Portrait of the Queen’s remarkable life Harry would do well to watch: ROLAND WHITE reviews TV
Portrait of the Queen’s Remarkable Life Harry would do well to watch: ROLAND WHITE reviews the weekend’s TV
Elizabeth: A life through a lens
Is it secret monarchists on Channel 4? You wouldn’t think it from the way the station airs a cheeky “alternative” Christmas message every year, or last month’s alternative coronation coverage.
But last night’s Elizabeth: A Life Through A Lens (Ch4) was the television equivalent of flags, street parties and a fly-past from the Red Arrows. The only thing that was missing was an interview with Beertje Paddington.
In theory, this was about the late Queen’s relationship with the camera lens. As one expert put it, “Elizabeth II was without a doubt the most photographed and the most filmed woman who ever lived.”
Elizabeth: Last night’s A Life Through A Lens (Ch4) was the television equivalent of flags, street parties and a fly-past from the Red Arrows, writes Roland White
Photographs taken by members of the public selected to participate in the new Royal Photographic Exhibition at Kensington Palace
Ola Ruiz-Aguillo and Nelson Garcia, curators of the historic royal palaces, treat a lenticular print of Queen Elizabeth II
In fact, it was just an excuse to revisit her remarkable life: from a first baby photo to that poignant final photo of her standing in front of a roaring fire looking very frail.
There’s been no shortage of royal television in recent months, so much of this was very familiar. But there was a strange glimpse of something new.
For example, it is clear that the queen was one who knew her own mind from an early age.
When she was 11, the family posed for photographer Dorothy Wilding, who wanted everyone to hang their hands at their sides. The young princess was not in the mood for that. She wanted to fold her hands in front of her and refused to give in. She was right, too – that little difference makes the picture better.
Much attention was paid to the fact that very few of us really knew this most public of women: “Even with these thousands of images, we still never got the full picture.”
Most of all, we never knew what she thought about the big issues of the moment, despite the occasional hint. As one expert put it: ‘From the moment we see personal preferences, people can be divided. The Queen has always understood that it is the role of the monarch to unite.’
Would it be too much to hope that Prince Harry watched and learned?
Gods of Tennis
Maybe it’s because the Prince’s face is all over the place these days, but the more I watched fresh-faced young John McEnroe in Gods Of Tennis (BBC2), the more I saw a younger Harry. Apart from the 1980s haircut and headband.
Like Harry, the tennis star had the haunted eyes of someone who thinks the world is against him. And of course there were the famous public displays of irritability.
This second installment looked back at what must be tennis’ most famous rivalry: McEnroe’s explosive personality against the ice-cold tennis machine that was Bjorn Borg.
The more I watched the fresh young John McEnroe in Gods Of Tennis (BBC2), the more I saw a younger Harry
Borg was the first pop star tennis player. He needed a bodyguard of hefty cops to fight his way through adoring teen fans.
“Borg was sex personified,” said co-star Pat Cash. “His body, his clothes, his hair — you ask Sue Barker about Bjorn Borg.”
That was the next question. Sue, did you like Bjorn? “I did then,” she admitted, “but he was in a different class. I mean, he wouldn’t have looked at me.’ His loss, sure.
What struck me about tennis at the time was the sheer number of great personalities. Not only Borg and McEnroe, but also Ilie Nastase, Pat Cash, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors.
Don’t most of today’s stars seem boring by comparison?
- Christopher Stevens is gone