0:00:22 > 0:00:26We've all read about the kings and queens of history. Henry VIII.
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Victoria.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31But what is the role of the Royal Family in the modern world?
0:00:31 > 0:00:33My team of young reporters are investigating
0:00:33 > 0:00:36the monarchy in Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40bringing you everything you need to know about our best-known
0:00:40 > 0:00:42and most celebrated family.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49We're finding about the monarch's relationship with Parliament.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51In the UK we have the Queen as head of state.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54That is a role that involves both formal and ceremonial duties,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57home and abroad. But in other countries,
0:00:57 > 0:01:01the head of state is also the head of government. Can you think of a famous example?
0:01:01 > 0:01:03The President of the United States of America.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Exactly. But our head of government is...
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- The Prime Minister. - Exactly. So with a queen,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12and the Prime Minister, who's in charge of running the country?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Callum is off to the Houses of Parliament to go behind the
0:01:18 > 0:01:21scenes of one of the biggest royal and political events of the year,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24while Elim and Saffron are at Downing Street
0:01:24 > 0:01:27to hear from the Queen's 12th Prime Minister, David Cameron,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31about the head of government's relationship with the monarch.
0:01:31 > 0:01:32INDISTINCT
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Brilliant. Where do you want me?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Who is really in charge of the country?
0:01:37 > 0:01:39You, the Prime Minister, or the Queen?
0:01:39 > 0:01:42The Queen has become more formal and ceremonial
0:01:42 > 0:01:44so the Prime Minister, I suppose,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48with the Cabinet, really runs the country. It means
0:01:48 > 0:01:52the Prime Minister can concentrate on the business of government, what
0:01:52 > 0:01:56we tax, what we spend, what we do with our schools, our hospitals.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00The monarch can concentrate on the very important
0:02:00 > 0:02:03but quite ceremonial duties of appointing prime ministers,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07the opening of Parliament, commissioning officers
0:02:07 > 0:02:11into the Army, handing out medals, thanking people for their service.
0:02:11 > 0:02:12Ceremonial duties.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Very important, not to be underestimated at all
0:02:15 > 0:02:17but you separate that from the Prime Minister.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22One of the Queen's most important ceremonial
0:02:22 > 0:02:26and political roles is attending the State Opening of Parliament.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Parliament is divided between the publicly-elected MPs
0:02:31 > 0:02:34in the House of Commons and separate to them,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37specially-appointed peers in the House of Lords.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41The State Opening is a centuries-old tradition where each year,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44the Queen travels by horse-drawn carriage to the
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Houses of Parliament to open a new Parliamentary term.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51It's a rare occasion where the Lords,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54the Commons and the monarch come together.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57When the Queen arrives at Westminster,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00she takes her special throne in the House of Lords.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Callum is meeting the Queen's messenger in Parliament,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08famously known as Black Rod.
0:03:11 > 0:03:17This is the throne. The throne is exclusively for the Queen.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Nobody else goes on to the top step.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Nobody else sits on the throne except the Queen
0:03:21 > 0:03:24and of course the Duke of Edinburgh.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Just like the chamber of the House of Commons is only for MPs,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32the chamber of the House of Lords is only for the Lords
0:03:32 > 0:03:36and the top step here in the throne is only for the sovereign.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39If you look very carefully at the thrones,
0:03:39 > 0:03:42you'll see that the one on the left as we're looking at it,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44the one that the Queen sits in, is slightly higher,
0:03:44 > 0:03:49is two inches higher than the one on the right, which is the consort's throne,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52that is where the Duke of Edinburgh sits.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55- Is there any reason for that? - No, it's just tradition.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59The Queen should be sitting on a slightly higher chair. Don't you think that's right?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Of course. If there's a king, would the King sit on the higher one then?
0:04:03 > 0:04:04Yes, the King would sit on it.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The sovereign. Whoever is the sovereign.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10The monarch sits on the right-hand throne, the higher throne.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13CHOIR MUSIC PLAYS
0:04:13 > 0:04:17It's Black Rod's job to collect the MPs from the House of Commons
0:04:17 > 0:04:18and bring them to the Queen.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21How he is greeted by the House of Commons is one of the most
0:04:21 > 0:04:24famous moments of the State Opening ceremony.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27KNOCK ON DOOR
0:04:27 > 0:04:32What I'd like to know is why do you walk down, why not the Queen?
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Well, the Queen's got a messenger here and that's me.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38She wants to wait in her House of Lords chamber
0:04:38 > 0:04:43for the MPs from the House of Commons to come to her.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46She sends me as the messenger to demand their presence
0:04:46 > 0:04:52in the Queen - that's why she sends me down and doesn't go herself.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56We go down towards the doors here. And then you know what happens next?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I'm guessing that you probably knock on the door.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04It's worse than that. They slam the door in my face before I get there.
0:05:06 > 0:05:07In order to get in, I have to knock.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10- How many times do you have to knock on the door?- Three times.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14HE KNOCKS THREE TIMES
0:05:14 > 0:05:19Obviously there is a purpose behind what you're doing.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Where is it originated from?
0:05:21 > 0:05:25This all started when Charles I, in 1642, wanted to arrest
0:05:25 > 0:05:30five members of Parliament so he sent his messenger down here to
0:05:30 > 0:05:35the House of Commons to arrest the five members of Parliament on a charge of treason.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39The Commons wanted to maintain their independence of the Crown
0:05:39 > 0:05:42so they didn't let the King's messenger in,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46shut the door in his face and the MPs made their escape.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52That was the way of the members of Parliament saying we're independent of the Crown.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57SPEAKER: Black Rod!
0:05:57 > 0:06:00So having knocked and the doors open, I then walk in.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03I walk towards the chamber and I have to say...
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Mr Speaker, the Queen commands this honourable house...
0:06:10 > 0:06:13..to attend her Majesty immediately in the House of Peers.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16Mr Speaker gets up from his chair
0:06:16 > 0:06:22and he walks down and he comes up to me and we walk together
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and we walk all the way back,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27right up to the House of Lords and all the other MPs follow.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Why doesn't the Queen actually enter the House of Commons at all?
0:06:33 > 0:06:35What is the reason behind that?
0:06:35 > 0:06:39This is the MPs, the members of Parliament. This is their place.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42The Queen has her place.
0:06:42 > 0:06:46That separation is identifiable by the fact that she doesn't come here
0:06:46 > 0:06:50and the MPs have their independence and their autonomy
0:06:50 > 0:06:55and their freedom to talk without the Queen being present.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00We live in a modern society nowadays.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04For something to still happen today as what something happened
0:07:04 > 0:07:07hundreds of years ago, do you believe it should still happen?
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Although we live in a modern world, we do these odd performances,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15which makes people think, "Why do we do that?" Why do we do that?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18It draws attention to our constitution
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and this is the one time in a year
0:07:20 > 0:07:23when we bring together the Queen, who sits on the throne,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27the House of Lords, her advisers, who sits around her and the MPs from
0:07:27 > 0:07:33the House of Commons come to the House of Lords to hear the Queen's speech.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36You get those three parts of our constitution altogether.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40So it's theatre, drama, its constitution, its politics,
0:07:40 > 0:07:44it's history and I think people enjoy it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:54The main event of the State Opening is the monarch's speech.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58The speech outlines many of the new laws the Government plans
0:07:58 > 0:08:01to introduce in the coming year.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05My government will continue to reduce crime and protect national security.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Although the Queen reads out the speech,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11it's actually written by the Prime Minister.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18The Queen holds a weekly audience with the Prime Minister,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22a meeting where she is briefed on the political issues of the day.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Why do you meet the Queen every week?
0:08:24 > 0:08:29The purpose of the meeting is for the Prime Minister to go
0:08:29 > 0:08:33and see the Queen, to discuss the current issues in the country,
0:08:33 > 0:08:38in Europe and in the world that the Queen needs to hear about
0:08:38 > 0:08:42and the Queen asks lots of questions about what's happening.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47The process of trying to explain what's happening in
0:08:47 > 0:08:52some of these situations helps to clarify the nub of the issue.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57As I say, she is very experienced so she gives good advice and asks good questions.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01When the Prime Minister
0:09:01 > 0:09:03and his government want a new law to be passed,
0:09:03 > 0:09:07it has to be approved by the House of Commons, the House of Lords
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and the Queen before it can become official.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13Laws are made here in Parliament.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Before a law is passed, it is known as a...draft bill.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21Bills can start either in the House of Commons or
0:09:21 > 0:09:24the House of Lords. The first house debates the bill,
0:09:24 > 0:09:30makes changes and eventually votes on whether they want it to become a law.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Then it's passed to the second house.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39The other house may make changes to the bill and pass it back to the first house.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Both houses must agree on the changes so it can pass back
0:09:43 > 0:09:45and forth for up to a year.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The Queen as head of state must agree to the bill.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56This is the final stage. The bill then becomes...an Act of Parliament.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00Throughout her reign, the Queen has never refused to pass a law.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02In fact, it's over 300 years
0:10:02 > 0:10:07since any monarch went against the wishes of Parliament.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Callum is meeting political journalist Anita Anand to find out
0:10:12 > 0:10:14just how much power the Queen really has.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19So just how in charge of the country is the Queen?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22If you're asking whether she has powers to change your life
0:10:22 > 0:10:24or my life, the answer really is no,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27She doesn't. She can't do anything that could curtail your freedom or
0:10:27 > 0:10:31make your life better or make you pay less money in taxes.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34That is the job of government. That is the job of the people we elect.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37So if you think about it, the country runs a bit like...
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Imagine it's like a pyramid.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Right at the top you've got the Queen, she sits there.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Underneath her you've got the House of Commons and House of Lords
0:10:46 > 0:10:49and underneath that, us, we the people. Actually, it's strange.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Although she is at the top, we have all the power.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54We're the ones who decide who the MPs are.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57They're the ones who enact the laws that we have to live by
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and the Queen really rubberstamps it all.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01That's kind of her job.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- Can she refuse to just not stamp it at all?- Well, in theory she can.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09There are lots of mechanisms in place in government to stop it
0:11:09 > 0:11:10getting to that point.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14We have an opposition in this country that will then say, "No, we don't want that to happen."
0:11:14 > 0:11:18It will be fought out at that level, that middle level
0:11:18 > 0:11:21so it doesn't really ever get to that point where she has to.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Although the real power of governing the country is
0:11:26 > 0:11:29held by the Prime Minister and Parliament, politicians come
0:11:29 > 0:11:32and go far more frequently the monarchs, who can provide
0:11:32 > 0:11:35a constant role as head of state across several decades.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Today we're finding out about the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Princess Elizabeth was just 25 years old when her father,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56King George VI, died, making her Queen Elizabeth II.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59A year and half later in 1953 she had her coronation,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02but can anyone tell me what was unique about that coronation?
0:12:02 > 0:12:06It was on television and it was the first time something like this had ever happened.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09That's right. Even though television was still very new,
0:12:09 > 0:12:1323 million people watched the coronation being broadcast live into their homes.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17In fact some people went out and bought televisions especially to watch it.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20But this coronation was much more than public entertainment.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24It was an incredibly significant event. We're going to find out why.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Saffron, Callum
0:12:31 > 0:12:33and Elim are visiting Westminster Abbey in London.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35CHOIR SINGS
0:12:38 > 0:12:43William the Conqueror was crowned here almost 1,000 years ago, in 1066.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Since then the Abbey has been the location for all
0:12:45 > 0:12:48the coronations of Britain's kings and queens.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53The last sovereign to be crowned here was our monarch,
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Saffron, Callum and Elim have been invited to a special service
0:12:58 > 0:13:02at the Abbey marking 60 years of the Queen's Coronation,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05attended by the Queen and the rest of the Royal family.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Many of the people also present at this commemoration
0:13:13 > 0:13:15were at the 1953 coronation,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17including the Queen's maids of honour,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21six young women specially chosen to accompany the Queen on her historic day.
0:13:25 > 0:13:31Saffron is meeting two of them today, Lady Glenconner and Lady Rayne.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33I remember waiting just here.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37We could hear the Queen coming. We could hear this roar.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39CHEERING
0:13:41 > 0:13:46Then suddenly, round the corner there, came this golden coach.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48It was like a fairytale.
0:13:51 > 0:13:56It must have been a really special day for you both. What were your roles?
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Well, our roles were to carry the Queen's train.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03The train was a piece of velvet, almost seven metres long,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06forming part of the Queen's coronation gown.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10It had six handles sewn into it
0:14:10 > 0:14:12so it could be carried by the six maids.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16We were absolutely amazed. This beautiful dress.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20She had a tiny waist like that and wonderful skin and eyes.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24We just thought she looked like the fairy queen she was.
0:14:24 > 0:14:32Absolutely amazing. We helped her out and slowly went up those steps
0:14:32 > 0:14:35CHOIR SINGS
0:14:45 > 0:14:47There were six of us. Six maids of honour.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51And Jane was in front, one of the ones in front,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53and I was in the middle and we all waited there,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58we got the train all ready and the Queen hadn't said anything to us
0:14:58 > 0:15:03up to that point but she then turned round and she said, "Ready, girls?"
0:15:03 > 0:15:06The television coverage of the Coronation was
0:15:06 > 0:15:11narrated by legendary broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13RICHARD DIMBLEBY: And now, almost motionless,
0:15:13 > 0:15:15we watched it coming together
0:15:15 > 0:15:20almost like a mosaic, fragment by fragment of colour
0:15:20 > 0:15:24from the time very early this morning when the Abbey was almost empty.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30His son David Dimbleby, now also a well-known television
0:15:30 > 0:15:34presenter, accompanied his father to the Abbey on that momentous day.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36He was just 14 years old at the time.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39At the Coronation in 1953,
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- when you were our age, what are your memories of it?- Well, my memory...
0:15:43 > 0:15:47Actually, I'll tell you, everybody who was at the Coronation, in
0:15:47 > 0:15:51the crowd or the Abbey or whatever, really has powerful memories of it.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56I remember this huge procession, thousands and thousands.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58You have never seen...
0:15:58 > 0:16:01You know, you could make a war with the people who were there.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Troops from all over the Commonwealth, everywhere,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08great phalanxes of people, all with their rifles, hundreds of horses.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Although the Coronation provided a royal spectacle for both
0:16:13 > 0:16:17the people on the streets and those watching at home,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20it was a solemn, religious service, following a traditional pattern
0:16:20 > 0:16:23laid out in the 14th century,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25where the monarch takes the Coronation Oath
0:16:25 > 0:16:28and is blessed with holy oil by Archbishop.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30This is known as anointing.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34The idea is that she's sort of set apart from the rest of us
0:16:34 > 0:16:40and is anointed with oil to dedicate herself to God first
0:16:40 > 0:16:41and to the people.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44I heard that they couldn't...
0:16:44 > 0:16:49They wouldn't be able to film the Queen actually being anointed. Why?
0:16:49 > 0:16:52The church says this is the most sacred part of the ceremony
0:16:52 > 0:16:55and somehow the most private - it's the Queen being anointed, committing
0:16:55 > 0:16:58herself to God, that it shouldn't be seen, so traditionally it's
0:16:58 > 0:17:02always had this canopy that is held over her so even the congregation
0:17:02 > 0:17:06can't see it so it's meant to be a private part of the ceremony.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10So that's why that was. And I guess it will stay like that.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13For this private part of the ceremony,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15the Queen's jewellery and cape were removed
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and her royal gown covered with a simple white dress.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22- Did you see the Queen actually being crowned?- Yes.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24We had a wonderful view.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27And the other thing that we saw that very other few people
0:17:27 > 0:17:31saw because it wasn't televised was the anointing
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and they had any sort of canopy, didn't they, over the Queen?
0:17:35 > 0:17:39As we were standing there, we had a wonderful view.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43Marvellous. She was standing there in this long, white shift - cotton,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47it looked like - and nothing on her head, no jewellery
0:17:47 > 0:17:52and she looked like a little girl. It was very moving.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55That was the moment that she gave herself to the nation
0:17:55 > 0:17:59and to the Commonwealth and promised that she would, you know,
0:17:59 > 0:18:02do her very, very best for the rest of her life.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10The idea of a monarch was that he or she was God's appointed ruler.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14That is at the very heart of the idea of monarchy.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17Otherwise it would be more like a sort of president.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19If you imagine you took God out of it all together
0:18:19 > 0:18:22and you just had an inherited presidency, it would be a very
0:18:22 > 0:18:27different kind of service so that idea...that idea of devotion
0:18:27 > 0:18:31and duty and religious devotion is very powerful.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36The most significant parts of the Coronation happened
0:18:36 > 0:18:40while the Queen was seated in the Coronation chair.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46This same throne has been used in Coronations for over 700 years.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria
0:18:50 > 0:18:51have all sat in it.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53It's only used for coronations
0:18:53 > 0:18:56and the next person to officially take a seat in it will become
0:18:56 > 0:18:59King or Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04To make sure it will withstand future coronations,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07the chair has its own team of curators.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10Aleem is meeting Marie Louise Sauerberg,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12who is in charge of its restoration.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17I thought it would be all gold. Why haven't they made it more grand?
0:19:17 > 0:19:18That's a very good question.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22I think it is because it is such a special chair.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28There is something very mystic about it. It's where power meets religion.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It's a very powerful chair,
0:19:30 > 0:19:36so nobody has actually done very much to it in terms of re-gilding it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39You could have thought that... thought it looked a bit tatty,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43let's get some new gold on. Not actually they never did that.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45They thought that it was perfect as it should be and that
0:19:45 > 0:19:51every part of it is powerful in its own right and that is why...
0:19:51 > 0:19:55Do you see on the front? There's little nicks in it, all the way down.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58That's people with their penknives, taking little pieces of it and they
0:19:58 > 0:20:01might have eaten it, they might have kept it in their pocket but they did
0:20:01 > 0:20:06it because it was magic, because it was special, because it was powerful.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09It's a very, very special chair.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12So, would you have liked to have been Queen that day?
0:20:12 > 0:20:17- I don't think so.- I certainly wouldn't have.- No.- Very difficult.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Very, very frightening. But the Queen didn't look frightened at all.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- And I'm sure she wasn't.- No.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27It's a tremendous responsibility she had taken on her shoulders.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I mean, her life would never, never be the same again.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34- We were full of admiration for her though, weren't we?- Absolutely.
0:20:34 > 0:20:39You know, she was so calm and so perfect, really.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42- Never put a foot wrong the whole day.- No, or ever, really.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Or since.- And since.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48I think people were so excited that suddenly
0:20:48 > 0:20:52we had all this to celebrate, this lovely, beautiful, young queen
0:20:52 > 0:20:55and it was the sort of start of a new Elizabethan age.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03- I must say, it was the proudest day of my life.- Yes, it was. Absolutely.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Today we are going to find out a little bit more about the Queen.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- So can any of you name any of the Queen's homes?- Buckingham Palace.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Sandringham.- Windsor Castle. - To name but a few, yes.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24But if you go up to Scotland you'll find the Palace of Holyrood House
0:21:24 > 0:21:25and also Balmoral Castle.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28But these days, the Queen likes to hang out in and around London.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29This is Windsor Castle.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31This is where she spends most of her weekends.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34And Buckingham Palace has been the official London home
0:21:34 > 0:21:37since 1837 when Queen Victoria became monarch.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39But what happens behind these stately walls
0:21:39 > 0:21:42and what are the Queen's duties when she is there?
0:21:42 > 0:21:44We are about to find out.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50The role of the Queen is a full-time job
0:21:50 > 0:21:54and, for over 60 years, Queen Elizabeth II has
0:21:54 > 0:21:58worked from her London home and office - Buckingham Palace.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02The Palace has 800 staff to support the royal family.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Assisting the Queen with her duties
0:22:04 > 0:22:06is the work of her private secretaries.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10Saffron is meeting one of them, Samantha Cohen, to find out more
0:22:10 > 0:22:13about what the Queen actually does on a day-to-day basis.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18Usually at 11 o'clock in the morning, a private secretary brings
0:22:18 > 0:22:21the Queen a red box full of papers.
0:22:21 > 0:22:22It is really like the Queen's homework.
0:22:22 > 0:22:29and the Queen has these red boxes 364 days a year so the only day,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32really, when the Queen doesn't have any homework is Christmas day.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Every one of us moans about getting homework. Does the Queen moan?
0:22:36 > 0:22:39The Queen really enjoys doing her homework because it is
0:22:39 > 0:22:42so interesting, because every day there is something different
0:22:42 > 0:22:45and every day there is information from different countries,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49information about different people, and things are changing
0:22:49 > 0:22:52all the time, and I think that's what makes her homework so interesting.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Communication is an essential part of the job
0:22:55 > 0:22:58and not just with politicians and world leaders.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01In one of Buckingham Palace's 775 rooms, Saffron is meeting
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Celia Guy, who helps with the Queen's correspondence.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08So, why is writing letters and communicating
0:23:08 > 0:23:09so important to the Queen's role?
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Anybody can write a letter to the Queen
0:23:11 > 0:23:15and it's a way that people can directly be in touch
0:23:15 > 0:23:18with their head of state so they are able to tell the Queen things
0:23:18 > 0:23:21that are of concern to them or they might want to share
0:23:21 > 0:23:25a story or tell them something about themselves.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28How many letters does the Queen receive every day?
0:23:28 > 0:23:30It can be, on a daily basis,
0:23:30 > 0:23:332 or 300 letters or indeed it could be into thousands.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36In a normal, typical year,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39the Queen probably receives about 60,000 pieces of post.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44However, in special years, like for the Diamond Jubilee, that
0:23:44 > 0:23:49number significantly increases and it went up to over 120,000 in that year.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53One function of the monarch in the UK is to serve as
0:23:53 > 0:23:54a figurehead for the nation.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56It has been a part of the job description
0:23:56 > 0:23:58since Queen Victoria's day.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01But each monarch interprets the role in their own way.
0:24:02 > 0:24:08The Queen's role evolves a little bit with modern times so the Queen,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10because she has been Queen for 60 years,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13is always slightly adapting the way she performs her duties
0:24:13 > 0:24:17and one of the big changes has been technology.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23Our Queen has a channel on YouTube and she uses Twitter.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Well, the Palace uses Twitter to communicate the Queen's activities.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30Technology has changed the Queen does her work
0:24:30 > 0:24:32but actually many things about the Queen's role
0:24:32 > 0:24:36and her duties haven't changed very much from Queen Victoria.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39If you look at something like a garden party, for example,
0:24:39 > 0:24:43it was a very similar scene and the Queen would go
0:24:43 > 0:24:44and meet with 8,000 people
0:24:44 > 0:24:47right here in the gardens of Buckingham Palace,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50so things like that haven't changed very much at all.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Aleem is joining Saffron to attend a special garden party being held in
0:24:56 > 0:25:00the grounds of the Palace to honour the service of the Grenadier Guards.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01Usually hosted by the Queen,
0:25:01 > 0:25:05garden parties are traditional summer events.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Saffron is meeting the person responsible for ensuring the party
0:25:08 > 0:25:10goes without a hitch,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Sir David Walker, Master Of The Household.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Buckingham Palace's garden parties are very famous.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Now, what is, actually, their purpose?
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Well, it depends on the nature of the garden party.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23I mean, the Queen holds four garden parties a year.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26She has three at Buckingham Palace and one up in Scotland
0:25:26 > 0:25:27at the Palace of Holyrood House
0:25:27 > 0:25:31and essentially those garden parties are to recognise
0:25:31 > 0:25:34people who have made a considerable contribution to public life.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36Who decides who comes in?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40The Queen is the patron of over 620 charities
0:25:40 > 0:25:42so each of those charities - things like the Red Cross -
0:25:42 > 0:25:44she will go to and say,
0:25:44 > 0:25:46"Please, tell us who should come from the Red Cross."
0:25:46 > 0:25:50Well, all of those people have made a significant contribution to
0:25:50 > 0:25:53national life and to local life so I think all of them feel honoured
0:25:53 > 0:25:56and very special to be here and for many it will be the only time
0:25:56 > 0:25:58they come to Buckingham Palace
0:25:58 > 0:26:00so they really want to make a very nice day of it.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Honouring significant achievements
0:26:03 > 0:26:05is an important part of the monarch's job
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and it's something our Queen devotes much of her time to.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12It's important that the Queen gives people prizes for good work
0:26:12 > 0:26:16because the Queen needs to celebrate people in this country who
0:26:16 > 0:26:20have done a very good job in whatever profession they happen to be in.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24It's important to inspire young people like you who want to
0:26:24 > 0:26:27go on and do great things with their lives so the Queen invites them
0:26:27 > 0:26:30to Buckingham Palace to give them special awards.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34And tonight, the Queen is holding a very special reception.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37As the guests arrive, our royal reporters talk to Caroline Evans
0:26:37 > 0:26:41from the Royal Academy of Engineers to find out what it's all about.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43What special event is happening tonight?
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Tonight, the winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize For Engineering
0:26:46 > 0:26:48are going to receive their award
0:26:48 > 0:26:51from Her Majesty the Queen here at Buckingham Palace.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55This award celebrates an engineer or group of engineers for an outstanding
0:26:55 > 0:26:58contribution to engineering that's been of benefit to humanity,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01so we are celebrating people whose work has changed the world.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03For the people who are coming today,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05do you think it's important that the Queen cares?
0:27:05 > 0:27:10Absolutely, because it is a mark of the utmost authority on the prize.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It's a lovely way of endorsing the quality of the prize, if you like.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Inside the palace, the Queen is making her entrance.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Aleem and Saffron get their first real chance to see her close up
0:27:19 > 0:27:21as she welcomes her guests.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25Tonight, the Queen specifically asked for young engineers
0:27:25 > 0:27:28to be invited as they represent the future.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33When the Queen invites people to come to Buckingham Palace to
0:27:33 > 0:27:34celebrate their achievement,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37she usually meets every one of them individually,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39and that's important for the Queen
0:27:39 > 0:27:42because she likes to talk to people and she likes to hear about
0:27:42 > 0:27:45their stories and how they came to achieve these very important things.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49- ANNOUNCER:- Mr Louis Pouzin, also for the internet.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53The first ever Queen Elizabeth Prize For Engineering is being
0:27:53 > 0:27:55awarded to the four people recognised
0:27:55 > 0:27:59for their ground-breaking work that led to the creation of the internet.
0:27:59 > 0:28:04I have every hope that this prize will be an aspiration
0:28:04 > 0:28:07to the international engineering community
0:28:07 > 0:28:11and an inspiration to young people everywhere.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Is that one of the Queen's official roles or
0:28:14 > 0:28:16is that something she chooses to do?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18The Queen doesn't have to do that
0:28:18 > 0:28:21but she thinks it's very important to recognise people who've done
0:28:21 > 0:28:25a good job or achieved something remarkable so the Queen has
0:28:25 > 0:28:27just introduced this prize
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and now it will continue on in the Queen's name
0:28:30 > 0:28:32for future generations to enjoy.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Oh, it was really exciting when we were up there
0:28:37 > 0:28:40because we were literally standing six steps away from the Queen.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44People dream just to see her, give her a wave
0:28:44 > 0:28:46and she actually went past us.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47It was just amazing.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49So, after their visit to Buckingham Palace,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52have our reporters come to appreciate the duties
0:28:52 > 0:28:54that the Queen performs?
0:28:54 > 0:28:58So, I've got a better understanding of the Queen because you would think
0:28:58 > 0:29:01she just sits on the throne and chillaxes and that but it's quite...
0:29:01 > 0:29:03She does a lot of things. It's not her personal assistant.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05She does most of the awards
0:29:05 > 0:29:08and little things she's doing which really sure that she
0:29:08 > 0:29:10cares about the UK and that's what I'm really proud of.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Today we're looking at a special aspect of the monarch's role
0:29:22 > 0:29:24as head of the Commonwealth.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26You've probably heard of the Commonwealth Games, one of
0:29:26 > 0:29:29the biggest sporting events in the world, happens every four years.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- Have you ever seen it?- Yeah, I love to watch the boxing.- There you go.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36The Commonwealth holds together two billion people across 54 nations.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39It's one of the world's oldest associations of countries.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Can you name any Commonwealth countries?
0:29:42 > 0:29:43Cyprus, Papua New Guinea.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Canada, Australia and Pakistan where my granddad was born.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49You clearly know your stuff.
0:29:49 > 0:29:50The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53It's a role she inherited from her father. In 1953,
0:29:53 > 0:29:56when she was crowned, she swore an oath to the Commonwealth countries
0:29:56 > 0:29:59and it's something she took very seriously.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03In that same year, she embarked on her first tour of the Commonwealth,
0:30:03 > 0:30:06travelling 43,000 miles, visiting 12 different countries,
0:30:06 > 0:30:10most of which took place on a very special Royal craft.
0:30:11 > 0:30:16Aleem is taking a trip to Leith in Edinburgh, home to the historic
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Royal yacht Britannia. For 44 years, the Queen used this yacht to make
0:30:20 > 0:30:24official overseas visits to every corner of the globe,
0:30:24 > 0:30:26including the Commonwealth.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32The Royal yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 and began
0:30:32 > 0:30:37a new life in Scotland as a tourist attraction. It's almost exactly as
0:30:37 > 0:30:38the Queen left it.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40It's weird because I thought it would be a lot bigger,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45it's old-fashioned, but posh as well. But a lot different than I thought it would be.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51When the Queen visited Commonwealth countries, she would invite their
0:30:51 > 0:30:54heads of state and politicians on board, often holding
0:30:54 > 0:30:57official dinners in the yacht's state dining room.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Brian Hoey is a royal biographer.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Before the Britannia ended her working life,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09he spent a year sailing on board the yacht
0:31:09 > 0:31:11to write a book about her history.
0:31:16 > 0:31:21When the Queen was here and she had the heads of all the Commonwealth governments as guests here,
0:31:21 > 0:31:23they'd have a big U-shaped table.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25Do they have some sort of seating plan?
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Of course they have a seating plan. And the Queen herself
0:31:28 > 0:31:32supervises the seating plan. She has a wonderful system of doing it.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36What the Queen does, she says the order of seniority, the person who
0:31:36 > 0:31:41has been in office the longest, is the senior one. They get the best seats.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Why did she have a yacht? She could have had a private jet,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47why did she travel by sea?
0:31:47 > 0:31:50It's a floating palace. It was a place for her to have her
0:31:50 > 0:31:54headquarters and she could invite people on board when they were there.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02When the Queen was in residence, the Britannia had a crew of 220
0:32:02 > 0:32:07yachtsmen. They lived below decks in far less luxurious accommodation
0:32:07 > 0:32:09than the Royal family.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14Chief Petty Officer Alistair Crozer worked on the yacht for four years
0:32:14 > 0:32:18and travelled with the Queen on some of her Commonwealth visits.
0:32:18 > 0:32:24- So, how is life different here to the Royals upstairs?- The main difference
0:32:24 > 0:32:30between the Royal household, etc, is space. In this area, we would have
0:32:30 > 0:32:35in the region of 20 guys. We've got nine bunks here which you can see
0:32:35 > 0:32:38goes into a little triangle here.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42And once again they've got all their equipment. They have all their
0:32:42 > 0:32:46uniforms, etc. And the locker, this locker here,
0:32:46 > 0:32:50is one man's locker to carry all his gear.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53So when you came across one of the people out of the royal families,
0:32:53 > 0:32:55did you have to act in some way?
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Protocol was that you stood still and bowed your head
0:32:58 > 0:33:01and you didn't speak unless you're spoken to.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05And that would be a very rare incident.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Did you ever get to meet the Queen?
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Yes, I have. I mean, this is a highlight of my tour because
0:33:11 > 0:33:16the Queen comes on the deck at the end of every tour, I was very
0:33:16 > 0:33:22fortunate to have the honour of being asked a question by the Queen.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26And it was absolutely...
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- mind-boggling. - It's a nice picture, that.
0:33:30 > 0:33:35When the Queen came to the throne in 1953, the Commonwealth had only
0:33:35 > 0:33:40officially been in existence for four years. Formed largely of
0:33:40 > 0:33:44countries that were part of the British Empire. At its peak,
0:33:44 > 0:33:49Britain had the largest empire in history. Over 450 million people,
0:33:49 > 0:33:51covering a quarter of the globe.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56Gradually, Britain began giving independence back to the countries
0:33:56 > 0:34:01in its empire. But many of them still wanted to maintain strong links with the UK.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04So, the Commonwealth was created
0:34:04 > 0:34:08and former Empire countries could choose whether or not
0:34:08 > 0:34:10they wanted to be members.
0:34:10 > 0:34:1415 of these countries, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand,
0:34:14 > 0:34:19still have the Queen as their head of state, just like we do in the UK.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24The heads of government for all the Commonwealth nations come together
0:34:24 > 0:34:28every two years. Aleem and Saffron are meeting one of them,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31the Queen's 12th Prime Minister, David Cameron.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34How important is the role of the Queen to the Commonwealth?
0:34:34 > 0:34:38Oh, I think she's hugely important to the Commonwealth,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41and she cares deeply about the organisation.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45It's an organisation that grew out of the end of the British Empire.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49And now, the Commonwealth, as a modern organisation,
0:34:49 > 0:34:53it covers billions of people around the world,
0:34:53 > 0:34:57it's a club of countries that have ties to each other,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01that have great respect for the Queen and the Royal family,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05and that sign up to certain things like human rights,
0:35:05 > 0:35:10belief in democracy and those things, have some common values.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13I think in this modern, interconnected world,
0:35:13 > 0:35:18it's good to be members of different organisations, and the Commonwealth
0:35:18 > 0:35:21is a way for us to stay in touch with countries that we are all
0:35:21 > 0:35:25friends with, like Canada or New Zealand, but also a network of
0:35:25 > 0:35:29countries across Africa that still feel they have a relationship
0:35:29 > 0:35:30together and with us.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33So that way, I think the Commonwealth still has meaning
0:35:33 > 0:35:35and I think we should make the most of it.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40When they send the Queen over to Commonwealth countries, how is it
0:35:40 > 0:35:44- different to sending the Prime Minister?- What we have to remember is
0:35:44 > 0:35:45the Queen is not a politician.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50All the politicians have a policy of their government or their particular party. The Queen isn't.
0:35:50 > 0:35:56And every member of the Commonwealth has the right of immediate access to the Queen, direct access,
0:35:56 > 0:35:58they don't have to go through anybody else,
0:35:58 > 0:36:02they don't have to go through the British Prime Minister or anybody else.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05They can go straight to the Queen and she cherishes that.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12They know that they can ask her anything, they can tell her anything
0:36:12 > 0:36:16at all and they know that she will not betray their confidences,
0:36:16 > 0:36:20whereas you wouldn't get that with a politician.
0:36:20 > 0:36:25One thing I love about the Commonwealth is that it brings all these countries together as friends,
0:36:25 > 0:36:29and what better way to celebrate that and to have a sporting event,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32like the Commonwealth Games. You've all seen the Olympics.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36You saw what happened with the Olympic torch, it travelled around the UK with athletes involved.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39This is just like that except this is the Commonwealth Games baton
0:36:39 > 0:36:42from 2002 when the games were here in Manchester.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46This goes around the world, a much bigger journey. For a specific
0:36:46 > 0:36:49reason, because it actually carries something quite cool.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54Just take the top off and have a look inside there. And pull out what you can find.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01So that is a message. See if you can see who it is from.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08- Elizabeth R.- Who is?- The Queen. - Queen Elizabeth II.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13Traditionally, the message within the baton begins life at Buckingham Palace
0:37:13 > 0:37:17before finally arriving at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games,
0:37:17 > 0:37:21having completed a journey through many of the Commonwealth countries.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25The baton is then handed back to the Queen for her to read her personal message aloud.
0:37:27 > 0:37:34You come from the world over - Africa, the Americas, Asia,
0:37:34 > 0:37:40Australasia, Europe, all are represented tonight.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46We can all draw inspiration from what the Commonwealth stands for -
0:37:46 > 0:37:50our diversity as a source of strength,
0:37:50 > 0:37:55our tradition of tolerance, requiring respect for others
0:37:55 > 0:37:58and a readiness to learn from them.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03Our focus on young people, for they are the future.
0:38:03 > 0:38:09It is my pleasure, in this my Golden Jubilee year,
0:38:09 > 0:38:14to declare the 17th Commonwealth Games open.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Today, we are finding out about the monarchy and the military. We are
0:38:24 > 0:38:27used to seeing Prince William and Prince Harry in the uniforms, but
0:38:27 > 0:38:31those uniforms aren't just for show, they are also part of their work.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- What jobs do the Princes have? - They are both pilots.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Prince William is in the RAF, and Prince Harry is in the Army and he
0:38:37 > 0:38:41- served in Afghanistan.- They are both helicopter pilots. Prince William
0:38:41 > 0:38:44flies with Search and Rescue in Anglesey in Wales. Prince Harry
0:38:44 > 0:38:46flies an Apache helicopter,
0:38:46 > 0:38:49but they could have picked any job in any industry.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52We are now going to find out what makes the Armed Forces so special to the Royal family.
0:38:52 > 0:38:57Saffron and Aleem are spending a day at the Royal Military Training Academy, Sandhurst.
0:38:59 > 0:39:04To be an officer in the British Army, you have to graduate from here.
0:39:04 > 0:39:09This is where both Prince Harry and Prince William began their military careers.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13It's an intensive 44 weeks of training,
0:39:13 > 0:39:18and Sandhurst is famous for being mentally and physically demanding,
0:39:18 > 0:39:23including regular turns on the Academy's assault course.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26I can't imagine Prince Harry and Prince William doing this.
0:39:26 > 0:39:31It doesn't look like they go through that smelly water and just get up and out.
0:39:33 > 0:39:38- Oh, no.- And this is just one part of the tough army training regime
0:39:38 > 0:39:43Prince Harry and Prince William experienced before graduating from
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Sandhurst in 2006.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48This is Capt Rupert Pye-Watson
0:39:48 > 0:39:52and he attended Sandhurst at the same time as the Princes.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59We're going to have massive difficulties if you can't get over a
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- six-foot wall.- Everyone gets shouted at. Say Prince William or Prince Harry,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06- could they answer back because they are royalty?- They could probably
0:40:06 > 0:40:09have tried, but I doubt it would have got them very far
0:40:09 > 0:40:12because at the end of the day, everyone's in it together.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13SHOUTING
0:40:13 > 0:40:17It's part of that whole character building, being shouted at
0:40:17 > 0:40:21when you do something wrong. And therefore those people who don't
0:40:21 > 0:40:25like being shouted at, obviously try not to do things wrong
0:40:25 > 0:40:28so they don't get shouted out again.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30SHOUTING
0:40:31 > 0:40:36Prince William and Prince Harry underwent the same training as every
0:40:36 > 0:40:39other officer cadet at Sandhurst.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Everyone at Sandhurst, cadet-wise,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44goes through exactly the same treatment.
0:40:44 > 0:40:49The first five weeks are hard. on all the cadets.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54Maybe four, maybe five hours sleep, if you are lucky, at night.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58On the go from about 5.30 in the morning through to about midnight.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Lots of learning, learning how to march,
0:41:01 > 0:41:05but ultimately there is no special treatment given to anyone.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08What would the Princes have come here to learn?
0:41:08 > 0:41:12The Princes would very much have come here to have learned things
0:41:12 > 0:41:18like selfless commitment, respect for others, discipline, integrity.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22Some of the core values of the Army which are instilled in the way
0:41:22 > 0:41:27officers are taught and how officers are expected to carry out their
0:41:27 > 0:41:29duties within the British Army.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Left, right. Left, right.
0:41:33 > 0:41:38During their training, the Princes lived in the same basic dormitory accommodation
0:41:38 > 0:41:40as their fellow cadets.
0:41:40 > 0:41:46Aleem and Saffron are looking at the room of a current cadet, Sophie Kilpatrick.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48It's quite small.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51Cadets' rooms are regularly inspected to make sure
0:41:51 > 0:41:54they meet the strict standards at Sandhurst.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59This is exactly how they have to have the room laid out every morning
0:41:59 > 0:42:04for room inspections. The bed is immaculate, tightly pulled, ironed
0:42:04 > 0:42:06flat, the shoes highly polished.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09Brass buckles immaculately clean as well.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Gloves clean, pillows ironed. Everything in the wardrobes
0:42:13 > 0:42:15are immaculately laid out.
0:42:15 > 0:42:20And hangers measured so the distance is equal throughout. The cadets have
0:42:20 > 0:42:25to make sure every single room amongst the platoon of about 30 people is identical.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30So would the Royals get in trouble if their room wasn't as tidy as it was meant to be?
0:42:30 > 0:42:34If one person had a hanger slightly out of alignment,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38the entire platoon would start again. You are very much in it together
0:42:38 > 0:42:41to build the camaraderie and team spirit and teamwork.
0:42:41 > 0:42:45Thank you, guys. It takes a long time to make my bed in the morning.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49It has to be absolutely perfect. Who makes your bed at home?
0:42:49 > 0:42:51Um, I don't even make mine.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54- D'you think you should have a go? - No.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Go on, I'll pull that out a bit and you can have a go at tidying it up.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Guys, you need to make sure you get the sheets really really tight,
0:43:03 > 0:43:07- so there are no creases in them whatsoever.- Is that good?
0:43:07 > 0:43:10You have to pull it tight and make sure it's tucked in tightly.
0:43:10 > 0:43:15It's hard, this. Especially when you are my age. Where do these go again? In the middle?
0:43:15 > 0:43:19- No, there was a sheet.- Yes, and the belt was in the middle.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21It has to be fastened, he said.
0:43:21 > 0:43:24In the middle.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28- What you think of that?- I would make you do that again.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32Oops!
0:43:32 > 0:43:35I don't know why Prince William and Prince Harry choose to
0:43:35 > 0:43:38come here rather than be at Buckingham Palace.
0:43:38 > 0:43:43It's not the best of rooms, it's not a five-star hotel. But you need a
0:43:43 > 0:43:47discipline to be in the Army and these people have a lot of discipline
0:43:47 > 0:43:50and work hard and it's good because they work as a team,
0:43:50 > 0:43:53because if one person does something wrong, we all have to do it again.
0:43:53 > 0:43:59I like the idea, but I wouldn't like to sleep there. But it would probably change my personality in a way
0:43:59 > 0:44:01and make me work harder for other stuff in life.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04- Yeah.- And make you appreciate stuff.
0:44:06 > 0:44:07As part of their training,
0:44:07 > 0:44:11both Prince William and Prince Harry studied military history.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14Professor Lloyd Clark is a lecturer in war studies,
0:44:14 > 0:44:18who taught both the princes during their time at the Academy.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22So why did Prince William and Harry choose a military career?
0:44:22 > 0:44:26The Royal Family have got a very long history of being
0:44:26 > 0:44:27part of the military.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33The Queen herself, in the Second World War, was the first female
0:44:33 > 0:44:37member of the Royal Family to serve full-time in the Armed Services.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39Her husband, Prince Philip,
0:44:39 > 0:44:44served throughout the Second World War and after in the Royal Navy.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47Her sons all served in the Army or the Navy.
0:44:47 > 0:44:51So it was almost logical that both princes William
0:44:51 > 0:44:54and Harry would have some sort of a military career.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56And, of course, Prince William, himself,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59has served in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
0:45:01 > 0:45:05Why did the princes swap from a really lovely life to
0:45:05 > 0:45:08a really tough, physical life?
0:45:08 > 0:45:11The Royals, obviously, have perhaps more privileges,
0:45:11 > 0:45:15but I don't think their lives are easy.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I think that part of living what you might call a normal life
0:45:18 > 0:45:21would be to take a decision that anybody
0:45:21 > 0:45:24else in the country might take and to join the Armed Forces.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28When they come here, I think that most of the young men
0:45:28 > 0:45:30and women are looking for a challenge.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36So, in the military you're risking your life,
0:45:36 > 0:45:39so why did the princes choose this option?
0:45:39 > 0:45:42I don't think the princes choose to risk their lives.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Risking their lives is just part of the job.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49What they want to do is to serve. They have a duty to serve.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52But, most importantly, they want to lead.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Any officer is there to lead other men and women.
0:45:57 > 0:46:01When the Queen came to see Prince Harry graduate from Sandhurst,
0:46:01 > 0:46:03a ceremony known as passing out,
0:46:03 > 0:46:05she came not only as his grandmother,
0:46:05 > 0:46:09but also in her official role as head of the Armed Forces,
0:46:09 > 0:46:13a title long held by the king or queen of Great Britain.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17The Queen is a grandmother of the two princes
0:46:17 > 0:46:20and she is the head of the Armed Forces.
0:46:20 > 0:46:21What does that actually mean?
0:46:21 > 0:46:26The head of the Armed Forces is a role which is largely
0:46:26 > 0:46:29a figurehead role.
0:46:29 > 0:46:33She's the Head of State and the people of Great Britain
0:46:33 > 0:46:36and Northern Ireland look to her for leadership
0:46:36 > 0:46:41and also for a sense of moral values, you might say.
