Queen Elizabeth II feared death at Balmoral would make her funeral ‘difficult’, Princess Anne reveals

Queen Elizabeth feared it would be difficult to organize her funeral if she died at Balmoral, Princess Anne has revealed.

But her family convinced her to do what felt right, according to a documentary about King Charles’ first year as monarch, which will be shown on BBC One on Boxing Day.

Featuring unseen behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews with key officials, family and senior royals, it captures the galloping pace of the past twelve months.

In a moving clip, Anne talks about her mother’s death and how she felt when she saw the Imperial State Crown removed from the Queen’s coffin for the last time at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. “I felt a rather strange sense of relief – that’s it, done,” she said. “That responsibility is being shifted.”

The Princess Royal, who remained exceptionally close to the late Queen throughout her life, also said: ‘I think there was a point where she felt like it would be harder if she died at Balmoral.

Princess Anne talks about her mother’s death and how she felt as she watched the Imperial State Crown being removed from the Queen’s coffin for the final time at St George’s Chapel in Windsor

“I think we tried to convince her that this shouldn’t be part of the decision-making process.”

Many thought it appropriate that the Queen died at Balmoral because she had such a deep love for the Scottish Highlands.

Shortly before her death in September last year, she was visited by Dr Iain Greenshields, the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who afterwards said she told her it gave her ‘a lot of peace and pleasure to be’. at Balmoral’.

The Princess Royal revealed it was ‘pure serendipity’ that she was at the monarch’s side when she died. She explained that she had only stopped at Balmoral Castle on her way back south after spending a few days on the west coast of Scotland.

Anne also gives her sister-in-law Camilla the royal seal of approval and calls the support she has given her husband the King ‘excellent’.

Queen Elizabeth is pictured shortly before her death last year

Many thought it appropriate that the Queen died at Balmoral (pictured) because she had such a deep love for the Scottish Highlands

The Princess Royal said: “I have known her for a long time. “Her understanding of the role and how much of a difference it makes to the King has been absolutely excellent,” she said.

“This role is not something she would come naturally to, but she does it very well. She provides that change of speed and tone, which is just as important.’

Anne said in the documentary that it was difficult for her brother, despite a lifetime of waiting, to fully prepare for the moment he would ascend the throne. The documentary was written and co-produced for Oxford Films by The Mail’s royal expert Robert Hardman.

■ Charles III: The Coronation Year will be shown on BBC One on Tuesday 26 December at 6.50pm.