BBC to release documentary about Charles' first year as King

Exclusive access to the monarch and Camilla was given to camera crews and now it has been announced that Charles III: The Coronation Year will be released.

The documentary will follow them through “landmark moments” after the death of the late Queen, leading up to and during their crowning and in the months afterwards.

The documentary will be narrated by actress Helena Bonham Carter, who played the late Queen’s sister Princess Margaret in The Crown.

The documentary features behind-the-scenes footage (Image: Hannah McKay/PA)

There’s not long to wait as the documentary will air in December as part of the BBC’s Christmas output.

Documentary makers joined 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 has been released to accompany the announcement and shows 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.

King Charles' coronation took place in May and it was the first coronation that Buckingham Palace had delivered in 70 years (Image: Aaron Chown/PA)

The documentary will be 90 minutes in length and the BBC said it 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 and key players from the King and Queen’s Royal Household have also contributed to the programme which was made by Oxford Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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.”

King Charles III: The life and times of our new monarch

The King’s first 12 months as monarch, after leading the nation in mourning for the late Queen, was filled with key royal events including 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 and a first overseas state visit to Germany.

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.

It is thought to be unlikely though as the King hasn’t made any statement on the fractured family relations in the past.

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

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“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.”

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.”