Original subtitles

Narrator: WINDSOR--

\h\h\hTHE OLDEST AND LARGEST CONTINUALLY INHABITED CASTLE

IN THE WORLD.

FOR 1,000 YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S BEEN THE SYMBOL OF BRITAIN’S ROYAL DYNASTIES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE QUEEN, THIS IS A PALACE LIKE NO OTHER.

Man: THE WINDSOR CASTLE \h\h\h\h\h\hIS HER HOME.

IT IS A FAMILY HOME AS WELL,

\h\h\h\h\hAND SHE FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE THERE.

Narrator: 1,000 ROOMS,

HUNDREDS OF STAFF,

BILLIONS OF DOLLARS’ WORTH OF PAINTINGS AND FINE FURNISHINGS,

5,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND.

Man: IT’S A GREAT STAGE

\h\h\h\h\h\hON WHICH THE WHOLE ROYAL BUSINESS CAN BE ACTED OUT.

Narrator: IT’S ALSO WHERE THE ROYAL FAMILY HIDES ITS SECRETS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: THERE ARE DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS THERE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT I THINK PROBABLY EVERY HISTORIAN

WOULD GIVE THEIR EYETEETH FOR.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S BEEN THE QUEEN’S HOME FOR 80 YEARS.

\h\h\h\hWE’LL REVEAL WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

BEHIND THE CASTLE’S \h\hIMPOSING WALLS.

IT WAS THE TOUGHEST DECADE \h\hOF THE QUEEN’S REIGN--

THE 1990s.

Man: THE ROYALS SUDDENLY FOUND

THAT THEY WERE BEING ANALYZED, CRITICIZED, AND RIDICULED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WHEN AN UNPRECEDENTED DISASTER

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHREATENED TO DESTROY THE CASTLE

AND BRING DOWN THE QUEEN.

Reporter: FIVE HOURS ON,

THE FLAMES STILL RISING \h\h\hFROM THE TURRETS.

A WHOLE ROYAL TREASURE HOUSE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT RISK.

\h\hNarrator: WE REVEAL HOW THE QUEEN STEPPED IN

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PUT AN END TO CHARLES AND DIANA’S MARRIAGE.

Man: WHEN THE QUEEN \hWAS GOING TO WRITE

SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS THAT

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MONARCHY,

\h\h\h\hIT COULD ONLY COME FROM THE DESK AT WINDSOR.

Narrator: AND WE DISCOVER HOW, IN THE 21st CENTURY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CASTLE HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE

IN REVIVING THE POPULARITY OF BRITAIN’S ROYAL FAMILY.

♪

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

IN 2016, ELIZABETH II

\h\h\h\h\hWAS BRITAIN’S LONGEST SERVING MONARCH.

SHE ALSO TURNED 90 YEARS OLD,

MAKING HER THE OLDEST MONARCH IN THE NATION’S HISTORY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO CELEBRATE THESE TWO GREAT MILESTONES,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE SHE WANTED TO BE--

WINDSOR.

\h\hRobert Jobson: WINDSOR IS AT THE CORE OF ALL THINGS ROYAL,

SO WHEN THE QUEEN TURNED 90,

THE CELEBRATION FOCUS WAS IN WINDSOR CASTLE.

THAT’S WHERE SHE WAS.

Narrator: SHE WENT INTO THE TOWN OUTSIDE THE CASTLE

TO MEET HER LOYAL SUBJECTS

\h\hAND WAS GIVEN A CAKE FROM CELEBRITY BAKER NADIYA HUSSAIN.

SINCE HER CHILDHOOD DAYS \h\h\h80 YEARS EARLIER,

\h\hWINDSOR CASTLE HAS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE QUEEN.

IT PLAYED A CENTRAL ROLE IN MANY OF THE KEY EVENTS OF THE NATION.

Andrew Morton: WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

\h\h\hAS THE FAMILY HOME TO THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR,

THEY’RE WRONG.

WINDSOR CASTLE HAS BEEN THE HUB OF ROYAL HISTORY DOWN THE AGES.

IT’S WHERE THE ROYALS HAVE MET,

MARRIED, BEEN DISPATCHED, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HATCHED.

\h\hNarrator: IT’S BEEN THE QUEEN’S WEEKEND HOME

EVER SINCE SHE WAS CROWNED.

Paul Burrell: FRIDAYS ARE ALWAYS AN EXCITING DAY

\h\h\h\h\hAT BUCKINGHAM PALACE BECAUSE THE QUEEN IS PREPARING

FOR HER WEEKEND AT WINDSOR, \h\h\h\hHER COUNTRY RETREAT,

SO AFTER LUNCH ON FRIDAY,

\hWE’RE BUSY PACKING UP ALL HER BITS AND PIECES,

\h\h\h\hTHE THINGS THAT SHE MIGHT NEED FOR THE WEEKEND.

Narrator: PAUL BURRELL WORKED AS THE QUEEN’S PERSONAL FOOTMAN

AT WINDSOR CASTLE FOR 11 YEARS.

Burrell: IT’S A HALF-AN-HOUR \h\h\h\h\hDRIVE DOWN THE M4

FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT’S WHAT THE QUEEN LOVES BEST.

SHE CAN GET INTO HER LITTLE CAR, UNMARKED,

GET INTO THE TRAFFIC, \h\h\h\hINTO THE FLOW,

AND BE IN WINDSOR \hIN HALF AN HOUR,

IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WITH HER DOGS AND HER HORSES.

Narrator: AND THERE’S PLENTY \h\hOF ROOM FOR ALL OF THEM

AT THE QUEEN’S COUNTRY RETREAT.

WITH AN IMPRESSIVE 1,000 ROOMS,

\hTHE CASTLE COVERS A WHOPPING 13 ACRES.

\hFROM THE AIR, THE ROUND TOWER

\h\h\h\hSITS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO DISTINCT SECTIONS.

THE CASTLE’S LOWER SECTION

\h\h\h\h\hIS DOMINATED BY ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL

\h\h\h\h\hAND HOUSES SOME OF THE CASTLE’S 350 STAFF,

\h\h\h\h\hBUT THE QUEEN LIVES AT THE OTHER END OF THE CASTLE,

IN THE UPPER SECTION.

HERE, THE QUEEN’S PRIVATE APARTMENTS

INCLUDE THE ROYAL NURSERY, THE QUEEN’S PRIVATE STUDY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDINING ROOM, AND, OF COURSE, HER BEDCHAMBER.

Kate Williams: THE QUEEN LIKES A VERY SIMPLE TRADITIONAL LOOK,

A VERY OLD ENGLISH LOOK,

\h\h\h\hSO THE MINUTE YOU GO INTO THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS

IN WINDSOR CASTLE,

YOU’D AUTOMATICALLY FEEL AT HOME

BECAUSE YOU’VE SEEN \hTHAT KIND OF DECOR

IN MANY HOUSES ACROSS BRITAIN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT WINDSOR CASTLE IS MUCH MORE

\h\h\hTHAN A VERY LARGE, VERY FANCY PRIVATE HOME.

IT’S ALSO A STATE BUILDING \h\h\hUNIQUE IN THE WORLD.

Jobson: WINDSOR CASTLE HAS BEEN AT THE CORE OF THIS MONARCHY,

THIS 1,000-YEAR MONARCHY, \h\hSINCE ITS CONCEPTION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIRST CONSTRUCTED AS A FORTRESS

JUST AFTER THE NORMAN INVASION,

WINDSOR CASTLE HAS 1,000 YEARS OF ROYAL HISTORY

WITHIN ITS WALLS.

