King Charles and Queen Camilla spent time this week highlighting British media with palace receptions and set visits.
On Wednesday evening, the King and Queen hosted a Buckingham Palace reception for 400 people working in regional media across the United Kingdom. There, reporters and producers, tech operators and editors, and more working on screen and behind the scenes were feted for the “crucial role local journalism plays in building trust and fostering community cohesion,” according to the Palace.
The King released a message ahead of Thursday evening’s reception, praising the regional media and saying that “in all its forms,” the industry “has a unique and vital role to play in society, perhaps even more so in these uncertain times.”
He continued: “Two decades on, when too much focus is given to that which divides us, that role for your whole industry is more important than ever – and it starts from the ground-up, at local level, in your hands.
“Your reporting, and the work of all those who support you, helps amplify and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities we all share. It shines a light in dark corners, exposing injustice and wrongdoing. Above all, it helps strengthen our communities, in times of joy and at moments of sorrow.
“You won’t always get it right. A free media is one that will and does make mistakes. But at its best, it is a cornerstone of our democracy.”
On Thursday, Queen Camilla celebrated the 70th anniversary of ITV’s first broadcast with a visit to the set of Trigger Point, which is filming on location in London.
During her visit, she met with some of the drama’s stars and ITV’s chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, and watched as the actors filmed. The Queen had the honour of using the clapperboard to start the scene, calling out “Trigger Point, take one.”
Later in the day, she attended a reception for the wider ITV channel and viewed a display of ITV’s royal moments through the years.
At the reception, the Queen said: “As your greatest fan, I want to say a very happy seventieth birthday to all you. I’m a bit older than you and I do remember ITV starting on those very old televisions. I do remember the excitement of suddenly having another channel. To watch how you’ve gone from there, how much you’ve appealed to the nation is absolutely brilliant.”
