Television As A Way Of Connecting With The People

The years after the coronation of Queen Elisabeth II the royals continued to embrace television as a way of connecting with the British people:

• In 1957, the queen delivered her annual Christmas address during a live broadcast.
• Four years later, in 1961, Philip became the first family member to sit for a television interview.
• Toward the end of the decade, the Windsors even invited cameras into their home, offering the BBC the opportunity to film a behind-the-scenes documentary.

Much of this push for transparency can be traced back to Prince Philip, whose unconventional upbringing inspired him to modernize the monarchy.