Queen Elizabeth II to Discuss Royal Coronations in New Doc

As part of the Royal Collection Season across BBC television and radio, BBC One has unveiled The Coronation, a new documentary focused on the Crown Jewels and the ancient ceremony for which they are used.

The Coronation, which coincides with the 65th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation, sees the royal figure share memories of the ceremony, as well as that of her father, King George VI, in 1937. The film also features eyewitness accounts from participants of the 1953 event.

Made by Atlantic Productions, The Coronation is a co-production with Smithsonian Channel and ABC Television. The hour-long doc is being distributed by FremantleMedia International. In addition to its BBC transmission, the feature is slated for broadcast across the U.S. and Australia.

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s director of content, commented: “It is a real honor 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 in this very special film for BBC One. In her own words, The Queen will bring to life the enduring symbolic importance of the Coronation ceremonies for modern audiences to enjoy.”

Anthony Geffen, the CEO of Atlantic Productions, stated: “The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was an international and momentous event, which took 16 months of preparation and was watched by millions across the globe for the first time in history. Our project marks another first—Her Majesty The Queen’s own recollections of the time. We are honored to be able to create this lasting historical document and hugely appreciative of the collaboration with The Royal Household and our broadcast partners.”

David Royle, the executive VP of programming and production for Smithsonian Channel, noted: “Americans are fascinated by the Royal Family and have great admiration for The Queen. When the Coronation was broadcast in the U.S. in 1953, it was watched by an immense audience. At Smithsonian Channel, we take great pride in bringing definitive accounts of major events to our viewers, and this remarkably intimate portrait of the Coronation is sure to bring new levels of interest in America.”

Michael Carrington, acting head of television at ABC, said: “The ABC are delighted to be the broadcast partner for this very special, historical event. The crowning of Queen Elizabeth II was a defining moment in the history of television, and the modern world, and we are excited to bring the rituals and pageantry of her Coronation to life for our ABC audiences in 2018.”

Angela Neillis, the director of non-scripted for the U.K., EMEA and Asia Pacific at FremantleMedia International, added: “Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation is a landmark television event and we are thrilled to be working with Atlantic Productions to bring their unique documentary film to international buyers. Her Majesty The Queen is a much-loved and respected global figure and the Royal Family continues to fascinate audiences across the world.”