Resources

• To learn that Beaton’s 1953 portrait of Elizabeth II deliberately borrowed from the 1559 coronation portrait of Elizabeth I.
• To be able to identify significant similarities between the two images.

• Prepare copies of Elizabeth I’s coronation portrait and of Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation photographs by Cecil Beaton. (Take care not to infringe copyright restrictions when copying for example from a website). Arrange pupils in pairs, each pair facing another pair. Place the coronation portrait of Elizabeth I’s face down on the table in front of the first pair in each group of four. Then the 1953 portrait face down in front of the second pair in each group. (It is important that pupils do not see the other pair’s images).
• Play ‘History Guess Who’, similar to the children’s board game. Opposite pairs in each group of four take turns to pose questions about the other pair’s image. Pupils may not guess who the person is; only ask about the person’s clothes, face, body, other parts of the image etc. To maintain pace ensure that this does not drag on and on. Suggested time of 2 mins.

Film Clip 1

• Elicit questions that were asked from pupils around the class, since none of them should know what image any other pair were looking at, e.g. Is it a woman? Is she wearing a crown? Is she wearing a robe? (pupils will largely not be aware of the word ‘orb’.)
• Then reveal the two images at the front of the class noting again the similarities from pupils’ comments.
• Without entering a long discussion, ask pupils why the photographer from 1953 (reinforcing the year will help) has borrowed so heavily from the coronation portrait of Elizabeth I.
• Follow up with a film archive scene of cheering crowds lining the coronation processional route during 1953, standing out in the rain to glimpse the new queen on her way to the Abbey. Make sure the scene encourages pupils to think this was a popular event.
• At the end of this activity, introduce pupils to the following question: “Why did some British people in the 1950s describe themselves as new Elizabethans?” (Make sure that all pupils understand the term Elizabethan i.e. the term given to people living in the reign of Elizabeth I).

Film Clip 2

• Pupils recognise that Cecil Beaton’s 1953 portrait of Elizabeth II has borrowed heavily from the coronation portrait of Elizabeth I.
• This should stimulate them to ask, ‘Why?’

Resources:

• Image of Elizabeth I’s coronation portrait (dated 1600, from a 1559 original) can be seen at: www.npg.org.uk
• Copies of Elizabeth I coronation portrait.
• Image and copies of Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation photograph by Cecil Beaton.
  Resource 1
• Film clip of coronation procession e.g. at www.britishpathe.com