born and that is them walking beside the carriage at 0.22

[lorie76yt]

hi Nick, amazing footageI really enjoyed it!

I made a note on TST's question from a couple of months ago. PIPZZZ02 had it right the first time :)

[nickwallacesmith]

hi PrincessHL

yes, usually this kind of footage is more formal - it's charm is showing a domestic moment

glad u enjoyed it

[PrincessHL]

Lovely footage and very rare, I like how natural it feels with the dogs running around in the begining, (especially the lovely Border Collies.) Thanks for this.

[nickwallacesmith]

hello historicrecord

i used to live in britiain as a kid and adolescent wand have been back many times - but not to the isle of wight - must do next time! thanks for the encouragement!

the viedo here seems to bring Victoria and the relations present alive - because it's just a domestic scene essentially - as much as it can be with cameras around!

best

nick

[historicrecord]

If yo ever visit the UK you should see her Summer House Osborne Hse in Isle of Wight - left by her son exactly as it was when she died - a time capsul.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi PIPZZZ02

thanks very much for that - these are the people i thought but i couldn't be sure

thanks again!

[PIPZZZ02]

In the first film the man walking by the carriage (and smoothing his moustaches) is the last Tsar; his wife Alexandra is the smart woman with the umbrella walking nearby.

Thanks Nick