When the BBC were first denied access to televising Queen Elizabeth's Coronation but the Earl Marshall changed his mind due to it possibly backfiring on the monarch

Daily Mail​

05-05-2025

Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation was the first to be broadcast on television, though the ceremony almost didn't make it on to the screen.
Some nine months before the late monarch was set to be crowned, the Earl Marshal, the 16th Duke of Norfolk, announced that the Coronation would not be televised much to the BBC 's disappointment, as Robert Hardman related in his book Charles III: New King, New Court.
Instead of a live broadcast, a colour film was to be produced and edited before showing to the public.
This echoed George VI 's Coronation in 1937 when a black-and-white film was created and later edited by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The decision sparked huge backlash and hit the front page of the Daily Mail with the headline 'Coronation Ban Shocks the BBC'.
Though the ceremony was originally approved to be broadcast over radio, the Mail reported how 'permission has been given for still photographs, black-and-white and colour films to be made in all parts of the Abbey'.
The BBC said at the time: 'We are naturally very much disappointed at the television decision as, no doubt, will be the viewers.'
It meant that television pictures would be restricted to the area west of the Choir Screen and not show the Queen being crowned.
The day after the announcement, the Mail told how 'the strain on the Queen of a direct television broadcast of the Coronation ceremony' was one reason behind the decision.
A representative of the Coronation Committee said at the time: 'It would place a very great strain on the central figure, being in the eye of the machine with millions of people watching every moment during a ceremony of such length.'
Other reasons included it being deemed inappropriate to broadcast sacred parts of the ceremony such as the Holy Communion. Lighting was also a concern.
However, the BBC had been preparing to potentially broadcast the occasion and throughout the year in 1952 'executives patiently briefed the press and civil servants on advancements in technology', Hardman wrote.
In September 1952, just one month before the disappointing announcement, the Mail reported how George Barnes, the BBC's Director of Television, said that 1953 would be 'the most exciting yet for viewers' and that the company was making plans for the Coronation.
After the announcement, concerns were raised over how the decision to restrict the broadcast would reflect on the Queen.
A meeting was held with Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the Earl Marshal, the Archbishop and the monarch's private secretary, Hardman wrote.
In a U-turn that worked in the BBC's favour, they decided that the ceremony could be televised.
However, it was 'subject to the Queen's approval' and if the Holy Communion and anointing were not broadcast.
During the final meeting of the Coronation Commission, the decision was discussed further and Prince Philip requested 'no close-up photography', Hardman wrote.
Queen Elizabeth's Coronation was broadcast by the BBC and in the UK, 27million people tuned in to watch while 11million listened on the radio.