On This Day in London: The Shady Old Lady's Guide to London


It all happened here on our streets, but today is the anniversary of which key events from London's history:

9th April 2021 Queen Elizabeths consort Prince Phillip died aged 99. (5 years ago this year)

9th April 2005 Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles are married at Windsor Castle. (21 years ago this year)

9th April 1978 S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens was born in Southgate, (48 years ago this year)

9th April 1914 World, Flesh and the Devil, the 1st colour film, shown in London. (112 years ago this year)

9th April 1906 Labour Leader Hugh Gaitskell was born in Kensington. (120 years ago this year)

9th April 1838 The National Gallery opens in its new home off Trafalgar Square. (188 years ago this year) go to related location

9th April 1830 Photographer Eadweard Muybridge was born in Kingston-upon-Thames. (196 years ago this year) go to related location

9th April 1413 The Coronation of Henry V in Westminster Abbey. (613 years ago this year) go to related location

9th April 1269 Edmund of Crouchback, son of King Henry III was married to Lady Aveline de Forz in Westminster Abbey. (757 years ago this year) go to related location

10th April 1992 Actress Daisy Ridley was born in Westminster. (34 years ago this year)

10th April 1979 Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor (Read My Lips) was born in London. (47 years ago this year)

10th April 1957 John Osborne's Entertainer, premieres in London (69 years ago this year)

10th April 1935 Vaughan Williams' 4th Symphony premieres in London (91 years ago this year)

10th April 1916 Actor Alfie Bass (Moonraker, Are You Being Served) was born in London. (110 years ago this year)

10th April 1908 Born today: Aidan Crawley, CEO (London Weekend TV) (118 years ago this year)

10th April 1877 The first human cannonball act, performed in London. (149 years ago this year) go to related location

10th April 1868 Born today: George Arliss, London England, actor (Devil, Green Goddess) (158 years ago this year)

10th April 1858 Big Ben and the clock tower in the Palace of Westminster was completed. (168 years ago this year) go to related location

10th April 1691 Parts of Whitehall Palace destroyed by fire, apart from state rooms. (335 years ago this year) go to related location

10th April 1633 The first time that bananas went on sale in England. (393 years ago this year)

11th April 2019 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian embassy. (7 years ago this year) go to related location

11th April 1994 Actress Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass) was born in Kensington. (32 years ago this year)

11th April 1992 Irish Republican Army bombs London financial district, killing 3 (34 years ago this year)

11th April 1981 Race riot in London area of Brixton (45 years ago this year)

11th April 1937 Actress Jill Gascoine was born in Lambeth. (89 years ago this year)

11th April 1888 Born today: Donald Calthrop, London, actor (Blackmail, Scrooge, Rome Express) (138 years ago this year)

11th April 1770 Prime Minister George Canning was born in Marylebone. (256 years ago this year) go to related location

11th April 1755 English physician James Parkinson (first described the disease Parkinsons) was born in Shoreditch. (271 years ago this year) go to related location

11th April 1689 The Coronation of William III and Mary II in Westminster Abbey. (337 years ago this year) go to related location

11th April 1471 King Edward IV of England conquers London from Henry VI (555 years ago this year)

12th April 1998 The first memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed is unveiled in Harrods. (28 years ago this year) go to related location

12th April 1948 Presenter Jeremy Beadle was born in Hackney, East London. (78 years ago this year)

12th April 1941 West Ham legend Bobby Moore was born in Barking. (85 years ago this year) go to related location

12th April 1939 Born today: Alan Ayckbourn, London, playwright (87 years ago this year)

12th April 1911 1st non-stop London-Paris flight (Pierre Prier in 3h56m) (115 years ago this year)

12th April 1826 Weber's opera Oberon, premieres in London (200 years ago this year)

12th April 1792 Born today: John George Lambton, London, statesman (1st Earl of Durham) (234 years ago this year)

13th April 1993 Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, premieres in London (33 years ago this year)

13th April 1951 Actor and Fifth Dr Who Peter Davison was born in Streatham, London. (75 years ago this year)

13th April 1937 Born today: Edward Fox, London England, actor (M-Never Say Never Again) (89 years ago this year)

13th April 1933 Actress Shani Wallis (Nancy in 1968 Oliver!) was born in Tottenham. (93 years ago this year)

13th April 1885 Born today: Pieter S Gerbrandy, Dutch lawyer/premier in London (1940-45) (141 years ago this year)

13th April 1832 Inventor James Wimshurst was born in Poplar, East London. (194 years ago this year) go to related location

13th April 1741 The Royal Military Academy was formed at Woolwich. (285 years ago this year)

13th April 1668 John Dryden was appointed first English poet laureate by Charles II. (358 years ago this year) go to related location

13th April 1593 Born today: Thomas Wentworth, London, earl of Strafford/Viceroy of Ireland (433 years ago this year)