A Right Royal Year
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Synopsis
A look back at a memorable year in the life of the royal family

With the diamond jubilee coinciding with the London Olympics, 2012 was always going to be a memorable year for the royal family, but it was actually a combination of unexpected elements that made 2012 a right royal year. Prince William’s Wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011 rekindled the romance between the public and the British royal family. But as 2012 loomed, a more pressing crisis confronted the royals. On December 23rd, Prince Phillip was air lifted to hospital suffering chest pains. Over the following 12 months the family would face publication of embarrasing photographs, legal battles with foreign press, more illness, a rain-lashed jubilee flotilla and Harry playing strip billiards in Las Vegas. This royal year culminated with the exciting news that Princess Catherine was pregnant but she was to be hospitalized with acute morning sickness that set the media into a frenzy. Since the death of Diana, the royal family has had 15 years to adapt to dealing with press and publicity in the modern world. How did they cope in their most important year for decades and how would this remarkable year change them? Was this the year that Charles was nudged out of the limelight to allow the Queen to bask in the glow from William and Kate? Would Harry, against all expectation, become our new favourite? Would 2012 be the crowning glory to Elizabeth II’s reign. These and many other questions are put to those who know the royal family intimately, including former MP Ann Widdecombe, Diana’s private secretary Patrick Jephson, the pageant master of the jubilee flotilla Adrian Evans, royal correspondent Robert Jobson and social Historian Dominic Sandbroke.

Duration
1 x 60'
Definition
SD
Genre
Factual
Subgenre
Current Affairs
Producer
Channel 5