BBC Lifestyle has today announced its line-up for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend to mark 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. From Saturday 4th June to Monday 6th June, BBC Lifestyle (DStv ch. 174) will premiere five unprecedented documentaries to commemorate this historic anniversary, including a territory premiere of Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen on Monday 6th June at 9pm, plus a live broadcast of BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace with performances from global stars.
Produced by BBC Studios, Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen will offer audiences in Africa the chance to witness rare private moments from Her Majesty’s life. The 75-minute special with reveal unseen home movies of The Queen as a young girl and telling the real story of her life as a Princess – through her own eyes and in her own words from across her reign.
The unique documentary takes us behind the scenes of The Queen’s upbringing and reveals the warmth of her relationship with her parents. It captures the first extended visit of Prince Philip to Balmoral in 1946 while the couple’s engagement was still not public – a beaming Princess Elizabeth showing the camera her engagement ring. It also shows Princess Elizabeth as a young mother, with The King and Queen as fond grandparents to Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Never-before-seen images of a young Princess Elizabeth taken from Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen can be found here.
BBC Lifestyle’s special programming will also include:
The Queen Mother (2 episodes) on Saturday 4th June at 5pm-7pm
Wife, monarch and much-loved public figure – Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother was one of the most respected members of the British Royal family. This 2-part documentary reveals the dramatic inside story of the Queen Mother’s life, highlighting the moments of pain and upheaval that ultimately defined her legacy.
The Queen at War (1 episode) on Saturday 4th June at 7pm-8pm
A fascinating exploration of how Queen Elizabeth II’s experiences during the Second World War transformed a teenage princess into Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
Party at the Palace on Saturday 4th June at 20:30pm
Broadcast on BBC Lifestyle, the Platinum Party at the Palace will bring together the world’s biggest entertainers, all performing in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen becoming the first British monarch to reign for seventy years.
Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Mabel, Elbow and George Ezra will share the three-stage set up with the likes of Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli, Mimi Webb, Sam Ryder, Jax Jones, Celeste, Nile Rodgers, Sigala and Diversity – all performing their biggest hits in a star-studded tribute to Her Majesty’s unprecedented anniversary.
Stars from the stage and screen, and the sporting world appearing at the event and on film will include Sir David Attenborough, Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet, Ellie Simmonds, and a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John. Closing the 2.5-hour show will be legend Diana Ross with her first UK live performance in fifteen years.
Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal (2 episodes) on Sunday 5th June at 5pm-7pm
This compelling two-part documentary profiles Princess Margaret, whose life and loves reflected the social and sexual revolution that transformed Britain during the 20th Century.
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (1 episode) on Sunday 5th June at 7:05pm-8pm
The coronation of Elizabeth II was an enormous logistical operation, and an event of huge cultural significance. This fascinating 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.
Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen (1 episode) on Monday 6th June at 9pm
Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen will offer audiences in Africa the chance to witness rare private moments from Her Majesty’s life. The 75-minute special with reveal unseen home movies of The Queen as a young girl and telling the real story of her life as a Princess – through her own eyes and in her own words from across her reign.
BBC News will be offering comprehensive coverage* of the build up to Jubilee weekend, the official celebrations in London and how communities across the UK and the Commonwealth are marking the Platinum Jubilee.
BBC royal programming is part of DStv’s Jubilee playlist.
*Coverage on BBC World News
Thursday June 2nd – Sunday June 5th
DAY 1 OF CELEBRATIONS: THURSDAY 2nd JUNE
Platinum Jubilee: Trooping the Colour 11:00-12:15
To start, we will be live outside Buckingham Palace where we will look ahead to the weekend’s events. The first of the festivities will be Trooping the Colour (The Queen’s Birthday Parade), consisting of 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians who will be joined by Royal Family members on horseback and in carriages. Audiences will also get to see the Royal Family during the famed ‘balcony’ moment at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: BBC News Special 19:00-20:00
An hour long special by presenter Katty Kay. Not only will we be looking back at the day and forward to the rest of the weekend, but we will also include interviews with royal watchers, people partaking in the events, and members of the public – plus, we will share feature material about the Queen’s reign.
Platinum Beacons: Lighting up the Jubilee 22:00-23:00
The United Kingdom has a long-standing tradition of lighting beacons to celebrate Royal Weddings, Coronations and Jubilees. The channel will be broadcasting the lighting of the Platinum Jubilee Beacons where thousands of candles will be lit by charities and community groups across the UK. A total of 54 Commonwealth beacons will be lit (one in each Commonwealth capital city), and the principal beacon will also be lit – an illumination of a “tree of trees” sculpture at Buckingham Palace.
DAY 2 OF CELEBRATIONS: FRIDAY 3rd JUNE
Platinum Jubilee: A Service of Thanksgiving 11:00-13:30
A service of Thanksgiving will be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. We will be broadcasting outside of Saint Paul’s in the morning, moving back to Buckingham Palace in the afternoon. (Please note the channel will not be broadcasting live footage of the Service due to rights restrictions).
DAY 3 OF CELEBRATIONS: SATURDAY 4th JUNE
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: BBC News Special 18:00-19:00
An hour long special presented by Katty Kay, looking back at the Saint Paul’s Cathedral Service of Thanksgiving earlier in the day.
DAY 4 OF CELEBRATIONS: SUNDAY 5th JUNE
The Big Jubilee Lunch
The focus of the final day of celebrations is on The Big Jubilee Lunch. Over ten million people in the UK are expected to join the celebrations, with events including world record attempts for the longest street party. The occasion will be marked internationally too, with over 600 lunches planned throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – from South Africa to Canada. As part of the events, BBC World News will be coming to you live from street parties around the UK. This special coverage will be presented by Annita McVeigh and Martine Croxall.
About BBC Studios
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