The BBC has received almost 900 complaints about a documentary that follows King Charles III in his first year on the throne.
The corporation revealed in its fortnightly complaints report that Charles III: The Coronation Year was the subject of 897 complaints from people who felt it showed “bias in favor of the monarchy.”
The 90-minute special was produced by Oxford Films and premiered on December 26. It included behind-the-scenes footage of the King, including him joking about having “sausage fingers” with his son Prince William during rehearsals for the Coronation.
It is not uncommon for the BBC to get complaints from viewers who feel that its royal output is not impartial. The corporation received a record 109,741 complaints over its wall-to-wall coverage of Prince Philip’s death in 2021.
In a statement, the BBC defended Charles III: The Coronation Year, making clear that it retained editorial control over the documentary and reflected republican voices in wider coverage of the Coronation.
“Charles III: The Coronation Year is a one-off observational documentary that covers a period of historical significance when the King took on new duties and prepared for the first Coronation in this country for 70 years. It has unique access and captures personal moments as the King adapts to his new role. Editorial control is retained by the BBC,” the BBC said.
“The BBC seeks to reflect a range of viewpoints in news and current affairs coverage of the monarchy. Earlier in 2023, when documenting the Coronation, Panorama on BBC One examined the structures and finances that surround the Royal Family and featured a newly commissioned poll about attitudes to the monarchy. On Radio 4, the Today programme had a debate on whether the UK needs a monarchy and The World This Weekend looked at its future.”