Figure 1.--Here we see a patriotic back garden celebration. The children are all dressed up in theior best outfits. THere is no information on what looks like a cabinet card. We believe the children are celebrating King George V's coronation (June 1911). We thought it might be the World War I Armistice (Nobenver 1918), but rhe way the children are dressed and foliage in the background looks more like June than November.

King Edward VII died (May 1910). As Queen Victoria had such a long reign that Edward's reign was shirt, only about a decade. The coronation would take over a jear to prepare. The new King had objections to the still harsh anti-Catholic wording of the Accession Declaration that he was required to make at the opening of his first Parliament. He refused to open parliament unless it was changed. As a result, the Accession Declaration Act 1910 was shortened to remove the most inflamatory phrases. George and Mary's coronation took place at Westminster Abbey (June 1911). It was celebrated by the Festival of Empire in London. The now coronated King and Queen visited Ireland for five days (July 1911). They were warmly received. Thousands of people lining the route of their procession to cheer. The King and Queen travelled to India for the Delhi Durbar, where they were presented to an assembled audience of Indian dignitaries and princes as the Emperor and Empress of India (December 1911). King George wore the newly created Imperial Crown of India at the ceremony. He announced moving the Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi--the traditional capital of the Mogul emperors. He was the only Emperor of India to be present at his own Delhi Durbar. They travelled throughout the British-controlled sub-continent. The King took the opportunity to indulge in a personal passion--hunting. Big gane hunting was not possible in Britain. It was during his tour of the sub-continent. In Nepal he shot 21 tigers, 8 rhinoceroses and a bear over a 10 day hunting spree. He was described as a keen and expert marksman. Back in England, he shot over a thousand pheasants in six hours at Hall Barn, the home of Lord Burnham (1913). The King later admitted that 'we went a little too far'.

A British reader is unsure about the celebratiin here. He writes, "On the face of it there is not much to date this photograph from the occasion the children are celebrating. However there are a couple of clues that suggest it might be later than the likely 1911 Coronation of George V. .The biggest clue is the boy wearing a knitted tie and short trousers. It is the way this child is dressed that I think it is somewhere between the end of World War 1 and the early- 1920's. Eton collars were still warn then as were sailor suits. The girl in what looks like a velvet dress seems to be post WW1. The wooden toys seem to be home made or are toys that have been in the family for quite a while. They seem to be in very good condition so it could be they are relatively new ones.Looking closely at the photograph children seem to be from about two different families.The flags are home made and very likely to have been made by the children.What ever the celebration is one thing is sure and that it is an important event because the children are wearing their Sunday best clothes.What could the children be celebrating. 1) End of World War 1. 2) The dedication to the Unknown Warrior monument in Westminster Abbey. 3) Empire Day. 4) Ascot when the King and Queen arrived at their attendance at this horse racing event. 5) A visit by the Royal Family to the town were the children live. However if knitted ties can be shown to have been worn in photographs with a more accurate date to pre World War I, then the original 1911 possibility is likely correct." These are allmpossibilities, although the demeanor of the children argues against the Uuknown Warrior.

Created: 5:07 PM 11/20/2020
Last updated: 3:10 PM 11/22/2020