- The controversial 1969 "
Royal Family "documentary , which first aired on the BBC has resurfaced on YouTube. - The film, which followed the
royals ' daily lives, was last shown on TV in 1972. - The Queen reportedly banned the film after criticism that it would increase tabloid interest.
The controversial "Royal Family" documentary has resurfaced on YouTube after it's reported ban by the Queen in 1972.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their family allowed cameras to follow their daily lives over 18 months in 1968 and 1969- the result was a documentary film which aired on BBC One in June 1969.
The documentary was shown on TV for the final time just three years after it originally aired - and now royal fans have the rare chance to watch it.
"Royal Family" gave a behind the scenes look at the royals, including scenes of their private barbecue at Balmoral and the Queen making small talk with President Nixon. The intention was to make the family more relatable to a modern audience, Insider's Libby Torres previously reported.
—Seth B. Leonard (@sethbleonard) January 27, 2021
According to The Independent, the documentary attracted 30 million viewers when it first aired on the BBC, and a further 15 million viewers when it aired on ITV a week later.
However, it faced criticism from royal watchers, who argued that the behind the scenes nature of the documentary defied the purpose of the monarchy.
William Heseltine, royal press secretary at the time, confirmed they had placed "very heavy restrictions" on the film because they noticed there had been a "huge shift in attitude," The Independent reported.
David Attenborough, who was controller of BBC Two at the time, said the film was in danger of "killing off the monarchy," The Independent reported.
"Some people say that this would open the floodgates, and therefore after that, all the sort of tabloid interest in them [would come after]," royal biographer Hugo Vickers said of the documentary in the ABC special "The Story of The Royals."
"They would want to know more, and more, and more," he added.
"They realized that if they did something like that too often, they would cheapen themselves, letting the magic seep out," royal historian Robert Lacey said during the special.
In 1970, Buckingham Palace relegated the film to the royal archives, meaning it was banned from being shown again without permission from the Queen. The Independent reports that it was shown on the BBC for the final time in February 1972.
Buckingham Palace and the BBC declined to comment when contacted by Insider.