Festival of Empire

View from the Canadian replica Parliament Building of the Festival at the Crystal Palace
Map of the event

The 1911 Festival of Empire was the biggest single event held at The Crystal Palace in London since its opening. It opened on 12 May and was one of the events to celebrate the coronation of King George V. The original intention had been that Edward VII would open it in 1910, however, this was postponed after his death shortly before the planned opening day. The Festival contained a display of landscapes and exhibits from the British Empire, mainly the dominion countries, to encourage emigration to those nations; and it contained a large scale pageant dramatising British history.[1] It was described at the time as 'a social gathering of the British family' encouraging the 'firmer welding of those invisible bonds which hold together the greatest empire the world has ever known'.[2] It has since been described as the 'ultimate imperialist propaganda showcase'.[3]

  1. ^ Piggott, J.R. (1988). Palace of the People: The Crystal Palace at Sydenham 1854 – 1936. London: Hurst & Company. pp. 174–8.
  2. ^ "Festival of Empire, 1911 | Making Britain". open.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. ^ mark (29 July 2016). ""Let's go to the Colonies!": The Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace, 1911". In the Jungle of Cities. Retrieved 23 April 2021.