Williams: WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR BUILT WINDSOR CASTLE,

AND SO WHEN YOU’RE \h\hIN THE CASTLE,

\h\h\hIT’S NOT JUST ABOUT ELIZABETH II.

IT’S ABOUT ALL OF THE MONARCHS STRETCHING RIGHT BACK TO 1066.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST

THROUGH HENRY VIII, \h\hQUEEN VICTORIA,

AND NOW THE WINDSORS,

\h\h\h\hEVERY BRITISH ROYAL HAS REGARDED WINDSOR CASTLE

AS THEIR SEAT OF POWER.

\hRichard Kay: WINDSOR CASTLE REPRESENTS GREAT BRITAIN PLC.

\h\h\h\hIT IS THE PLACE THAT VISITING POTENTATES

WANT TO SEE ABOVE ALL ELSE,

AND THAT’S WHY IT’S USED \hSO OFTEN AS A BACKDROP

FOR THESE GREAT STATE OCCASIONS.

Narrator: AND THE QUEEN’S \h90th BIRTHDAY AT WINDSOR

WAS ALSO A STATE OCCASION.

IT WAS MARKED BY A VISIT

FROM THE MOST POWERFUL MAN \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE PLANET.

\hBUT EVEN WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DROPS IN,

HE HAS TO RESPECT \hTHE HOUSE RULES.

Kay: WHEN OBAMA CAME \hTO SEE THE QUEEN,

\h\hSHE INSTRUCTED AMERICAN SECURITY THAT THE HELICOPTER

SHOULD NOT LAND ON THE LAWNS \h\h\h\h\hAT WINDSOR CASTLE,

AND SHE REMINDED THEM THAT THIS WAS HER HOME

AND SHE DIDN’T WANT

\h\h\h\h\h\hHER LOVELY GREEN HERBACEOUS BORDER MESSED UP.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING]

\hNarrator: AND TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH IT WAS THEIR HOME,

ONCE THE OBAMAS HAD LANDED, THE 95-YEAR-OLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH

PERSONALLY DROVE THE PRESIDENT UP TO THE CASTLE FOR LUNCH.

IT WAS A SPECIAL PICTURE,

DESIGNED TO HAVE IMPACT \h\h\hAROUND THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\hFORMAL BUT RELAXED, A POPULAR QUEEN TOTALLY AT EASE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS WAS AN ASTONISHING TRANSFORMATION.

THE 90th BIRTHDAY TRIUMPH \h\h\h\h\hCAME AT THE END

\h\hOF AN EXTRAORDINARILY DARK CHAPTER IN THE WINDSOR STORY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBACK IN 1992, ROYAL POPULARITY HAD PLUMMETED,

\h\hAND WINDSOR CASTLE ITSELF WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFRIDAY, THE 20th OF NOVEMBER, 1992,

\h\h\h\h\hWAS THE QUEEN’S 45th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY,

A DAY TO CELEBRATE.

BUT THE DAY WAS TO BECOME ONE OF THE WORST IN WINDSOR HISTORY.

AT 11:20 THAT MORNING,

A WORK LIGHT WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT TOO CLOSE TO A CURTAIN

\h\hSTARTED A FIRE INSIDE THE QUEEN’S PRIVATE CHAPEL

AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

♪

WITHIN MINUTES, THE 300-YEAR-OLD ROOM WAS ABLAZE.

[ALARM]

AT 11:36, THE ALARM WAS SOUNDED.

FIVE MINUTES LATER,

THE QUEEN’S PRESS OFFICER \h\h\hAT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

RECEIVED AN URGENT PHONE CALL.

\h\h\h\hDickie Arbiter: I’M IN THE PRESS OFFICE,

\h\hAND I GOT A, A PHONE CALL FROM BBC RADIO BERKSHIRE SAYING,

"CAN YOU CONFIRM THE FIRE \h\h\hAT WINDSOR CASTLE?"

\h\h\h\h\hAND I THOUGHT, "FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE?

WHAT FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE?"

\h\h\h\hI LEFT THE PALACE PROBABLY ABOUT 5 PAST 12.

I COULD SEE FROM THE MOTORWAY BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING,

\h\hAND IF YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF BLACK SMOKE,

YOU KNOW YOU’VE GOT A BIG FIRE.

[SIREN]

\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT 12:25, 50 MINUTES AFTER IT STARTED,

ARBITER ARRIVED AT THE CASTLE

\h\hAND FOUND 225 FIREMEN AND 39 ENGINES BATTLING AN INFERNO.

Arbiter: THERE IS A HIVE \hOF ACTIVITY GOING ON.

\hTHERE’S A HUMAN CHAIN MOVING STUFF FROM THE ROYAL LIBRARY.

\h\h\hLOTS OF ARTIFACTS HAD TO, HAD TO BE SAVED,

HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD.

AND THIS THEY WERE DOING.

THEY WERE MOVING A CARPET, AN INCREDIBLY LONG CARPET,

WHICH WAS ALMOST LIKE A SNAKE.

Narrator: IN THE THICK OF IT,

THE QUEEN’S SECOND SON, ANDREW, COORDINATES AN EVACUATION.

Prince Andrew: I CAME UP TO SEE IF I COULD HELP,

AND, YES, I COULD.

\h\h\hLET’S GET AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN OUT.

Arbiter: AND HE WAS VERY GOOD

\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO TELL THE MILITARY

WHAT TO DO, HOW TO DO IT, \h\hAND WHERE TO TAKE IT.

Narrator: IT ALSO FELL TO ANDREW

TO PHONE HIS MOTHER \hWITH THE BAD NEWS.

Man: WHAT WAS YOUR MOTHER’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hREACTION, SIR?

\h\h\h\h\hPrince Andrew: HER MAJESTY WAS SHOCKED.

Arbiter: THE QUEEN WAS DUE \h\h\hTO ARRIVE AT WINDSOR

\h\hAT ABOUT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON,

AND THAT’S WHEN SHE DID ARRIVE.

AND IMMEDIATELY SHE PUT ON

\hA LONG SORT OF BARBOUR COAT, HEADSCARF, AS SHE ALWAYS DOES,

AND WAS BRIEFED BY THE DEPUTY COUNTY FIRE CHIEF, DAVID HARPER.

\h\h\hHE GAVE HER SORT OF FULL BACKGROUND OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING

AND HOW THEY WERE TACKLING THE FIRE.

Narrator: THE NEWS WASN’T GOOD.

AS THE QUEEN GOT HER BRIEFING,

\hTHE FIRE MOVED THROUGH THE CRIMSON DRAWING ROOM

AND ST. GEORGE’S HALL,

TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOMS IN THE CASTLE,

AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SLOWING.

Reporter: FIVE HOURS ON,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FLAMES STILL RISING FROM THE TURRETS.

SMOKE AS THICK AS EVER,

THE BATTLE FOR CONTROL \hSTILL FAR FROM OVER.

Arbiter: BY THE TIME WE GOT TO NIGHTTIME,

THE BRUNSWICK TOWER,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS IN THE EXTREME NORTHEAST CORNER,

WAS LIKE A FACTORY CHIMNEY

WITH SMOKE BILLOWING \h\hOUT OF THE TOP.

♪

Narrator: THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

THE FULL SCALE OF THE DISASTER BECAME APPARENT.

THE FIRE HAD BURNED FOR 15 HOURS

AND NEEDED 1.5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER TO PUT IT OUT.

