Queen Elizabeth Once Agreed to an Interview After 22 Years — But She Had a Strict Condition
In 2018, royal watchers got a rare glimpse of the Queen's more informal side — witty and relaxed — as she shared memories of her coronation in 1953.
Queen Elizabeth, not a fan of sit-down interviews, finally agreed to one with Alastair Bruce after he pursued her for 22 years. In 2018, royal watchers got a rare glimpse of the late Queen's more informal side — witty and relaxed — as she shared memories of her coronation in 1953. So what got the Queen to agree? Well, Bruce had to adhere to one strict condition — that the segment wouldn't be a typical interview. There was to be no formal structure and no direct questioning; just a normal conversation.
As reported by The Things, Bruce said, "You pose a point and then the Queen sometimes responds, and often conversation follows from there. But posing direct questions was not on the cards. This was a conversation with the Queen." The structure was well-received as fans loved having the Queen share her stories in her own words. Reflecting on the rare opportunity, Bruce said, “The Queen was unbelievably generous to me by making me feel very, very relaxed and comfortable, and she has the most delightful sense of humor, so we got through it very well, I think."
He added, “It was the huge enthusiasm the Queen shows for certain parts of the imperial state crown. Her love of the Black Prince’s Ruby was fascinating." Bruce noted that while filming the interview, the Queen held her coronation crown for the first time in 65 years. As she examined it, she casually remarked that it was much heavier than she remembered — perhaps a fitting symbol of the weight she had carried since that historic day. She said, “You can’t look down to read the speech; you have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break — it would fall off. So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise, they’re quite important things.”
The documentary also featured firsthand stories from those who witnessed the coronation. A maid of honor recalled nearly fainting in the abbey, while a lone choirboy was forced to carry on when his fellow singers lost their voices. In another clip, the Queen was seen holding the Imperial State Crown. As a crown jeweler in white gloves carefully handled it, the Queen, with a smile, took the crown in her bare hands and ran her fingers over the sparkling diamonds. It was also revealed that to prevent treasures from ending up in Nazi hands, the Crown Jewels were taken out of the Tower of London and placed in secret storage beneath Windsor Castle in the 1940s.
In times of uncertainty, precious jewels were carefully removed from their settings and hidden in a biscuit tin. In the interview, the Queen reflected on the remarkable Cullinan diamonds — Cullinan I, set in the royal scepter, and Cullinan II, a dazzling part of the Imperial State Crown. Originally cut from the enormous Star of Africa, Cullinan I is the largest flawless diamond in the world
