In conversation
As he gears up to present the BBC’s Coronation coverage, Huw Edwards opens up to Nathalie Whittle about conversations with The King, his off-screen pastimes and his very tolerant wife
We’re really looking forward to your Coronation coverage. What does it mean to you to be a part of such a big moment in history?
I’m excited about it but, honestly, I’m a bit nervous, too. There’s a huge responsibility to get it right and I’m always terrified of making a mistake. When I was presenting my first Trooping the Colour in 2003, I mixed up Sandhurst and Sandringham and my military friends couldn’t believe I’d made such an elementary error, but I was nervous and I slipped. I also once called the Massed Bands of the Guards Division the Massed Gangs of the Bards Division at the Festival of Remembrance in front of an audience of 5,000 – thankfully, the place just erupted in laughter.
How have you been preparing for the Coronation coverage?
In a way, I’ve been preparing for years, because you always think there’s a possibility that you might be involved. I’ve been buying old magazines, which were published at the time of the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, from eBay. I have about half a dozen of them and they’re full of detailed descriptions of what went on during the day. But, ultimately, it’s not going to be like 1953, because Britain is a very different place now – and I think The King wants this Coronation to reflect that.
Do you ever practise at home?
I don’t stand in front of a mirror or say to my wife, ‘Can you please listen to this?’ – Ithink she’d probably ask me to leave the room! But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t practise in my own
mind. I’m often on the Tube thinking, ‘What would I say if this happened?’ or ‘What’s the best turn of phrase for this?’
Have you met The King?
Yes, I’ve met him several times. I’ve spent some time with him at his residence Dumfries House in Scotland, and he has a sense of humour that is quite captivating. We had a conversation, just me and him, when we walked around the gardens and I’d never betray the confidence, but he’s quite blunt with his views on things, which I found rather refreshing. The idea that he’s not ready to be King is ridiculous; he’s more than ready for it. What do you think we can expect from his reign?
I think he wants to provide the kind of stability and sense of reassurance for people that his mother did – and that might sound easy, but it’s not, because she had 70 years to do it. He’s very mindful of the fact that he