100 ROOMS HAD BEEN DAMAGED, \h\hNINE COMPLETELY GUTTED.

Arbiter: ST. GEORGE’S HALL, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR EXAMPLE,

\h\h\h\hTHE DAMAGE TO THAT WAS FROM THE SMOKE AND FROM WATER.

THE WALLS HAD BEEN CHARRED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CEILING HAD COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED.

THE ROOF HAD DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: THE FIRE AT WINDSOR WAS THE WORST DISASTER

\h\hIN THE CASTLE’S 1,000-YEAR HISTORY.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT FRIDAY WAS THE QUEEN’S WEDDING ANNIVERSARY,

BUT HER HUSBAND, PRINCE PHILIP,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS ATTENDING A CONFERENCE IN ARGENTINA.

Kay: THE QUEEN WAS ALL ALONE \hAND LOOKING TERRIBLY SAD,

AND ONE OF HER MAJESTY’S \h\h\h\hCOACHMEN TOLD ME

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HE WAS GRABBED BY THIS ALMOST IRRESISTIBLE URGE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO GO UP TO HER AND TO PUT HIS ARM AROUND HER

\h\hBECAUSE SHE LOOKED ON THE VERGE OF TEARS.

SUDDENLY IT BROUGHT IT ALL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOME TO HIM

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT SHE WAS NOT JUST THE LOFTY SOVEREIGN.

THIS WAS, THIS WAS A MOTHER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA HOMEOWNER,

WHO WAS SEEING HER FAVORITE \h\hHOUSE GOING UP IN SMOKE.

Narrator: THE FIRE AT WINDSOR COULDN’T HAVE COME

AT A WORSE TIME FOR THE QUEEN.

1992 HAD ALREADY BEEN \h\h\hA DREADFUL YEAR.

Morton: THE QUEEN CALLED 1992 HER ANNUS HORRIBILIS,

AND SHE DID SO FOR A REASON.

Narrator: IN MARCH THAT YEAR,

HER SON PRINCE ANDREW, \h\hTHE DUKE OF YORK,

SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE, \h\h\h\hSARAH FERGUSON.

\hIN APRIL, HER DAUGHTER PRINCESS ANNE DIVORCED.

IN JUNE, A TELL-ALL BOOK \h\hABOUT PRINCESS DIANA

REVEALED EXPLOSIVE DETAILS \h\h\h\hABOUT HER MARRIAGE

TO THE QUEEN’S ELDEST SON \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCHARLES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND HIS AFFAIR WITH CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN AUGUST, PICTURES OF A TOPLESS FERGIE

\h\hHAVING HER TOES SUCKED APPEARED IN THE TABLOIDS.

AND JUST TWO WEEKS \hBEFORE THE FIRE,

THE HEIR TO THE THRONE \hHAD BEEN EMBARRASSED

IN A PHONE-TAPPING SCANDAL.

Morton: AT THE END OF ’92,

PRINCE CHARLES’ STOCK WAS AT ITS LOWEST EBB.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNOT ONLY WAS HE SEEING ANOTHER WOMAN

\h\h\hAND THAT HIS MARRIAGE TO THIS FAIRY-TALE PRINCESS,

PRINCESS DIANA, WAS A, A SHAM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT ALSO HE’D BEEN CAUGHT ON TAPE

MAKING THESE SALACIOUS REMARKS TO CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES.

\h\h\hJobson: HE HAD HIT PRETTY MUCH ROCK BOTTOM.

THERE WERE PEOPLE SHOUTING, "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF"

\h\h\h\hWHEN HE WENT ON PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS AROUND THE EAST END.

I REMEMBER IT QUITE VIVIDLY.

Narrator: TEN MONTHS OF SCANDAL

HAD DESTROYED THE REPUTATION \h\h\h\hOF THE ROYAL FAMILY

AND EVEN SHAKEN PUBLIC BELIEF IN THE WHOLE IDEA OF MONARCHY.

Kay: WE WEREN’T TURNING \h\h\hINTO A GENERATION

OF, OF REPUBLICANS \hALL OF A SUDDEN,

BUT PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONING

THE POINT OF THE ROYAL FAMILY LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

Narrator: AS BAD AS THE QUEEN’S YEAR HAD ALREADY BEEN,

IT WAS ABOUT TO GET WORSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hJUST SIX HOURS AFTER THE FIRE AT WINDSOR,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE

SPOKE TO THE PRESS.

\hIN A FEW WORDS, HE MANAGED TO TURN

WHAT HAD BEEN A PERSONAL \hDISASTER FOR THE QUEEN

INTO A CRISIS FOR THE MONARCHY.

\h\h\h\hPeter Brooke: I GAVE A SORT OF GENERAL SITREP ON,

ON WHAT I HAD SEEN AND WHAT AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE

AND THEN MADE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND, OF COURSE, THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION WAS,

UH, WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT?

\hTHE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ROYAL PALACE

IS ONE WHICH FALLS TO MY DEPARTMENT,

\h\h\h\hTHE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL HERITAGE.

WE WILL BE TAKING THE CASTLE

BACK TO THE CONDITION \h\h\hIN WHICH IT WAS.

Narrator: PETER BROOKE’S PLAN WAS TO LET TAXPAYERS COVER

THE NEARLY $50-MILLION BILL.

\h\h\h\hIT WENT OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON.

\h\hKay: THE COUNTRY WAS IN A RECESSION,

MANY SERVICES WERE BEING CUT,

AND YET WE WERE BEING ASKED \h\h\h\h\h\hTO FOOT THE BILL

FOR THIS 40 MILLION SALVAGING, REPAIR JOB,

AND YET WE, THE PUBLIC, GOT NO PARTICULAR BENEFIT OF IT.

IT WAS FOR THE QUEEN \h\hAND HER FAMILY.

\hIT WAS THEIR HOME, BUT WE PAID FOR IT.

Man: WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD PAY FOR THE RESTORATION?

Woman: NOT THE PUBLIC.

Man: WHY SHOULD WE PAY?

THE GOVERNMENT DON’T PAY. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE PAY!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorton: THERE WAS A HUGE BACKLASH

AMONGST THE GENERAL PUBLIC,

SAYING WE’RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THIS.

\hTHE ROYAL FAMILY CAN PAY FOR THIS.

Jobson: THE QUEEN WAS OFTEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THAT TIME

ON THE SUNDAY TIMES LIST, \h\h\h\hALWAYS NUMBER ONE

AS THE RICHEST WOMAN \h\hIN THE COUNTRY.

\h\hTHERE’S A SENSE OF WHY SHOULD PEOPLE

IN A COUNCIL HOUSE \h\hIN BARKINGSIDE

\h\h\h\h\hPAY FOR THIS WOMAN’S RESIDENCE IN ROYAL BERKSHIRE?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE FIRE AT WINDSOR HAD EXPOSED

A POPULAR MISUNDERSTANDING

ABOUT WHAT BRITAIN’S MONARCHY WAS ACTUALLY WORTH.

\h\hArbiter: THEY HAD HER DOWN AS OWNING ALL THE ROYAL PALACES,

INCLUDING THE TOWER OF LONDON, BUCKINGHAM PALACE,

WINDSOR CASTLE, \h\hYOU NAME IT.

IF IT WAS A ROYAL PALACE. \h\h\h\h\h\hSHE OWNED IT.

SHE OWNED THE ROYAL FLIGHT,

THE ROYAL TRAIN, THE ROYAL YACHT.

