Antique Original Photograph Gold Staff Officer Queen Elizabeth II Coronation UK

Description

LOT-Y95. For your consideration is a rare and historically important photograph portrait  of Gold Staff Officer Norman Swift \”Speedy\” for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Condition is original. Photograph is original. Text on verso is original and quite interesting content. One of a kind. Museum quality. Slight tear to photo, as pictured. Guaranteed authentic.

The Gold Staff Officers have been on duty at Coronations certainly since that of George III in I76I and probably much earlier.  They were appointed by successive Dukes of Norfolk, hereditary Earl Marshals, to act as ushers responsible for admission and seating of the guests at Westminster Abbey.

At Queen Elizabeth\’s Coronation in 1953, there were 400 Gold Staff Officers to assist 8000 guests.

On 12th May 2003 the Queen together with the Duke of Edinburgh joined 50 Gold Staff Officers appointed by the Earl Marshal in 1953 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Her Majestys Coronation.