Meeting the Future King – The Royal Family Visits Elstree Studios
It comes as no surprise that I have to mention the passing of our beloved Queen. , yes, but that’s how it was. I haven’t cried since her mother died 22 years ago. My mother was the last person in my close family, but when she heard the news that His Majesty had died, she cried because she found it difficult to explain. Although she saw her three times in Royal Film performances, she unfortunately never met.
I had the pleasure of meeting Prince Charles twice in the 1990s. The first was when he fixed his MBE on me at Buckingham Palace, and two years later, the giant George He made his visit to Elstree Studios to open his stage with Lucas His Sound. It was when I helped host. I think I told you about the funny things that happened behind the scenes, so I won’t go there. But I say he will be a good king and hope he enjoys a long reign so his son Prince William can enjoy a young family without the pressure of being king. .
I’ll correct myself, but I believe the Queen visited Borehamwood only once.it was a few years ago when she visited EastEnders Set and cast at the BBC Elstree Centre.
Princess Margaret visited twice in the 1950s. She once visited her studio in Elstree with her mother, her then-Queen Elizabeth, and later she opened a local church all by herself.
The future King George VI visited Elstree Studios in the late 1920s, and his brother Edward VIII made a private visit in the early 1930s. In 1934, King George V and Queen Mary of He drove past the Studios and down Shenley Road to open Shenley Hospital. If you go to his Pathe News site online, you can see this and admire the complete lack of security at the time. In the 1980s, I was happy to help Princess Anne arrange for the opening of a new building at her Elstree Studios. I told you about the behind the scenes of that visit again so I won’t bore you anymore.
I think the last royal visit to Elstree Studios was not too long ago by Prince Andrew. I believe there will be a royal visit in the future, but I don’t know when or where. As we say in showbiz, I really hope the public will support Charles knowing that our beloved Queen is a difficult act to follow. No, but God saves the king.
- Paul Welsh MBE is a Borehamwood writer and historian at Elstree Studios.
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