SHE OWNED THE ROYAL COLLECTION. SHE OWNED THE CROWN JEWELS.

NONE OF WHICH DOES SHE OWN.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN REALITY, THE QUEEN DOESN’T OWN WINDSOR

\h\h\hOR ANY OF THE OTHER ROYAL PALACES AND ESTATES.

AFTER HER CORONATION,

SHE, LIKE EVERY MONARCH FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\hSIGNED A CONTRACT HANDING OVER ALL CROWN LANDS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND BUILDINGS AND THEIR VAST RENTAL INCOME

\h\h\h\hTO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.

\hIN RETURN, SHE RECEIVES A LARGE ANNUAL ALLOWANCE.

[CHOIR SINGING HYMN]

\h\h\hSO, LEGALLY, WINDSOR IS THE TAXPAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT WITH THE FAMILY’S REPUTATION

AT ITS LOWEST LEVELS \h\hIN A GENERATION,

THE PUBLIC DIDN’T CARE.

Woman: I USED TO LIKE THEM A LOT AT ONE TIME,

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NOW EACH TIME YOU READ ALL WHAT’S GOING ON,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU THINK, WELL, YOU’VE GONE RIGHT OFF OF THEM.

Man: I THINK THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM SHOULD STRUNG UP.

Narrator: THE QUEEN REALIZED \h\h\h\h\hSHE NEEDED TO ACT.

SHE NEEDED TO REBUILD

BOTH WINDSOR AND THE REPUTATION OF THE MONARCHY,

AND FAST.

SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE.

Kay: SHE DOESN’T LIKE CHANGE.

SHE FINDS CHANGE UNSETTLING, \h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE ALL OF US,

BUT SHE IS PREPARED TO EMBRACE CHANGE, UH, ALBEIT SLOWLY.

Narrator: IT’S NOT FIRST TIME THAT PUBLIC HOSTILITY

HAS FORCED RADICAL ACTION \h\h\h\h\hFROM THE ROYALS.

IN 1917, THE QUEEN’S GRANDFATHER FACED A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

\h\h\h\hLady Colin Campbell: DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR,

\h\h\h\h\h\hANYTHING GERMAN BECAME EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR.

\hTHIS PRESENTED A DIFFICULTY, OF COURSE, FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY

BECAUSE THE NAME OF THE ROYAL HOUSE WAS SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA.

\h\h\h\hJobson: THE TRUTH IS IT WAS A VERY GERMANIC NAME,

BUT EVEN WORSE, GOTHA BOMBERS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

WERE DROPPING BOMBS \h\h\hON, ON LONDON,

SO THERE WAS A SENSE THAT THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE

THAT PERCEPTION OF BEING A GERMANIC ROYAL FAMILY.

Campbell: KING GEORGE V VERY SENSIBLY UNDERSTOOD

THAT HE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DYNASTY,

AND HE VERY SENSIBLY \h\h\hCHOSE WINDSOR.

THEY DIDN’T CHOOSE BUCKINGHAM,

\hAND THEY DIDN’T CHOOSE SANDRINGHAM OR BALMORAL.

THEY CHOSE WINDSOR

\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE WINDSOR IS QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH.

Narrator: 75 YEARS LATER,

PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO PAYING \h\h\hFOR REPAIRS TO WINDSOR

\hFORCED ELIZABETH TO COME UP WITH AN EQUALLY RADICAL PLAN.

Martin Conboy: AT THAT STAGE,

THE, UH, THE ROYAL INSTITUTION CLOSES RANKS

AND HAS A REAL HARD THINK,

\h\h\hAND WHAT YOU SEE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT

TO WIN THE HEARTS AND MINDS \h\h\hOF THE BRITISH PEOPLE.

Narrator: A WEEK AFTER THE FIRE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN CALLED A SECRET MEETING

OF KEY FAMILY MEMBERS AND TRUSTED ADVISORS.

THEY FORMED WHAT’S KNOWN AS THE WAY AHEAD GROUP.

Jobson: THE WAY AHEAD GROUP \h\h\h\h\h\h\hEFFECTIVELY IS

\h\h\hAN UBER FOCUS GROUP OF ROYAL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

THAT WOULD DISCUSS \h\hTHE WAY AHEAD,

\h\hWHAT IS THE STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

\hBECAUSE THEY WERE CONSCIOUS THAT THEY HAD AN IMAGE PROBLEM.

Narrator: THE MEETING OF THE WAY AHEAD GROUP

ENDED WITH A PLAN.

INSISTING THAT THE TAXPAYERS \hFOOT THE BILL FOR THE FIRE

WAS NOW OUT OF THE QUESTION.

INSTEAD, THE QUEEN OFFERED \h\h\h\hTO RAISE THE MONEY

\h\h\hBY OPENING UP HER LONDON HEADQUARTERS TO PAYING VISITORS.

Kay: IT WAS ANNOUNCED \h\h\h\hTHAT THE QUEEN

\hWAS GOING TO OPEN BUCKINGHAM PALACE UP

\h\h\h\hTO THE PUBLIC TO FUND THE REPAIRS TO WINDSOR CASTLE.

IT WAS A MASTERSTROKE \h\h\h\hIN MANY WAYS.

IT DEFUSED THE WHOLE SITUATION.

AND, OF COURSE, THE BACKSTORY IS

\h\h\hTHAT THEY’D BEEN PLANNING THIS ANYWAY,

\h\h\hBUT TIMING IT JUST AFTER THE WINDSOR CASTLE CATASTROPHE

WAS A BRILLIANT STROKE.

Narrator: IN AUGUST 1993,

JUST EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE FIRE AT WINDSOR CASTLE,

\h\hBUCKINGHAM PALACE OPENED ITS DOORS TO PAYING VISITORS

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Man: TICKETS, PLEASE...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT WAS AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS.

\h\hNEARLY 400,000 PEOPLE PAID $10 A TICKET TO TAKE THE TOUR.

\h\h\h\hMONEY WAS POURING INTO THE WINDSOR RESTORATION FUND,

\h\h\h\h\hAND PUBLIC HOSTILITY TO THE ROYALS BEGAN TO SOFTEN.

[APPLAUSE]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTWO YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATING FIRE

AT WINDSOR CASTLE,

A HUGE RESTORATION PROGRAM \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBEGAN.

\hTHE FIRE HAD DESTROYED A FIFTH OF THE BUILDING,

AND HUNDREDS OF CRAFTSMEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE WORKING

\h\h\h\hTO RETURN IT TO ITS FORMER GLORY.

THE CASTLE COULD BE REPAIRED.

IN 1994, THE MARRIAGE OF CHARLES AND DIANA COULD NOT.

THE BITTER WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN THE ROYAL COUPLE

PLUNGED TO NEW DEPTHS.

THEY’D BEEN SEPARATED FOR TWO UNHAPPY YEARS,

\h\h\h\hAND THE RELATIONSHIP HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN.

\hCHARLES’ POPULARITY HAD REACHED A NEW LOW,

\h\hWITH THE PUBLIC TAKING DIANA’S SIDE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: SHE DOESN’T NEED HIM ANYMORE.

\hWoman: HE SHOULD GIVE UP ALL THOUGHT OF BEING KING.

HE SHOULD BECOME LIKE A COMMONER.

Narrator: AS HEIR TO THE THRONE, THE PRINCE OF WALES

\h\h\h\h\hDESPERATELY NEEDED TO WIN BACK PUBLIC RESPECT.

