On 22nd June 1911, the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary took place at Westminster Abbey in London.
Jane Ridley’s biography George V: Never A Dull Moment (London: Chatto & Windus, 2021) described how the couple returned to Buckingham Palace in the state coach shortly before three o’clock.
Soon afterwards, they made a balcony appearance for the waiting crowds when “popular emotion was mostly deeply stirred” (The Times).
The appearance lasted all of three minutes after which they “… were photographed in their robes and crowns by the royal photographer Downey …”
For the photohistorian researching the W. & D. Downey company, this sentence lacks one important detail; namely, the identity of the photographer.
Founded in 1855 by South Shields brothers William (1829-1915) and Daniel (1831-1881), Downey carried out a similar ‘robes and crowns’ assignment for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra following their coronation in 1902.
On that occasion, according to copyright records, the honour fell to William Downey’s eldest son, William Edward Downey (1855-1908), who had taken over the running of the business from his ageing father.
However, following his unexpected death at the age of 54, the role of company manager passed to his half-brother Arthur James Hope Downey (1877-1943).
As well as the 1911 Coronation portrait, he is credited with more than 100 royal portraits including this one featuring George V and Queen Mary’s children in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Another is a ‘real photograph’ postcard featuring Prince Edward as Duke of Windsor (later Edward VIII) published by the Rotary Photographic Company Ltd.
And he was also the photographer for ‘Nine Sovereigns at Windsor for the funeral of King Edward VII’ featuring George V and a selection of European sovereigns to whom he was related by blood or marriage.
Nine Sovereigns at Windsor for the funeral of King Edward VII, 1910
Like the royal family who they photographed through several decades, the Downey family played a significant role in recording such moments in history for posterity.
Pressphotoman 
Leave a comment