Right Royal Relief: The look that says: Phew, I’m glad that’s over! Moment the King returned to Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla after his coronation was captured in a historical documentary

When the curtain falls on a theatrical showstopper, actors share applause and pleasantries as the buzz of adrenaline is replaced by a warm rush of relief.

It was much the same for King Charles after his coronation – with the small addition of receiving a thunderous royal salute from 4,000 soldiers.

A historic documentary has captured the moment the King returned to Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla after the service at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

His sister, the Princess Royal, likens the poignant moment to that of an actor who has performed to the best of his ability and then left the stage to loud applause.

She tells the makers of Charles III: The Coronation Year, which airs on Boxing Day: ‘Just ask any actor who comes off stage after a performance he’s really put a lot into. It’s that kind of relief.”

It was much the same for King Charles after his coronation – with the small addition of receiving a thunderous royal salute from 4,000 soldiers

The 90-minute film was written and co-produced for Oxford Films by The Mail’s Royal expert Robert Hardman and is a highlight of the BBC’s Christmas programme.

It is the first time a crew has been given fly-on-the-wall access to the Royal Family ahead of such a momentous national event.

It was written and co-produced for Oxford Films by The Mail’s royal expert Robert Hardman, who provides more wonderful details in today’s Weekend Magazine.

The program includes interviews with family members, especially Princess Anne, and staff responsible for making the King’s big day a success.

On Saturday morning, May 6, King Charles and Queen Camilla are involved in the last-minute preparations at Buckingham Palace.

Down the hall Her Majesty walks out in her Bruce Oldfield embroidered ivory dress, accompanied by her pages – whom she affectionately calls ‘the boys’.

“Very slowly, together,” she says. Lady Lansdowne, one of Camilla’s two official ladies present that day, says of the moment: ‘It wasn’t until we were all ready that we actually all came together to see each other for the first time.

‘She hadn’t seen our dresses and we hadn’t seen her dress. That was a very special moment. It looked a bit like a wedding. It was the bridesmaids who went to visit the bride.’

A historic documentary has captured the moment the King returned to Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla after the service at Westminster Abbey on May 6

The 90-minute film was written and co-produced for Oxford Films by The Mail’s Royal expert Robert Hardman and is a highlight of the BBC’s Christmas program

The images show the queen walking gingerly towards the exit, accompanied by her three grandsons and great-nephew.

“Don’t step on my dress or there will be a problem,” Camilla reminds them fondly.

She adds, smiling to the cameraman, “Here we are, with all the boys.”

The King then appears in conversation with his equerry Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, smiling and helping to ease everyone’s nervousness by waving the mantle of state that his grandfather, King George VI, wore at his coronation in 1937, during his own ‘I Can Fly Titanic moment. .

Camilla also jokes, “Someone’s always getting pulled over,” referring to the weight of their finery.

As the couple depart for Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, Lady Lansdowne, lifelong friend of the Queen, comments: ‘It was a very exciting moment to get them into that carriage for the first time and then we set off.’

In an exceptionally moving clip, Camilla’s other lady present, her sister Annabel Elliot, waves her goodbye and dabs her face with a handkerchief, apparently moved to tears.

She remembers: ‘I thought back to when I was two years old and watching Queen’s [Elizabeth] Coronation on a small black and white television – and there goes this golden carriage with my sister in it.

‘It’s so surreal and this can’t be happening. Yes, it was quite a moment.’ Lady Lansdowne added: ‘We were ready to go out and literally face the world.’