\h\h\h\h\hA PRIME-TIME TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY

GAVE HIM THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

\h\hAND WINDSOR CASTLE THE PERFECT BACKDROP.

Arbiter: WHEN A DOCUMENTARY \h\h\h\h\h\hWAS FIRST MOOTED

FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES TO DO,

IT WAS TO BE AROUND

BASICALLY THE PRINCE’S TRUST \h\hAND HIS OTHER CHARITIES,

AND THIS WAS REALLY GOING TO BE

\h\h\h\h\hA DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WHAT A JOLLY FINE FELLOW HE IS.

\h\h\hNarrator: ALL HAD BEEN GOING WELL WITH THE FILMING,

BUT WHEN THE HOST ARRIVED \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT WINDSOR,

THE PROJECT STARTED TO BACKFIRE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArbiter: HE’S IN ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND DIMBLEBY IS STANDING NEXT TO HIM

AND ASKED HIM THE QUESTION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hABOUT HIM AND CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES

\h\h\h\hAND THE BREAKDOWN OF HIS MARRIAGE TO DIANA,

AND DID HE COMMIT ADULTERY?

\hAND HE CONFESSED THAT HE HAD DONE.

Narrator: THE FILM WAS BROADCAST ON THE 29th OF JUNE, 1994,

AND SHOCKED EVEN ROYAL INSIDERS.

Arbiter: MY EYES CAME OUT \h\h\h\hLIKE ORGAN STOPS.

I COULDN’T ACTUALLY BELIEVE \h\h\h\h\hWHAT I WAS SEEING

OR WHAT I WAS HEARING.

Narrator: BY ATTEMPTING TO BLAME HIS AFFAIR ON DIANA’S BEHAVIOR,

CHARLES UPPED THE ANTE

IN WHAT HAD BEEN DUBBED THE WAR OF THE WALESES.

Princess Diana: HELLO.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DIANA HIT BACK IMMEDIATELY IN A TELEVISION INTERVIEW.

Morton: DIANA WENT NUCLEAR

\hWITH HER INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN BASHIR.

\h\h\hSHE SUGGESTED THAT PRINCE CHARLES

WASN’T FIT TO BE KING, \h\hSHOULDN’T BE KING.

SHE WAS THE QUEEN OF HEARTS.

\h\h\h\hIT WAS A DAMNING AND DEVASTATING ATTACK,

NOT JUST ON PRINCE CHARLES,

BUT ALSO ON THE INSTITUTION \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE MONARCHY.

Narrator: THE QUEEN FELT DIANA HAD GONE TOO FAR.

\h\hBY SAYING CHARLES WAS UNFIT TO BE KING,

SHE’D CHALLENGED A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF MONARCHY--

SUCCESSION TO THE THRONE IS NOT DECIDED BY POPULAR OPINION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorton: AND AS THE QUEEN ABSORBED

\h\h\h\hTHE FULL IMPORT OF WHAT WAS BEING SAID,

SHE REALIZED THAT SHE HAD TO STOP THIS AT THE PASS.

\h\h\h\hKay: EVENTS WERE JUST ROLLING OVER THEM,

AND, AND THE MONARCHY WAS BEING RIDICULED, TRADUCED,

\h\h\h\h\hAND SHE HAD TO SEIZE BACK CONTROL.

Narrator: IN DECEMBER 1995, \h\hIN HER STUDY AT WINDSOR,

THE QUEEN SAT AT HER DESK

AND BEGAN TWO OF MOST DIFFICULT LETTERS SHE’D EVER WRITTEN.

Kay: THE ONLY WAY, REALLY, \h\h\hTO GRASP THE NETTLE

WAS TO ORDER A DIVORCE, \h\h\h\h\hAND THEREFORE,

SEPARATE THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR FROM PRINCESS DIANA.

\hJobson: I THINK THAT WHEN THE QUEEN WAS GOING TO WRITE

SOMETHING AS SIGNIFICANT AS THAT

ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MONARCHY,

\h\h\h\h\hIT CAN ONLY COME FROM THE DESK AT WINDSOR.

Narrator: ON DECEMBER 20, 1995,

THE TWO LETTERS WERE DISPATCHED FROM WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hONE WAS SENT TO THE PRINCE OF WALES,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE OTHER, VIA A UNIFORMED COURIER,

TO KENSINGTON PALACE.

Burrell: AND I COULD SEE

\h\h\hTHE WINDSOR CASTLE CREST AND THE WINDSOR CASTLE PAPER.

I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.

\hTHE LETTER READ, AFTER LONG CONSIDERATION AND CONSULTATION

\hWITH THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,

I THINK IT’S PROBABLY BEST

\h\h\h\h\h\hIF YOU DIVORCED FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND SIGNED ELIZABETH R.

IT WAS A ROYAL COMMAND \hFROM WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorton: WINDSOR CASTLE IS THE HOME

OF MANY SIGNIFICANT \h\h\hROYAL EVENTS,

NONE MORE SO THAN HER DECISION TO WRITE THIS LETTER

\h\hTO PROTECT THE FABRIC AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE MONARCHY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE QUEEN’S INTERVENTION

\hENDED THE PUBLIC BATTLE BETWEEN HER SON AND DIANA.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 28, 1996,

\h\h\hTHE DIVORCE WAS GRANTED AND WAS WELCOMED BY THE PUBLIC.

Man: IT’S ABOUT TIME. IT’S A COMPLETE FARCE.

THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE IT \h\h\h\h\hSOME TIME AGO.

Man: I THINK IT’S SAD \h\h\h\hBUT NECESSARY.

Narrator: WITH CHARLES’ DIVORCE,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN HOPED THAT THE DARKEST DAYS OF HER REIGN

MIGHT FINALLY BE BEHIND HER.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT WITHIN THE YEAR, THE NATION AND THE ROYAL FAMILY

WERE STUNNED BY THE SUDDEN AND BRUTAL DEATH OF DIANA.

THAT FATEFUL SUNDAY,

THE CROWDS GATHERED IN LONDON TO MOURN THE PRINCESS.

BUT THE QUEEN WAS NOT AT WINDSOR THAT AUGUST WEEKEND.

SHE WAS ON VACATION, HIDDEN AWAY AT BALMORAL IN SCOTLAND,

AND SHE CHOSE TO STAY THERE.

\hKay: SHE RARELY MISJUDGES THE MOOD OF, OF THE PEOPLE,

BUT THERE’S NO QUESTION

THAT IN THAT WEEK IN 1997 \h\h\hAFTER DIANA’S DEATH,

THERE WAS A MISJUDGMENT.

Woman: OUR QUEEN SHOULD BE HERE IN LONDON WITH HER PEOPLE.

THIS IS HER NATION,

\h\h\hAND THEY SHOULD KNOW HOW ALL HER PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT DIANA.

Narrator: IT’S NOT THE FIRST \hTIME A TRAGIC ROYAL DEATH

HAS LED TO A MONARCH’S PLUMMET IN POPULARITY.

150 YEARS AGO,

WHEN 42-YEAR-OLD PRINCE ALBERT DIED AT WINDSOR CASTLE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hQUEEN VICTORIA BECAME A VIRTUAL RECLUSE.

Williams: AFTER ALBERT’S DEATH,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE WANTS TO RETREAT INTO HERSELF.

SHE WANTS TO LOCK HERSELF UP.

SHE WANTED TO BE AT WINDSOR \h\h\h\hAND NO ONE SEE HER.

AND YET EVERYONE WAS EXPECTING TO SEE THE QUEEN.

THEY WANTED PICTURES \h\h\hOF THE QUEEN.

THEY WANTED HER OUT VISITING.

\h\h\h\h\hAND THIS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR HER.

\hTHERE WAS A LOT OF COMPLAINT AND GROWTH OF REPUBLICAN FEELING

BECAUSE PEOPLE SAID, "WHY IS SHE THE WIDOW OF WINDSOR?

"WHY IS SHE HIDING HERSELF AWAY? WHY IS SHE DOING THIS?

SHE’S OUR QUEEN."

\h\hNarrator: PERHAPS MINDFUL OF HER GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER,

ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1997,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hELIZABETH II FINALLY RETURNED TO LONDON.

Queen Elizabeth: FIRST, I WANT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO DIANA MYSELF.

\hSHE WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL AND GIFTED HUMAN BEING.

\h\hMorton: WHEN SHE CAME DOWN AND SHE SPOKE TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE,

COMFORTED WELL-WISHERS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE THEN ACTED AS HER ARCHETYPAL POSITION DEMANDS,

\hTHAT IS TO SAY, SHE WAS THE MOTHER TO THE NATION.

Narrator: BY MINGLING WITH THE CROWD AND DISPLAYING EMPATHY,

\hTHE QUEEN HAD MADE THAT DAY A TURNING POINT IN HER FORTUNES.

THE WORST YEARS OF HER REIGN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE OVER.

\h\hTHERE WOULD BE NEW TESTS, BUT NONE AS TOUGH AS THIS ONE.

SHE COULD LOOK FORWARD

TO HER 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WITH OPTIMISM,

FOR THE MOST PART,

BECAUSE SHE COULD CELEBRATE THIS ONE AT HOME AT WINDSOR.

♪

ON NOVEMBER 20, 1997,

\hFIVE YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER THE FIRE THAT HAD DESTROYED IT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE RESTORATION OF WINDSOR CASTLE WAS COMPLETE.

IT HAD COST OVER $46 MILLION,

\h\hMONEY THE QUEEN HAD HELPED TO FIND.

\h\h\h\h\hFOR ELIZABETH, IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.

Woman: I KNOW THE QUEEN IS VERY PLEASED WITH IT.

SHE SAID THE OTHER NIGHT \h\h\h\hAT A PARTY HERE

THAT IT WAS THE BEST GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PRESENT

SHE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE.

Narrator: ELIZABETH HAD RESTORED

WINDSOR’S MAGNIFICENT \hEDWARDIAN INTERIORS

AND HAD ALSO GIVEN HER HOME

\h\hA VERY PERSONAL 20th-CENTURY TOUCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hArbiter: THERE IS AN ELIZABETH II STAMP

\hON THE RESTORATION OF WINDSOR CASTLE--

A NEW DESIGN FOR THE CEILING \h\h\hOF ST. GEORGE’S HALL,

\h\h\h\h\hA NEW CONFIGURATION FROM WHAT WAS THE PRIVATE CHAPEL

\h\h\h\hINTO WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE LANTERN LOBBY NOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE REOPENING OF WINDSOR CASTLE

ENDED WHAT HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT FIVE YEARS FOR THE QUEEN.

SHE HADN’T LOST HER DIGNITY,

AND HER ELDEST SON, CHARLES,

\h\h\hCOULD NOW CONCENTRATE ON BEING A KING IN WAITING.

♪

BUT THE QUEEN’S DIFFICULTIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWEREN’T OVER.

NOW HER TWO OTHER SONS WERE BEGINNING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS.

THEY NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT \h\hUNDER THE ROYAL WING,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND FORTUNATELY, WINDSOR HAS PRETTY BIG WINGS.

\hJohn Goddall: WINDSOR CASTLE SITS WITHIN A GREAT LANDSCAPE,

LIKE A KIND OF AIRCRAFT CARRIER,

\h\hYOU KNOW, OVERSEEING THIS VAST AREA OF LAND.

Narrator: THE WINDSOR CASTLE \h\h\h\hESTATE IS ENORMOUS.

IT OCCUPIES THOUSANDS OF ACRES, INCLUDING FORESTS, GOLF COURSES,

POLO GROUNDS, ASCOT RACECOURSE, AND TWO HUGE PARKS.

\h\hTHE 5,500-ACRE WINDSOR GREAT PARK

IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,

BUT TUCKED AWAY IN THE NORTHEAST

\h\h\h\h\h\hIS THE ROYAL’S OWN VERY PRIVATE 650-ACRE ESTATE.

IT’S CALLED HOME PARK.

IT’S A PRIVATE PLAYGROUND \h\h\h\h\hFOR THE FAMILY,

WHERE THEY CAN PLAY GOLF, \h\h\h\hRELAX IN GARDENS,

\hAND HANG OUT IN SOME OF THE GRANDEST HOMES IN THE COUNTRY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCampbell: YOU HAVE FROGMORE HOUSE,

YOU HAVE ROYAL LODGE,

SO THERE ARE DOTTED THROUGHOUT MANY OTHER ROYAL HOMES.

THEY’RE NOT PALACES. THEY’RE ROYAL HOMES.

Narrator: IN 1997,

\h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN MOVED HER YOUNGEST SON, PRINCE EDWARD,

JUST SIX MILES DOWN THE ROAD \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE CASTLE

INTO A VERY GRAND MANSION \h\h\hCALLED BAGSHOT PARK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNigel McCrery: BAGSHOT IS THIS VERY IMPRESSIVE,

IMPOSING SORT OF GOTHIC HOUSE

THAT USED TO BELONG TO ONE OF QUEEN VICTORIA’S SONS.

\h\h\hIT’S VERY IMPRESSIVE, A LITTLE BIT LIKE SOMETHING

\hFROM A HAMMER HOUSE, I HAVE TO SAY, FROM, FROM THE OUTSIDE.

\hNarrator: BUILT IN 1879, THE HUGE BAGSHOT PROPERTY

HAS 120 ROOMS AND 40 ACRES \h\h\hOF PRIVATE PARKLAND.

IT’S A COMFORTABLE RETREAT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR A PRINCE

WHO HAD NEVER REALLY FOUND \hHIS PLACE IN THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hChris Bryant: IT MUST BE REALLY DIFFICULT

\hBEING AN "ALSO-RAN" IN, IN A ROYAL FAMILY.

BECAUSE WHAT IS THE ROLE \h\h\hOF A MINOR ROYAL?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN ONE WAY, YOU JUST WANT HIM TO GO TO WORK.

\hWHY DON’T YOU JUST GET YOURSELF A JOB?

BUT IT’S NOT MAYBE \hQUITE THAT EASY.

Narrator: AND IT WASN’T.

THROUGHOUT THE NINETIES, EDWARD HAD TRIED HARD TO FIND A JOB.

McCrery: HE WAS VERY KEEN

\h\h\h\hTO SHOW THAT ROYALS COULD EARN THEIR OWN LIVING,

\h\hAND THERE WAS A LOT OF CRITICISM AT THE TIME

ABOUT THEM BEING PAID FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE,

NOT EARNING THEIR OWN LIVING,

AND HE WAS VERY KEEN \h\hTO CHANGE THAT.

Narrator: BUT HE DIDN’T \h\hREALLY SEEM TO KNOW

WHAT HE ACTUALLY WANTED TO DO.

FIRST, HE TRIED THE TRADITIONAL CAREER IN THE SERVICES.

\h\h\hHE JOINED THE MARINES BUT QUIT AFTER THREE MONTHS.

\h\hTHEN HE SET HIS SIGHTS ON A CAREER IN THE THEATER

AND FAILED.

EVENTUALLY HE STARTED \hHIS OWN TV COMPANY.

Kay: HE’S CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

"CALL ME EDWARD WINDSOR."

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS WHAT HIS, HIS GIMMICK WAS AT THAT TIME.

"I’M PLAIN MR. WINDSOR."

\h\h\h\hBUT THESE BIG TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS

HE WAS INTERESTED IN MAKING

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWANTED TO MAKE A HUGE BIG DEAL OF THE FACT

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY’D GOT THE QUEEN’S SON BEHIND THEM.

THEY DIDN’T WANT EDWARD WINDSOR. THEY WANTED HRH PRINCE EDWARD.

\h\h\h\h\hAND IN THE END, HE DECIDED HE HAD ENOUGH.

Narrator: EDWARD RETREATED \h\h\h\h\hTO BAGSHOT PARK.

WITH HIS NEWLY ACQUIRED TITLE OF EARL OF WESSEX,

HIS WIFE, COUNTESS SOPHIE, \hAND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN,

\h\h\hHE COULD LIVE THE COMFORTABLE LIFE

OF A COUNTRY SQUIRE \h\hAND MINOR ROYAL,

SHIELDED FROM THE PUBLIC GLARE.

♪

EDWARD WASN’T THE ONLY PRINCE

\h\h\h\h\h\hGIVEN REFUGE IN THE QUEEN’S BACKYARD.

\hMorton: WINDSOR IS VERY MUCH PRINCE ANDREW’S STOMPING GROUND.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: SINCE 1987, PRINCE ANDREW HAD BEEN LIVING

\h\h\h\hON THE GROUNDS OF THE WINDSOR ESTATE

\h\h\h\hAT SUNNINGHILL PARK, FIVE MILES FROM THE CASTLE.

THE 2-STORY, 12-BEDROOM MANSION

HAD BEEN A WEDDING PRESENT \h\h\h\h\hFROM THE QUEEN.

BUT AFTER HIS SPLIT FROM FERGIE AND DEPARTURE FROM THE NAVY,

HE SET OUT IN SEARCH OF A JOB.

Kay: HE JUST CAME UP \h\h\hWITH THIS IDEA

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HE SHOULD BE OUR TRAVELING TRADE AMBASSADOR,

BUT THAT DID NOT TURN OUT \h\h\h\hTO BE A GOOD FIT.

HE HAD AN UNFORTUNATE MANNER, LET’S PUT IT LIKE THAT,

WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE

WE WANTED TO DO BUSINESS WITH AROUND THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIngrid Seward: I THINK THAT PRINCE ANDREW

CAN SOMETIMES BE RATHER A BORE.

HE’S NOT FULL OF OBVIOUS CHARM.

Narrator: THIS WAS A PRINCE WHO EXPECTED TO BE TREATED LIKE ONE

WHEN REPRESENTING BRITAIN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hABROAD.

\h\h\h\hBryant: HE WANTED SUCH A LUXURIOUS VERSION OF A VISIT,

\h\h\hWAY IN EXCESS OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN

FOR THE PRIME MINISTER OR ANY OTHER MINISTER,

THAT YOU KIND OF THOUGHT, "IS THIS REALLY WORTH THE EFFORT?"

\h\h\hNarrator: THE CRITICISM EVENTUALLY FORCED HIM TO QUIT

\h\h\hAND BADLY STUNG HIS MOTHER, THE QUEEN.

Kay: ANDREW IS, IS THE QUEEN’S FAVORITE SON,

AND THEY’RE TERRIBLY CLOSE.

SHE PROBABLY SPEAKS \hAS MUCH TO ANDREW

AS TO ANY OF HER CHILDREN.

UM, AND HE’S AS CLOSE TO HER \h\h\h\h\hAS SHE IS TO HIM.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE QUEEN REALIZED THAT ANDREW

NEEDED SOMEWHERE VERY PRIVATE TO LIVE,

SOMEWHERE COMFORTABLE \h\h\h\h\hAND CLOSE BY

WHERE HE COULD BE KEPT OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE.

\h\h\h\hIN 2002, THE DEATH OF HER 101-YEAR-OLD MOTHER

\h\h\h\hPROVIDED THE QUEEN WITH THE PERFECT SOLUTION.

\h\h\hKay: ROYAL LODGE REMAINS A GREAT FAVORITE OF THE QUEEN

BECAUSE IT WAS WHERE SHE WENT EVERY SUNDAY TO SEE HER MOTHER

AND WHERE SHE CONTINUES TO GO

ALMOST EVERY SUNDAY \h\h\hWITHOUT FAIL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAFTER CHURCH, SHE’LL DROP IN TO SEE ANDREW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE HUGE 17th-CENTURY MANSION

\hIS THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF WINDSOR’S PRIVATE ROYAL HOMES.

IT’S ALSO THE CLOSEST.

\h\h\h\hIT’S ONLY THREE MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE CASTLE.

EVEN BETTER FOR THE DUKE,

IT’S VERY CLOSE TO THE CASTLE’S PRIVATE GOLF COURSE.

Burrell: ANDREW LOVES WINDSOR. OF COURSE, HE LOVES WINDSOR.

HE PLAYS GOLF.

HE LOVES THE GOLF COURSE, WHICH IS ON THE QUEEN’S DOORSTEP.

\hHE CAN PLAY GOLF ANYTIME HE WANTS.

Narrator: WITH HIS 75-YEAR LEASE ON ROYAL LODGE,

\hTHE QUEEN’S FAVORITE SON CAN QUIETLY ENJOY HIS GOLF

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT WINDSOR FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

Man: FORE! [APPLAUSE]

WITH HER TWO YOUNGER SONS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSETTLED,

THE QUEEN COULD LOOK \h\h\hTO THE FUTURE.

IT WAS TIME TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION,

AND FORTUNATELY,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOST IMPORTANT WAS ALREADY A WINDSOR RESIDENT.

\h\h\h\h\hAT THE START OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM,

THE QUEEN HAD A PROBLEM \h\hWITH HER ELDEST SON.

\h\hSTUBBORN, HEADSTRONG, AND SEEMINGLY UNREPENTANT

ABOUT HIS SPLIT WITH DIANA,

CHARLES HAD LOST THE AFFECTION OF HIS SUBJECTS.

BUT HIS SON WAS HUGELY POPULAR.

[SCREAMING]

\h\h\h\hAT THE TIME, WILLIAM, SECOND IN LINE TO THE THRONE,

WAS A WINDSOR LOCAL.

AS A PUPIL AT ETON COLLEGE,

\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS ON THE EDGE OF THE WINDSOR CASTLE ESTATE,

HE’D SPENT YEARS JUST A SHORT STROLL FROM HIS GRANNY’S HOUSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBurrell: THE QUEEN ALWAYS HAS TEA,

A SET TEA WITH A CUP OF TEA \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND A BISCUIT

IN HER OAK DRAWING ROOM.

AND ON SUNDAYS, SHE’D SAY TO ME,

\h\h\h\h\h"WOULD YOU SET AN EXTRA PLACE SETTING?

\h\h\hBECAUSE WILLIAM’S GOING TO WALK UP THE HILL FROM ETON."

\hSO, WILLIAM WOULD WALK UP THE HILL FROM SCHOOL

\hWITH HIS POLICEMAN AND HAVE A CUP OF TEA WITH HIS GRANNY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

\h\h\h\h\hSHE WAS BEGINNING TO INTRODUCE HIM TO WINDSOR

AS THE SEAT OF MONARCHY.

