Royal documentary takes a take a look at King Charles’s first yr as monarch

It is a second of wide-eyed, nearly infantile pleasure amid the making of historical past.

King Charles, moments earlier than leaving Buckingham Palace for his Coronation in May, flaps his velvet and ermine Robe of State and laughs: ‘I can fly!’

The candid second is captured in a landmark new 90-minute documentary, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, which presents an unique behind the scenes take a look at his first yr as monarch.

Charles III: The Coronation Year, to be broadcast on Boxing Day, is a spotlight of the BBC‘s Christmas schedule.

It is the primary time a crew has been given fly-on-the-wall entry to the Royal Family within the run-up to such a momentous nationwide occasion.

It is written and co-produced for Oxford Films by the Mail’s personal royal knowledgeable, Robert Hardman, who offers extra pleasant element in as we speak’s Weekend Magazine.

The programme consists of interviews with relations, notably Princess Anne, and employees accountable for making the King’s massive day so successful.

On the morning of Saturday, May 6, King Charles and Queen Camilla are concerned in final minute preparations at Buckingham Palace. 

Along the hall, Her Majesty walks out in her Bruce Oldfield embroidered ivory robe, accompanied by her pages – who she affectionately calls ‘the lads’.

‘Very sluggish, collectively,’ she says. Lady Lansdowne, considered one of Camilla’s two official women in attendance on the day, says of the second: ‘It wasn’t till we have been all prepared that we really all got here collectively to see one another for the primary time.

‘She hadn’t seen our attire and we hadn’t seen her gown. That was a really particular second. It was fairly like a marriage. It was the bridesmaids going to see the bride.’

The footage reveals the Queen gingerly strolling in direction of the exit, accompanied by her three-grandsons and great-nephew.

‘Don’t tread on my gown or that is going to a be an issue,’ Camilla affectionately reminds them.

She provides to the cameraman, with a smile: ‘Here we’re, with all of the lads.’ 

The King then seems speaking to his equerry Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, smilingly serving to to diffuse everybody’s nervousness by flapping the Robe of State worn by his grandfather, King George VI, at his Coronation in 1937, in his personal ‘I can fly’ Titanic second.

Camilla additionally jokes: ‘Someone at all times will get pulled over,’ referring to the burden of their finery.

As the couple depart within the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for Westminster Abbey, Lady Lansdowne, lifelong buddy of the Queen, remarks: ‘There was only a actually thrilling second of getting them into that carriage for the primary time after which we have been off.’

In an exceptionally shifting phase, Camilla’s different woman in attendance, her sister Annabel Elliot, waves her off and dabs at her face with a handkerchief, apparently moved to tears. 

She recollects: ‘I assumed again to being two years previous and watching the Queen’s [Elizabeth] Coronation on a tiny black and white tv – and there goes this golden coach with my sister in it.

‘It’s so surreal and this can’t be occurring. Yes, it was fairly a second.’ Lady Lansdowne provides: ‘We have been able to exit and face actually the world.’ 

Other charming footage reveals a rehearsal on the Abbey. Charles and Prince William, are practising with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

The Archbishop says afterward digital camera his reminiscence is worse than his household canine’s and he will get his phrases muddled up, a lot to the King’s hilarity.

He says: ‘I’ve a reminiscence that’s most likely about nearly as good as our spaniel’s – in different phrases, zero.’

He rattles off what must be a well-known blessing: ‘And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you and stay with you now and… no that may’t be proper?’ 

The Archbishop of York interjects ‘and at all times’ helpfully, including jokingly: ‘You should have mentioned this earlier than?’ Everyone – together with the King – is helpless with laughter.

‘You knew that was coming,’ the monarch chuckles.

Welby continues: ‘Be with you and stay with you at all times.’ Still smiling and shaking his head, Charles provides: ‘Amen. Marvellous.’

Princess Anne emphasises her brother’s devotion to responsibility.

‘Monarchy is a one year a yr occupation. And it would not cease since you change monarchs for no matter cause,’ she says.

Charles III: The Coronation Year will air on Boxing Day at 6.50pm on BBC One.