The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

The coronation was an enormous logistical operation, and an event of huge cultural significance. This documentary reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the momentous occasion, drawing on hitherto unseen archives and made with the co-operation of Buckingham Palace. The coronation was seen as an opportune moment for the British royal family to establish the meaning of the modern monarchy, reinforcing the idea of continuity and tradition, while establishing the new reign of the young queen and her modernising consort. But the sheer scale of the event, combined with jockeying by senior figures who felt they should be pivotal, threatened disaster.