Kay: SHE DID USE THOSE OCCASIONS TO BEGIN HIS EDUCATION

IN THE ART OF KINGSHIP, \h\h\h\h\h\hIF YOU LIKE.

IN MANY WAYS,

THE QUEEN HAS ALMOST GIVEN UP ON PRINCE CHARLES.

CHARLES WAS SUCH AN INDEPENDENT HEIR TO THE THRONE,

DETERMINED TO DO THINGS \h\h\h\h\h\hHIS OWN WAY,

UM, WHEREAS WILLIAM HAS PROVED TO BE MORE MALLEABLE PERHAPS.

HE’S CERTAINLY BEEN MORE OPEN

TO HIS GRANDMOTHER’S APPROACH TO MONARCHY,

AND HE’S LIKELY TO BE MUCH MORE OFF THE CHIP OF HER BLOCK

\h\hTHAN A CHIP OFF HIS FATHER’S BLOCK.

\h\hNarrator: LIKE HIS DAD AND HIS UNCLES ANDREW AND EDWARD,

\h\h\h\hWILLIAM CHOSE WINDSOR TO CELEBRATE HIS 21st BIRTHDAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND JUST BACK FROM VOLUNTEERING IN AFRICA,

HE ADDED HIS OWN LITTLE TWIST.

[DRUMMING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJeff Edwards: IT WAS AN AFRICAN THEMED PARTY,

SO EVERYONE DRESSED UP \h\hAS, AS, YOU KNOW,

AS ELEPHANTS AND GIRAFFES

AND ZEBRAS AND LIONS \h\h\hAND GORILLAS.

I’VE NO DOUBT THERE WERE SEVERAL GORILLA SUITS IN THERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE 300-STRONG GUEST LIST

INCLUDED ALL OF THE MOST SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.

Edwards: PRINCE WILLIAM’S 21st BIRTHDAY PARTY AT WINDSOR CASTLE

WAS A VERY, VERY BIG DEAL, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hINDEED,

AND WAS BOUND TO ATTRACT A LOT OF MEDIA INTEREST

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND INTEREST FROM THE PUBLIC AT LARGE,

AND SPRINKLED AMONGST THEM \h\h\h\hALMOST INEVITABLY

ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRANKSTERS OR INTERFERERS

IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

Aaron Barschak: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Narrator: ONE SUCH PERSON \h\h\hWAS AARON BARSCHAK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEdwards: AARON BARSCHAK TURNS UP

WEARING SORT OF A WHITE TURBAN AND A LONG BLACK BEARD.

FROM THERE DOWN, HE WAS WEARING A, SORT OF A PINK DRESS,

\hSO HE WAS SORT OF LIKE OSAMA BIN LADEN IN DRAG.

HE THEN WALKS AROUND THE SIDE WALL OF THE, OF THE CASTLE,

AND HE’S ABLE TO GET UP AND DROP OVER THE WALL,

INSIDE THE CASTLE.

\h\h\h\hNarrator: REMARKABLY, THE CROSS-DRESSING TRESPASSER

WAS THEN ABLE TO FREELY ROAM \h\h\h\hTHE CASTLE GROUNDS.

Edwards: CCTV FROM INSIDE THE CASTLE CONFIRMS THIS.

HE WALKED ABOUT. \h\hHE EXPLORED.

\hHE WENT TO THE KITCHENS. HE WENT INTO THIS LIBRARY.

HE WENT INTO THIS SITTING ROOM AND SO FORTH,

AND HE’S SEEN, IF YOU LIKE, \hHAVING A GOOD LOOK AROUND.

Narrator: AROUND 11:00 P.M.

\hBARSCHAK BUMPED INTO A CONTRACTOR

WORKING AT THE CASTLE.

\h\hEdwards: AND BARSCHAK PERSUADES THIS CHAP THAT,

PRESUMABLY THAT HE’S A GUEST \hWHO SOMEHOW GOT LOCKED OUT

OR LOST FROM THE PARTY,

\hSO THE CONTRACTOR SWALLOWS THIS STORY

AND SORT OF ASSISTS BARSCHAK.

Narrator: MOMENTS LATER,

\hBARSCHAK WAS WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE OF THE BIRTHDAY BOY.

Edwards: HE ACTUALLY WALKED UP TO THE PRINCE,

\h\h\h\hPUT HIS ARM ROUND HIM, AND PLANTED A KISS ON HIS CHEEK.

NOW, THAT’S ALL GOOD \h\h\hKNOCKABOUT FUN

EXCEPT THAT WE’RE IN AN AGE, \h\h\h\hAND WE WERE IN 2003,

\h\h\hWHERE HE COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY WEARING A SUICIDE BELT.

Narrator: THE LAPSE IN SECURITY AT WINDSOR CASTLE

OUTRAGED THE FAMILY

\h\hAND GENERATED SYMPATHY FOR THE SHY YOUNG PRINCE.

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS,

\hTHE FAMILY BUILT ON THE POPULARITY

OF THE YOUNGER WINDSORS,

GRADUALLY ERASING THE MEMORIES OF THE DARK DAYS OF THE 1990s,

SO MUCH SO THAT IN 2005, \hEVEN THE RELATIONSHIP

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT HAD DESTROYED PUBLIC TRUST IN THE MONARCHY

COULD BE PUBLICLY CELEBRATED.

Burrell: IT’S EXTRAORDINARY \h\h\hTHAT WE SHOULD WITNESS

THE PRINCE OF WALES MARRIED \h\hTO CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES

AFTER ALL THAT’S HAPPENED.

Narrator: JUST EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF DIANA,

\h\h\h\h\hCHARLES MARRIED THE OTHER WOMAN IN WINDSOR

IN FULL PUBLIC VIEW.

[CHEERING]

Jobson: AS SOON AS SHE APPEARED AS HIS BRIDE IN WINDSOR

ON THOSE STEPS WHERE THE QUEEN WAS SEEN MOUTHING,

"WELL, THAT WENT RATHER WELL," I THINK PEOPLE ACCEPTED IT.

Narrator: THE QUEEN TURNED 80 THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT SEEMED THAT AFTER A CHALLENGING DECADE,

\h\h\h\hSHE COULD LOOK FORWARD TO A MORE COMFORTABLE OLD AGE,

\hSPENDING AS MUCH TIME AT WINDSOR AS SHE COULD.

Kay: WINDSOR IS THE PLACE

THE QUEEN CONSIDERS HOME \h\h\hABOVE ALL OTHERS,

\h\h\hAND, IN FACT, AS SHE’S GOT OLDER,

IT’S THE PLACE SHE’S RETREATED TO MORE AND MORE.

SHE CUTS SHORT HER WORKING WEEK AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

TO SPEND MORE TIME AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

♪

Narrator: WINDSOR CASTLE IS A GREAT ROYAL STAGE,

BUT FOR THE QUEEN,

IT’S THE PLACE WHERE SHE GREW UP AND RAISED HER OWN FAMILY.

WHEN IT WAS SAVED FROM DESTRUCTION,

\h\hSO, TOO, WERE 80 YEARS OF HER PERSONAL MEMORIES.

\h\h\hNOW THAT SHE’S IN HER TENTH DECADE,

SHE PLANS TO SPEND MORE TIME \h\h\hIN HER FAVORITE HOME--

WINDSOR CASTLE.