THE joy and spectacle of Royal visits are being celebrated in a unique short film that will get its first screening next month.

The curtain will go up on A Right Royal Yorkshire Occasion on September 8 – the day before the Queen will officially become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

The film focuses exclusively on the many and varied Royal visits that have been made to Yorkshire over the years.

Put together by the Yorkshire Film Archive – based at York St John University – it even includes rare footage of Queen Victoria making a stately trip to the region.

As well as footage of various members of the Royal family, it also shows how Yorkshire families celebrated with street parties and flag flying.

The video montage has been created for Beningbrough Hall, the National Trust property near York, where it will play until November 1.

The hall’s head of visitor operations, Jane Whitehead said: “This is the only chance visitors can see this fantastic short film created especially for us.

“It’s quite moving in parts and people might even spot themselves in the crowds.”

The film’s showing also marks the final few weeks of the two-year exhibition Royals: Then and Now which features contemporary Royal portraits alongside pictures of their ancestors on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

Graham Relton, of the Yorkshire Film Archive, said: “Professional and amateur filmmakers alike get out their cameras for special occasions, and there are none more special than a royal celebration.

“Whether it's a formal visit or the fun of a local street party with bunting, we have brought together over 70 royal films from the Yorkshire Film Archive vaults.

“The footage spans 115 years and captures the pomp and ceremony of A Right Royal Yorkshire Occasion.”

The launch of the new film is timely as the Queen will become the longest reigning British monarch on September 9, surpassing her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. Both women feature in the film.

And although the palace has requested no celebrations for the occasion it is still a milestone to be recognised in the life of the Royal family.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough