The Washington Post - USA (2022-05-29)

SUNDAY, MAY 29 , 2022. THE WASHINGTON POST EZ RE A23

BY ADELA SULIMAN

london — Queen Elizabeth II
has spent a lifetime in the public
eye and is among the most photo-
graphed people in the world. This
weekend, Brits are being t reated
to rare home movies and previ-
ously unseen images — many shot
herself and by her family — in a
documentary airing Sunday on
the BBC to celebrate 70 years of
her reign.
Elizabeth, 96, is seen as a baby
pushed in a stroller by her mother
and later playing with her father,
King George VI, in Windsor as she
falls off a chair in the garden. In

another clip, she wades through

lochs near Balmoral with her

sister, Margaret, and a corgi. The

film also shows the young prin-

cess staring lovingly at her en-

gagement ring shortly after

Prince Philip proposed.

“Cameras have always been a

part of our lives,” Elizabeth says in

a message recorded at Windsor

Castle for the 75-minute BBC film

“Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen.”

“Like many families, my par-

ents wanted to keep a record of

our precious moments together.

And when it was our turn with

our own family, we did the same,”

she told the BBC.

“I always enjoyed capturing

family moments,” the monarch

continues. “Private photos can

often show the fun behind the

formality.”

Elizabeth has made fewer pub-

lic appearances in recent months,

with health problems ranging

from a sprained back to a covid

episode. An overnight stay in a

hospital last year also prompted

serious concerns about the nona-

genarian’s health. She has since

made a number of virtual appear-

ances and has been seen in public

using a cane, with Buckingham

Palace citing sporadic “mobility

issues.”

Earlier in May, she missed the

opening of Parliament, one of the

most important dates on the roy-

al calendar, leaving her son and

heir, Prince Charles, to stand in.

However, ahead of her Plati-

num Jubilee celebrations, the

monarch has attended a royal

horse show, where she cheerily

smiled and waved to the crowd

before she was given a standing

ovation. Elizabeth also made an

appearance for the opening of

London’s newest subway line,

which is named after her and

aims to transform the city for

commuters and visitors.

The Platinum Jubilee celebra-

tions will take place over four

days starting Thursday, and

Union Jack flags and bunting

already adorn train stations and

parks as people rush to buy mem-

orabilia for the impending pomp.

Thousands are expected to flock

to Buckingham Palace to watch

parades and a concert while try-

ing to catch a glimpse of the

monarch and her family on the

balcony.

The BBC film will be shown in

the United Kingdom this week-

end, but it’s unclear whether it

will be shown later in the United

States.

“The production team were

under no illusion quite how spe-

cial having access to this very

personal archive was,” said Claire

Popplewell, creative director for

BBC Studios Events Productions,

according to the broadcaster. “A l-

lowing the queen to tell us her

own story is the very heart of this

film.”

In the documentary, Elizabeth

reflects on the photos and foot-

age: “You always hope that future

generations will find them inter-

esting, and perhaps be surprised

that you too were young once.”

Karla Adam contributed to this

report.

Queen Elizabeth II shares rare home movie footage of ‘precious moments’

ADRIAN DENNIS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES

Signature red London buses pass beneath British f lags strung across Regent Street in the city center last week to commemorate Queen

Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. F our days of celebrations are planned starting Thursday to mark the monarch’s 70 years on the throne.

ROYAL COLLECTION/BBC STUDIOS/ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROYAL COLLECTION/BBC STUDIOS/ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP: An image taken from video in the BBC documentary
“Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen” shows Princess Margaret, left, and
Princess Elizabeth with their father, King George VI, aboard the
HMS Vanguard in 1947. The film airs S unday in Britain. ABOVE:
Also from the documentary, an image from 1946 shows Elizabeth
admiring her new engagement ring a fter Prince Philip’s proposal.

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