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Therefore, she's the ideal person to have as the head of the military.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48She represents the country.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51And as a result of that, when troops go to fight,
0:46:51 > 0:46:54they need someone that doesn't have any political bias.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58She's not a member of a political party, like the Prime Minister is.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02She unifies those people that fight
0:47:02 > 0:47:07and she provides that focus for them perhaps when they go into battle.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10Historically, that's always been the case.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13The monarch would be someone who would often lead
0:47:13 > 0:47:14troops on the battlefield.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17The king would be much more likely to actually
0:47:17 > 0:47:21lead from the front perhaps with his sword out on the back of a horse.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24You could also think about the Battle of Hastings
0:47:24 > 0:47:26when King Harold was shot and killed.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29And, of course, the king that was going to take his place,
0:47:29 > 0:47:34William the Conqueror, actually leading his troops in that same battle.
0:47:34 > 0:47:38Queen Elizabeth I, just before the Spanish Armada,
0:47:38 > 0:47:42didn't actually go onto a ship and fight,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45but she gave great motivational speeches to her troops.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46All of the motivation,
0:47:46 > 0:47:49all of this morale that the monarch gives is an absolutely
0:47:49 > 0:47:53central role, not only for all military leaders, but also
0:47:53 > 0:47:58for that monarch that unifies the Armed Forces around that family.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11Today, we're finding out about the heir to the throne,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Prince Charles, and his role as the Prince of Wales.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17- Callum, you are a fine upstanding Welshman.- Ydw, I am.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20- What does that mean? - Yes, I am.- Good to know.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23- So what does the Prince of Wales mean to you?- He means quite a lot
0:48:23 > 0:48:25because he's one of the only figureheads which Wales has
0:48:25 > 0:48:28and because he's known all across the world, I guess
0:48:28 > 0:48:29he kind of puts Wales on the map.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32Do you know why he's called the Prince of Wales?
0:48:32 > 0:48:35- No, but I've always wanted to know. - I can tell you.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38Prince Charles is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II.
0:48:38 > 0:48:39Traditionally, for around 800 years,
0:48:39 > 0:48:42the eldest son of the monarch has been known as the Prince of Wales.
0:48:42 > 0:48:46So, in 1969 when Prince Charles was just 20 years old, his mother,
0:48:46 > 0:48:49the Queen, officially gave him this title in a very elaborate
0:48:49 > 0:48:51ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in Wales.
0:48:51 > 0:48:55But what is his role as the Prince of Wales? We're about to find out.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02Aleem and Saffron are in London to experience some of the Prince's
0:49:02 > 0:49:03duties there.
0:49:03 > 0:49:08While Callum is spending the day as a royal correspondent following the Prince and his wife,
0:49:08 > 0:49:10the Duchess of Cornwall, on an official tour of Wales.
0:49:10 > 0:49:15First stop, the set of the popular Saturday night drama, Doctor Who.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18As you can see, there is quite a lot of Press here already.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22I've got my Press pass and I'm ready for the day.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25His Royal Highness has just arrived
0:49:25 > 0:49:28and I'm standing literally just a few metres from him.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31This is one of over 500 engagements
0:49:31 > 0:49:34the Prince will have in the UK this year.
0:49:34 > 0:49:37One journalist Callum is rubbing shoulders with is BBC newsman,
0:49:37 > 0:49:41Nicholas Witchell, a royal correspondent for 15 years.
0:49:41 > 0:49:45Because of his title, does that mean he has to focus on Wales?
0:49:45 > 0:49:47If you are the Prince of Wales, it seems only reasonable
0:49:47 > 0:49:51and right that you should take a particular interest in that
0:49:51 > 0:49:54part of the country whose name you bear.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58Doctor Who is produced here in Wales, it produces a lot of jobs
0:49:58 > 0:50:02and employment and wealth in Wales as a result of that.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05And because it is 50 years now since Doctor Who started,
0:50:05 > 0:50:10it's another way of the Prince of Wales coming along and showing
0:50:10 > 0:50:14some recognition for what the BBC, through Doctor Who,
0:50:14 > 0:50:15is doing for Wales.
0:50:15 > 0:50:20Exterminate. Exterminate, exterminate.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22That's very good.
0:50:22 > 0:50:23LAUGHTER
0:50:25 > 0:50:26After the Doctor Who set,
0:50:26 > 0:50:30the tour moves onto a place close to the Prince's heart.
0:50:30 > 0:50:31Like all the Royal Family,
0:50:31 > 0:50:33the Prince is heavily involved in charity work
0:50:33 > 0:50:36and today he's officially opening a new centre for one that
0:50:36 > 0:50:39he personally founded - the Prince's Trust.
0:50:43 > 0:50:45May I present Nathan?
0:50:45 > 0:50:49Nathan Dicks who started his business in 2008, Learning-Thru-Music.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53This is just one charity in a whole group that bear the Prince's name
0:50:53 > 0:50:56and reflect the causes he feels most strongly about,
0:50:56 > 0:50:59like disadvantaged youth, education, responsible business
0:50:59 > 0:51:01and environmental sustainability.
0:51:02 > 0:51:05Why does the Prince of Wales have to take on these duties,
0:51:05 > 0:51:07why does he have to go and visit places
0:51:07 > 0:51:10and organisations like the Prince's Trust?
0:51:10 > 0:51:12He does it in part to raise the profile,
0:51:12 > 0:51:16to raise these issues with a wider audience.
0:51:16 > 0:51:20In some instances, he does it because part of the role of the Royal Family
0:51:20 > 0:51:25is to show approval for organisations and for what voluntary groups do.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28It's a way of giving people a bit of a pat on the back, which,
0:51:28 > 0:51:30generally, people rather like.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33Prince Charles cares deeply about doing something
0:51:33 > 0:51:36positive for the country.
0:51:36 > 0:51:38Although his title is Prince of Wales,
0:51:38 > 0:51:42he travels the whole country fulfilling engagements.
0:51:42 > 0:51:45Royal reporters Saffron and Aleem are in the capital to
0:51:45 > 0:51:49experience another important day in the Prince's busy calendar.
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Saffron is meeting Major Peter Flynn,
0:51:51 > 0:51:53he's one of the Prince's personal attendants,
0:51:53 > 0:51:56known as an equerry, but he is also an army officer
0:51:56 > 0:51:59and can explain the purpose behind today's military ceremony.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02Could you please tell us about the event that's happening today?
0:52:02 > 0:52:05Today, the Prince of Wales is going to give some
0:52:05 > 0:52:08operational service medals to members of the Royal Dragoon Guards.
0:52:08 > 0:52:10The Royal Dragoon Guards are one of the Prince's regiments.
0:52:10 > 0:52:12He has 22 regiments
0:52:12 > 0:52:15and military organisations across the three services.
0:52:15 > 0:52:16Whenever they've been on operations,
0:52:16 > 0:52:19let's say for example at the moment it's Afghanistan,
0:52:19 > 0:52:21he's very keen when they come back to try
0:52:21 > 0:52:23and give them their medals, particularly to the new
0:52:23 > 0:52:26and young soldiers who've probably been out there for the first time.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29Is this a new ceremony or is it an old ceremony?
0:52:29 > 0:52:32When I first joined the Army many, many years ago,
0:52:32 > 0:52:35we used to be given our medals across the desk in the stores,
0:52:35 > 0:52:36but in recent times,
0:52:36 > 0:52:39it seems that members of the Royal Family have really wanted to
0:52:39 > 0:52:43show their support and thanks to the troops by giving them the medals themselves.
0:52:43 > 0:52:48You'll see him going down the line, presenting the medals and having a chat to the troops.
0:52:50 > 0:52:52What he'll do afterwards is he'll go and meet the families.
