BBC film to show ‘extraordinary behind-the-scenes’ footage of King’s first year

The King shown behind the scenes at a dress rehearsal for his coronation (BBC/Oxford Film and Television/PA)

A BBC documentary is to offer a unique insight into the life of the King and the Queen and inner workings of the monarchy, taking viewers behind the scenes in the first year of Charles’s reign.

Camera crews were given exclusive access to the monarch and Camilla for Charles III: The Coronation Year, following them through “landmark moments” after the death of the late Queen, leading up to and during their crowning, and in the months afterwards.

Narrated by actress Helena Bonham Carter, who played the late Queen’s sister Princess Margaret in The Crown, it will air in December as part of the BBC’s Christmas output.

Documentary makers accompanied Charles and Camilla as they got to grips with the new roles as sovereign and consort, carried out their duties, and as Buckingham Palace planned and delivered the first coronation in 70 years.

A never-before-seen image released to accompany the announcement showed the King smiling in a suit and tie and wearing his golden Robe Royal over the top as he sat in the Coronation Chair during one of the secret dress rehearsals in Westminster Abbey for his crowning.

The BBC said the 90-minute programme features “moments of great poignancy and humour” and offers a “unique perspective on the inner workings behind a defining moment which marks a new era in the history of the monarchy”.

Members of the royal family have also contributed to the documentary, as have key players from the King and Queen’s Royal Household.

Simon Young, BBC head of history, factual commissioning, said: “At the heart of this story is a man who is taking on the job that has always awaited him.

“Everyone wants to know how he takes on that challenge.

“This film captures a behind the scenes view of the King and his coronation the like of which has never been seen before.”

The King’s first 12 months as monarch, after leading the nation in mourning for the late Queen, was filled with key royals events, from Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph, an incoming state visit by the South African President, his first Christmas broadcast, Royal Ascot, Garter Day and Trooping the Colour to a first overseas state visit to Germany.

And in May, the King, along with the Queen, was crowned in the abbey in a deeply religious ceremony, followed by a weekend of celebrations.

It is not yet known whether the film will make any mention of the personal challenges the King faced in the months after his mother’s death, with his son the Duke of Sussex’s Netflix documentary and memoir Spare.

But the King has not made any statement on the fractured family relations in the past so it is thought unlikely.

Kate Phillips, BBC director of unscripted, described the access given to the documentary crew as “extraordinary”.

“It’s a real privilege to be given such extraordinary behind-the-scenes access to the first year of King Charles’s reign,” she said.

“It is a remarkable time in history and this documentary will offer a unique insight into King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the preparation and planning leading to their coronation, a momentous ceremony watched by millions around the world.”

The film was made by Oxford Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Nicolas Kent, Oxford Films’ executive producer said: “With this film we set out to tell the story of this historic year from the inside looking out, rather than from the outside looking in, and we’ve been lucky to get privileged access to do just that.”