Opening of the National Maritime Museum, 1937

75 years ago in April 2012: the National Maritime Museum was opened to the public by King George VI on 27 April 1937. The King was accompanied by Queen Mary (the Queen Mother), and an 11-year-old Princess Elizabeth, now Her Majesty the Queen.

Arrival of the Queen Mother (Queen Mary) by car from the water-stairs of the Royal Naval College, 27 April 1937. H1086  Royal opening, 1937 - Royal Family walking through the Colonnades. Princess Elizabeth is in the centre of the photograph. C9138_2  Reginald Lowen MBE with Queen Mary (Queen Mother) opening the Queen's House, National Maritime Greenwich, 27 April 1937. D9544_4  Royal opening, 1937 - Royal Family coming out of the Queen's House  Royal opening of NMM by King George VI, 27 April 1937. H1082  Royal opening of NMM by King George VI, 27 April 1937. H1080 

Find out more about

• the history of the Museum
• the history of the Royal Observatory
• the history of the Queen's House