In the 65 years of her reign — 66 this February — Her Majesty The Queen has seldom given a formal interview to anyone. The closest anyone has gotten was Rolf Harris, with whom she agreed to some small talk while he filmed the painting of her portrait. Likewise the only time people will see her speak at length of any topic is during the annual Christmas message, which is one of the few moments The Queen is able to speak her thoughts without any advice or input from any minister in any of Her Majesty’s realms.
As such it may have come as a bit of a pleasant surprise for the producers of the upcoming documentary The Coronation to hear that The Queen will be making a small appearance herself to discuss her thoughts on her coronation in 1953, how it came to be, and what it meant to her and the Commonwealth. As well discussing her own coronation, Her Majesty will also offer her recollections of the coronation of her father, King George VI, who was crowned King in 1937. The Queen will discuss these matters with coronation expert Alastair Bruce while reviewing footage taken during the coronation ceremony.
“I’ve seen one coronation, and been the recipient in the other,” Her Majesty commented, “Which is pretty remarkable.”
Director of Content for the BBC, Charlotte Moore, expressed her enthusiasm for Her Majesty’s presence in the documentary.
“It is truly an honour to have Her Majesty The Queen revealing her intimate knowledge of the Crown Jewels, and fond childhood memories from when her father was crowned King George VI,” she said of the matter. “The Queen’s words will bring to life the importance of the coronation ceremony for modern audiences to enjoy.”
The Coronation, which is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One on the 14th of January at 8pm, will feature both official and private film footage of the event, as well as various eyewitness accounts from those who witnessed the ceremony itself, including one of Her Majesty’s maids of honour and a member of Westminster Abbey’s choir. The Coronation will also take a look at the Crown Jewels, their history, and their significance to an ancient ceremony that has remained largely unaltered for a thousand years.
The documentary will also be broadcast in the United States on the Smithsonian Channel on the same date at 8 pm EST. The Queen’s coronation is significant in the USA as it was the first event American networks had broadcast a same-day European event. On the day of the coronation, which was watched across the nation by an excited American public.
Thanks for the good news that The Coronation will be shown on my side of the pond on 14 January! I do, however, need to correct the date that we in the US were able to watch The Queen’s coronation in 1953. Television wasn’t quite able to broadcast events simultaneously in England and America back then. We had to wait until the day after when the film was flown here from London. I know because my mother made me watch the event as my parents believed in taking every opportunity as events might never be available again.
Jan you are lucky that you get the broadcast. Here in Australia we have to wait and look at the TV guides to see if anything is coming our way.