1936: Proclamation of Accession of King Edward VIII

Sir Gerald Wollaston, the Garter Principal King of Arms, reads the Royal Proclamation announcing the accession to the throne of King Edward VIII St James's Palace.

As he stands on the balcony of Friary Court, St James's Palace, we hear the gun salute continue at intervals from St James's Park. The fanfare and the national anthem are performed by the State Trumpeters.

The accession was also proclaimed at Charing Cross, Temple Bar and the Royal Exchange in London, and at other locations across the country. BBC recordings survive of the proclamation being made at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh, Tynwald Hill at St John's on the Isle of Man and Cathays Park, Cardiff.

BBC Archive: Recorded 21 January 1936.