Pope Paul VI blesses vast crowds as Vatican II closes; Europe reels from historic storms; Princess Margaret confers honors; New York dazzles for the holidays
About This Footage
This December 14, 1965 Universal Newsreel spans religion, weather, royalty, and holiday spectacle. The historic Second Vatican Council reaches its conclusion in Rome; violent autumn storms batter the European continent; a rare academic ceremony sees Princess Margaret honor her mother, Queen Elizabeth; and New York City’s festive storefronts and towering tree deliver a postcard of mid-1960s holiday cheer.
a) Historic Ecumenical Council Vatican Two Convenes
Footage captures the close of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) amid colorful pageantry in Vatican City. Pope Paul VI imparts a blessing to an estimated 100,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square, while scenes of bishops and prelates reflect the council’s sweeping revisions to modern Catholic practice and church life.
b) Princess Margaret Presents Honors To Queen Elizabeth
In a singular royal moment, Princess Margaret—serving as Chancellor of Keele University—confers a Doctor of Letters degree upon her mother, Queen Elizabeth. The ceremony’s formal procession and academic regalia underscore the unusual blend of monarchy and academia, capped with a lighthearted note on how to address “Her Majesty, the Doctor.”
c) Fierce Storms Lash The European Continent
Wicked weather rakes Europe from Scandinavia to Spain in some of the century’s worst autumn storms. The newsreel shows battered coasts, crippled shipping, and emergency rescues—highlighted by the Dutch coast grounding of the freighter Ping An, where a perilous lifesaving operation unfolds against heavy seas and wind.
d) Christmas Season In New York City
New York City turns into a moving Christmas card: animated department-store windows whirl with carousels and global vignettes—such as an Indian wedding scene—while crowds of children press against the glass. Festive avenues culminate at Radio City Plaza’s iconic tree, a sparkling diadem crowning the city’s holiday lights.
Together, these stories frame a vivid snapshot of late 1965—religious transformation at the Vatican, destructive forces of nature across Europe, a rare royal academic honor, and the timeless glow of New York’s Christmas season—making this reel a valuable resource for historians, educators, and documentary producers.