William & Kate TV Special: Do Not Broadcast Until 2009?
Written by Joanne Leyland
Friday, 08 February 2008
Page 2 of 3
When the
engagement of Charles and
Camilla was announced on February 10th 2005, television stations in Britain immediately went to air
with documentaries on the happy couple.
Although there was a time when even St. James's Palace - now the former home of the Prince of Wales - officially
announced that Charles had no intention of
re-marrying, it was clear that a media told by Prince Andrew that
the Palace had been "lying" to the press for decades weren't about to be caught out.
Amazingly, this is what had happened back
in February 1981, when the British TV industry - then consisting of
nothing more than the terrestrial channels of BBC1, BBC2 and ITV - was
caught slightly unawares by the engagement of Charles and Diana.
Whilst already well prepared to celebrate the happiest times for the
Royal Family, broadcasters are similarly prepared to document any
sadness.
TV obituaries of all of the senior royals, whatever their age, are regularly updated.
Ironically,
one TV channel was condemned in the early 1990s when it was revealed
that as well as those of the older royals such as Queen Elizabeth The
Queen Mother, a TV obituary of the young Princess of Wales - a lady who
had only
recently celebrated her 30th birthday - had been produced.