Will Diana be the star of the Christmas show?

Press, 4 November 1981, Page 18

Will Diana be the star of the Christmas show?

Will the Princess of Wales, ( the popular new star of the Royal Family, guarantee the ] highest television ratings of the holiday penod by appear- j ing in the Queen’s Christmas j broadcast?. It is no\ secret that the Queen has discussed the possibility with the Prince and Princess of Wales of their both appearing in this year’s 15-minute Royal film which nowadays replaces the previous formal Christmas speech. It is being suggested that unreleased film of the pair, taken while sightseeing during their honeymoon, and while staying at Balmoral on their return, could be included in the broadcast. A family friend told me: “Some years ago, the Queen viewed the prospect , of making a Christmas broadcast with apprehension. “Now she positively enjoys it and puts forward suggestions which are invariably incorporated in the finished programme. “She is very interested in filming — she has her own movie camera and projector — and working with the television professionals is very stimulating for her.” Which is why, in recent years, the Queen has made a habit of springing candid pictures of her family on an unsuspecting and delighted Christmas audience watching in 28 countries around the Commonwealth. Three years ago, the Queen was unashamedly upstaged by her grandson, Master Peter Phillips, who was shown rummaging around in the bottom of a Royal wastepaper basket. But as a British television executive said at the time: “It was magic television — and exactly right for a Christmas Day audience.” It is known that the Queen has discussed the possibility of a Christmas appearance by the Princess of Wales. A poll has shown she is already the most popular member of the. Royal Family, after the Queen. Friends of the Royal Family believe that the Queen has available a large amount of film of the Princess, taken on Royal wedding day and other occasions. The Queen has built up a close relationship with several camera crews who are allowed behind the scenes to record family activities for the Royal film archives. I was told: “There are I some film-makers, notably Richard Cawston, whom the Queen trusts completely. “In fact,’ she owes her confidence and polish on television to his guidance. ' “I know there are some really super shots from the wedding and subsequent oc- | casions, in the Royal collecI tion.” | Last year, the Queen produced a delightful piece of

previously unshown film during her Christmas Message. It had been taken from behind the . balcony at Buckingham Palace on the Queen ; Mother’s 80th birthday. The Royal Family had gathered to wave to the crowds following a service of s thanksgiving at St Paul’s i Cathedral. . Suddenly the distinguished gathering was joined' by an ! unexpected guest — one of 1 the Queen’s corgis, Spark. : Subsequently viewers heard the Queen say to the • Prince of Wales: “When Papa i and I were married, they left my dog Susan in my bedJ room — they forgot about J her. - • ' “So I had to put her into - the carriage — and she fell out at the station in a shower - • of rose petals and confetti!” f The Queen has also harked

back to the Christmas broadcasts by her father, George VI, and her grandfather, George V, and has used extracts of their speeches in her own messages. .•. ’ King George V was first heard speaking to his empire at Christmas in 1932 — and was said to be staggered by the huge and favourable response he evoked. But if King George V started the whole process, credit for the newer relaxed style must go in some measure to Prince Andrew, though he knew nothing about it at the time. The Christmas broadcasts were traditionally done “live,”, which left the monarch little alternative but to deliver a formal speech. ’ But in 1959 the Queens third child — Prince Andrew

— was due to be born within seven or eight weeks of Christmas,. and so : the message was recorded. This has since become the practice, and it enables film of other members of the Royal Family to be included. Whether the Princess of Wales will appear in this year’s film is a closely guarded secret. But one friend of the Royal Family says: “There’s no doubt the Queen is very pleased with her new daugh-. ter-in-law — particularly her natural and charming manner. _ “I would be very surprised if the Queen turned down the chance of showing her new enlarged family to an admiring world on Christmas Day.” Features International.

Gillian Franks reports that the Queen is delighted with her new daughter-in-law’s popularity with the public! She predicts the Princess of Wales could be the centre of interest in the Queen’s, televised Christmas message,