Countryfile

Royal Special: Sandringham (30x23)

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To celebrate 65 years since Her Majesty's coronation, Countryfile, also celebrating its 30th anniversary, has been given unprecedented access to the Queen's Sandringham estate. Matt Baker discovers that the Queen's love of her most private rural hideaway comes through her father's side of the family. When George VI died at Sandringham in 1952 it became even more special to the Queen and as Matt discovers, memories of her father are written into the landscape, especially the trees on the estate. Adam Henson looks into the farming history of Sandringham which has run as a mixed farm of nearly 6000 acres for many years. Adam looks at the wheat and blackcurrant crops before turning his attention to the Red Poll cattle. Ellie Harrison is at the Royal Stud just half a mile from the main house. It was here that the young princess would accompany both her grandfather and father to spend time with the thoroughbreds. From this moment onwards the young princess was spellbound and still is today. Ellie learns that the Queen asks for regular reports on all her horses and sees how once the horses' racing careers have finished, the Queen has found a new lease of life for them - dressage. John Craven looks at the great flood of 1953 and meets the local people who were affected in the Sandringham area to hear their stories. Ellie is also looking at the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's work with scientists and ecologists to monitor the health of the land at Sandringham. She visits the Duke of Edinburgh's bird hide to witness the wildlife that visits the reclaimed land and calls it home. Matt Baker also visits the Royal Pigeon Loft and discovers that the birds are a real passion of the Queen. Finally, Anita Rani learns about Her Majesty's love of gun dogs. Anita meets gun dog handler Bill Meldrum and learns how he taught the Queen to win field trials.