The Illustrated London News

The Illustrated London News, 8 April 1871: 'Opening of the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences by the Queen'
Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/llustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

By the time Tower Bridge was opening, they had halftone photographs. This image is from the 30 June 1894 issue Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

Illustrations were still the choice for action and drama, however, as in this set of images from Boxing Day 1903: '"They That Stand High Have Many Blasts to Shake Them": The Perils of Building the New York Sky-Scrapers' Photograph: Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

This stirring special issue dates from 22 March 1915. They weren't to know how many war deeds were still to come Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

Deep purple for mourning - and that leather background effect again - to mark the death of King George V, who had reigned since 1910 Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

His successor, of course, didn't last nearly as long. The abdication of Edward VIII is patriotically buried among the heraldry in this 19 December 1936 'Accession Number'. Long live the (next) King! Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

The ILN continued to make brilliant use of illustration on events that we might now think belong to the cutting edge of photojournalism. This is how they covered the evacuation at Dunkirk, from the issue of 8 June 1940. The small print under the headline says it was drawn by their 'special war artist', Bryan de Grineau, 'from descriptions furnished by eye-witnesses'
Photograph: Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

The Victory Number, from 12 May 1945. It's probably just the hammer-and-sickle in the middle that makes it look like socialist realism Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

The 6 June 1953 coronation number: readers must have got their four shillings' worth in gold leaf alone Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale

The ILN continued to handle royal events with the same pomp and serenity into the age of tabloid gossip: this is the wedding of Princess Margaret to Anthony Armstrong-Jones, on the cover of the 14 May 1960 issue Photograph: Illustrated London News Ltd/Illustrated London News Historical Archive/Gale