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THE CROWN'S ON

These never before seen colour pictures from the 1953 Queen’s coronation show just how far we’ve come

TODAY millions around the world will watch the Coronation in pin-sharp quality on high-definition TVs, laptops, PCs and mobile phones.

But it was all very different 70 years — and a technological revolution — ago, when Charles’s mother Queen Elizabeth was crowned.

Today millions around the world will watch the Coronation in pin-sharp quality on high-definition TVs, laptops, PCs and mobile phones - but it was different in 1953
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Today millions around the world will watch the Coronation in pin-sharp quality on high-definition TVs, laptops, PCs and mobile phones - but it was different in 1953Credit: Rex
New York: Americans without TVs peered through the windows of electrical shops to watch on a singular TV
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New York: Americans without TVs peered through the windows of electrical shops to watch on a singular TV
Amsterdam: The event was shown wherever it could be beamed into Europe
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Amsterdam: The event was shown wherever it could be beamed into EuropeCredit: Alamy

Back then just one in five families owned a television and an estimated 277million people worldwide crowded together in churches, cinemas, halls, schools and community centres and even peered through the windows of electrical goods shops for a glimpse of the new monarch assuming her role in grainy black and white.

Our exclusive colourised pictures show the global clamour to see the landmark event, which did more than any other to popularise TV.

 More than 20million Brits tuned in, outnumbering the radio audience of 12million for the first time ever.

Here, we look at how people managed to catch a rare early sight of the woman who went on to become our longest-­serving queen.

READ MORE ON THE CORONATION

Cheshire: Locals in Lower Peover watched the Coronation in a church
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Cheshire: Locals in Lower Peover watched the Coronation in a church
Paris: Parisians took to the streets to watch at landmarks
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Paris: Parisians took to the streets to watch at landmarksCredit: Getty
London: Even bed-ridden patients and staff at St George’s Hospital didn’t miss out
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London: Even bed-ridden patients and staff at St George’s Hospital didn’t miss outCredit: Getty
Berlin: British troops tuned in with a photograph of Her Majesty beside their TV
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Berlin: British troops tuned in with a photograph of Her Majesty beside their TVCredit: Getty
Los Angeles: Celebrities in California enjoyed a special viewing party hosted at CBS TV headquarters
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Los Angeles: Celebrities in California enjoyed a special viewing party hosted at CBS TV headquarters
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