0:52:52 > 0:52:55He knows how important it is that we show support to
0:52:55 > 0:52:58the families as well and he loves talking to them.
0:52:59 > 0:53:04Today's events are happening in the grounds of the Prince's London home, Clarence House.
0:53:04 > 0:53:07This Royal house is small in comparison to the Queen's palaces,
0:53:07 > 0:53:10and has been home to the Prince and his family since 2002.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14They don't normally open the door for me when I walk into a room!
0:53:14 > 0:53:17Clarence House is not just a home, it's a workplace, and while
0:53:17 > 0:53:19the Prince is busy outside with his guests,
0:53:19 > 0:53:23Aleem and Saffron are meeting his house manager, Leslie Chappell,
0:53:23 > 0:53:25for a quick tour of its rarely seen rooms.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28The Prince will use this room this afternoon
0:53:28 > 0:53:30when he receives the President of Belize.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32He'll bring the President here.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34There'll be an official photograph taken over there.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38Then the Prince will take a seat on the corner of the sofa there, ask the President to sit next to him
0:53:38 > 0:53:40and they'll have a private audience in here.
0:53:40 > 0:53:45- Who else has been in this room? - The Prince of Wales and Duchess have received the Dalai Lama in here,
0:53:45 > 0:53:50Will.i.am. Will.i.am sat just there on the sofa there.
0:53:50 > 0:53:53And you'll see over here, if you look at these
0:53:53 > 0:53:56photographs on the piano, you've got the whole of the Royal Family here,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58photographed in this room for the Queen
0:53:58 > 0:54:02and the Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary in 2007.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05There seems to be a lot of things going on in this building,
0:54:05 > 0:54:07is it a busy place?
0:54:07 > 0:54:08It is a busy place, yes.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11The Prince and Duchess are here for about a third of the year,
0:54:11 > 0:54:14so just over a hundred days of the year.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17On those days, we have days like today with the medal presentation
0:54:17 > 0:54:21going on outside in the garden for 350 people, we had a meeting
0:54:21 > 0:54:24this morning for 22 people followed by a reception for 60.
0:54:24 > 0:54:27As I said, the Prime Minister of Belize is coming in later on
0:54:27 > 0:54:30and the Prince of Wales is then going next door
0:54:30 > 0:54:33into St James's Palace to host another reception.
0:54:33 > 0:54:34So, quite a normal day.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42So how does the Prince of Wales's engagements differ to
0:54:42 > 0:54:43those of the Queen?
0:54:43 > 0:54:46A very important part of what Prince Charles does is to
0:54:46 > 0:54:48deputise for his mother.
0:54:48 > 0:54:50He is doing that increasingly,
0:54:50 > 0:54:53he's presiding over investitures at Buckingham Palace,
0:54:53 > 0:54:55he'll be standing in for his mother
0:54:55 > 0:54:57at a big meeting of Commonwealth leaders later this year.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00Is this all in preparation to be King?
0:55:00 > 0:55:04Yes, his destiny is to be King, to take over the throne
0:55:04 > 0:55:06when his mother's reign ends.
0:55:06 > 0:55:10So, in a sense, everything that he's done or does is a preparation for that moment.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17At Buckingham Palace, Aleem and Saffron have been invited to
0:55:17 > 0:55:20attend a special ceremony the Queen usually performs.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22But today, it's a job for the heir to the throne.
0:55:22 > 0:55:27- What was the ceremony about today? - Today, we saw an investiture.
0:55:27 > 0:55:31That's when the Queen awards honours to people who've done good works
0:55:31 > 0:55:33throughout the community and in society.
0:55:33 > 0:55:36Sometimes the Queen will ask the Prince of Wales or
0:55:36 > 0:55:37the Princess Royal to do it,
0:55:37 > 0:55:40and so today we saw the Prince of Wales doing the investiture.
0:55:40 > 0:55:42Is it compulsory for the Queen
0:55:42 > 0:55:45and the Prince of Wales to give these honours out?
0:55:45 > 0:55:48I wouldn't so much regard it as compulsory.
0:55:48 > 0:55:50I think the word you might want to use is duty.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53They very much feel that it's their duty to do this,
0:55:53 > 0:55:55to support the nation and thank people for doing good works.
0:55:57 > 0:56:02These award include knighthoods and damehoods, CBEs, OBEs and MBEs.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05They're often given to ordinary people who do extraordinary things
0:56:05 > 0:56:07for their communities,
0:56:07 > 0:56:10but many famous faces regularly receive these honours as well.
0:56:10 > 0:56:15Today the Prince is presenting one to Star Wars actor, Ewan McGregor.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17I received an OBE, this one here, look,
0:56:17 > 0:56:21for work that I do for drama and also I work with a charity called UNICEF.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24And double Olympic gold medal-winning athlete, Mo Farah.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27Do you think it's important the Royal Family gives awards like this?
0:56:27 > 0:56:30It's really important for people who are working hard,
0:56:30 > 0:56:34not just myself, in all kinds of fields like community services,
0:56:34 > 0:56:38charity work, athletics, acting, pretty much everything.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41It's a great reward.
0:56:42 > 0:56:46Each year, around 2,600 people receive their awards
0:56:46 > 0:56:48personally at one of the palaces.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50It's a day out to remember for every one of them.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54WELSH CHOIR SINGS
0:56:54 > 0:56:56In Wales, Callum's day of engagements with the Prince
0:56:56 > 0:56:59is ending at His Royal Highness's Welsh home with an evening
0:56:59 > 0:57:01celebrating Welsh culture.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04It's an informal gathering
0:57:04 > 0:57:07and a chance to finally meet the Royal hosts.
0:57:07 > 0:57:11The music here, is that what you enjoy,
0:57:11 > 0:57:14the folk and the tradition, is it a huge tradition?
0:57:14 > 0:57:17It's lovely because everybody can sing. Sadly I can't.
0:57:19 > 0:57:22No, it's lovely. It's lovely hearing the voices.
0:57:22 > 0:57:24What do you enjoy most about Wales?
0:57:24 > 0:57:27Here, I love the peace and quiet.
0:57:27 > 0:57:31You hear nothing except the odd sheep munching away outside
0:57:31 > 0:57:34and the odd bird, it's very peaceful.
0:57:34 > 0:57:35It's the beauty, I think.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41Hello, your Royal Highness. It's nice to meet you.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45He's working for the BBC doing a film about the monarchy, Sir.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48- Oh, really?- Yes, so I went to the Doctor Who set today
0:57:48 > 0:57:52- and the Prince's Trust event in Cardiff.- Were you there today?
0:57:52 > 0:57:55Yeah, I was in the Doctor Who set and the Cardiff headquarters
0:57:55 > 0:57:58and I saw you unveiling the plaque, as well. It was absolutely amazing.
0:57:58 > 0:58:02- And tonight, the folk... - This is rather marvellous, isn't it?
0:58:02 > 0:58:05- Do you know a bit of Welsh? - A little bit.- Like bore da.
0:58:05 > 0:58:07I never keep it up in practice.
0:58:07 > 0:58:10I try. Anyway, I look forward to seeing how it goes.
0:58:10 > 0:58:14- Thank you very much.- A great pleasure to meet you. Well done.
0:58:14 > 0:58:16Pleasure to meet you too.
0:58:16 > 0:58:21That was absolutely amazing. This has topped off the whole experience.
0:58:21 > 0:58:23It's basically put a lid on it.
0:58:25 > 0:58:28After following Prince Charles on his engagements,
0:58:28 > 0:58:30our reporters have really got a sense of his role and
0:58:30 > 0:58:34the range of duties he performs as the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne.
0:58:41 > 0:58:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd