MI5 feared disruption of George VI coronation

MI5 feared communists could attempt to disrupt the coronation of King George VI according to newly-released official files.

Papers released to the National Archives show that Communist Party activists were closely watched by the security service in the run-up to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on May 12 1937.

But while the party prepared a huge propaganda drive – printing a million anti-monarchist leaflets to be distributed during coronation week – members were warned to avoid antagonising a largely pro-royalist public.

A MI5 report from April 1937 noted that a “comrade” in Manchester had been “severely censured” for proposing a series of demonstrations as it would be “playing into the hands of the fascists and police”.

Instead many districts were reported to by planning “charabanc drives” into the countryside – although they were warned to proceed with caution.

“Members are being asked to utilise these occasions to propagate anti-monarchist propaganda,” the report noted.

“It has been pointed out that members will be ‘going against the stream’ in doing this and they must be careful to speak in such a way that they do not make themselves unpopular with their neighbours.”

Elsewhere, members were being urged to oppose “unnecessary expenditure on street demonstrations or spending by local authorities on banquets for councillors etc”.

The party’s message to exercise caution did not seem to have got through to everyone.

One member in Poplar, east London, was heard complaining loudly about “all this coronation ballyhoo over the crowning of the biggest dumb-head that ever sat on a throne”.