HRH the Prince of Wales records a special broadcast
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has recorded a special radio broadcast as a tribute to his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on her 90th birthday. The reading – an edited passage from William Shakespeare’s Henry VIII – will air on BBC World Service radio today at 8.20 BST in flagship news and current affairs programme Newsday.
Published: 20 April 2016
This is a very special and unusual birthday gift. I am delighted that we are able to broadcast The Prince of Wales’ eloquent reading to our audiences around the world on The Queen’s birthday and in the year of William Shakespeare’s anniversary.
In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare and as a birthday message for Her Majesty The Queen, HRH The Prince of Wales records a special broadcast
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has recorded a special radio broadcast as a tribute to his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on her 90th birthday. The reading – an edited passage from William Shakespeare’s Henry VIII – will air on BBC World Service radio today at 8.20 BST in flagship news and current affairs programme Newsday.
The Prince personally chose his reading in consultation with Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and it is also a tribute to William Shakespeare whose 400th anniversary is being celebrated this month.
Mary Hockaday, Controller, World Service English says: “This is a very special and unusual birthday gift. I am delighted that we are able to broadcast The Prince of Wales’ eloquent reading to our audiences around the world on The Queen’s birthday and in the year of William Shakespeare’s anniversary.”
The reading is an extract from a speech by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer to King Henry VIII after the birth of the future Queen Elizabeth I.
Shortly after the Prince’s broadcast, BBC World Service will broadcast an interview with Gregory Doran by Lawrence Pollard.
His Royal Highness’s birthday tribute to The Queen will air at 8.20 BST (7.20 GMT) on BBC World Service radio. Listeners can also hear the recording on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme between 8.30 BST and 9.00 BST following the BBC World Service broadcast.
Notes to Editors
Henry VIII; Act 5, Scene 5 (edited)
Cranmer:
Let me speak, sir,
For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be--
But few now living can behold that goodness--
A pattern to all princes living with her,
And all that shall succeed: Saba was never
More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,
That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:
In her days every man shall eat in safety,
Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:
God shall be truly known; and those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,
And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
…
She shall be, to the happiness of England,
An aged princess; many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
Gregory Doran, Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has also assembled a once-in-a-lifetime cast for Shakespeare Live! From The RSC. More information is available here.
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