BBC receives 900 complaints about King Charles documentary ‘biased in favor of monarchy’

The BBC received almost 900 complaints about a documentary about King Charles III. received in his first year on the throne.

The company disclosed this in its fortnightly complaint report Charles III: The Coronation Year was the subject of 897 complaints from people who felt there was a “prejudice in favor of the monarchy.”

The 90-minute special was produced by Oxford Films and premiered on December 26. It showed behind-the-scenes footage of the royal, including a joke about having “sausage fingers” with his son Prince William during coronation rehearsals.

It is not unusual for the BBC to receive complaints from viewers who feel their royal production is not impartial. The company received a record 109,741 complaints about its extensive coverage of Prince Philip’s death in 2021.

In a statement, the BBC defended itself Charles III: The Coronation YearIt made clear that it retained editorial control over the documentary and reflected the Republican votes in the broader coverage of the coronation.

“Charles III: The Coronation Year is a unique observational documentary covering a period of historical significance as the King assumed new responsibilities and prepared for this country’s first coronation in seventy years. It takes a unique approach and captures personal moments as the king adjusts to his new role. Editorial control remains with the BBC,” the BBC said.

“The BBC aims to reflect a range of views in its news and current coverage of the monarchy. At the start of 2023, when we documented the coronation, panorama on BBC One examined the structures and finances surrounding the Royal Family and included a recently commissioned survey on attitudes to the monarchy. On Radio 4 Today In the program there was a debate about whether Britain needed a monarchy and The world this weekend looked into the future.”