Antiques Roadshow

Balmoral Royal Special (38x2)

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The Antiques Roadshow pays tribute to Her Majesty the Queen as she becomes Britain's longest-serving monarch with a special edition looking back at memorable moments from past series that have touched on the life of Elizabeth II. Fiona Bruce introduces a unique celebration of the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II from Balmoral Castle, where the Antiques Roadshow filmed this summer. The Roadshow team have scoured the archives to find some of the most surprising items and poignant stories relating to the Queen that have been filmed over the past 20 years. Highlights include a recording of a speech the young Princess Elizabeth made on Children's Hour in 1940, described by the children of presenter Uncle Mac, and a behind-the-scenes account of the Queen's first televised Christmas message, complete with photos of Prince Charles and Princess Anne trying out the camera equipment. The team appraise royal memorabilia, from mugs and crisp packets to a surprising valuable piece of the Queen's wedding cake, while a seamstress recalls the thrill of helping to make the royal wedding gown. Several items provide a rare insight into the Queen's day-to-day life, such as her interest in racing pigeons, and a personal letter to a vet reveals wry comments about the weight of a corgi and touching lines on the death of a beloved pet. There's also another chance to see the Queen's meeting with the Antiques Roadshow team at Hillsborough Castle in 2014, when three experts got the chance to appraise antiques on display in the house and discuss them with the Queen and Prince Philip.