(EDITORS: British Queen officially becomes longest reigning Monarch at around 17:30 BST on Wed 9th Sept - but package can play anytime on Wednesday 9th Sept).
INTRO: Queen Elizabeth the second will today become Britain's longest reigning Monarch...
She has been at the helm for 63 years, seven months and two days, surpassing Queen Victoria's record...
The 89-year-old will mark the day by opening a new railway line in Scotland...
Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports...
IN: *QUEEN: I declare before you...*
OUT: ...SOC.
DUR: 2'47"
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-AIR.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ARN.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-GENERIC.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ICRT.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-VON.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-RNZ.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-VATICAN.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ZIZ.mp3
Script:
NAT SOUND - QUEEN: "I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, will be devoted to your service..." FADE DOWN
VO1: Today, Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second beats the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, becoming Britain's longest reigning Monarch, at 63 years, seven months and two days...
Crowned on the second of June 1953, the Queen has seen 12 Prime Ministers come and go in her role as Head of State and of the Commonwealth...
Ingrid Seward in author of The Queen's Speech and editor of Majesty Magazine...
CUT1: Ingrid Seward, author: The Queen's Speech: "I think the Queen has been so successful A) because she has put duty before everything else, duty before self and if you're tired you just forget it, if you've got a cold, take an Aspirin and you just concentrate. I suppose she was the first person to ever do mindfulness. She just decided, I've got to stand here for four hours so I'm going to stand here for four hours."
VO2: During her reign the Queen took a leading role in the Irish peace process, and also travelled the world meeting and playing host to fellow royalty and leaders.
Discontent with the Monarchy reached an all time peak in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, but support was regained after the queen gave a live broadcast five days later.
The role of the Royal family has undoubtably changed, with the new generation bringing the family more into touch with the modern and public life...
CUT2: Ingrid Seward, author: The Queen's Speech: "The really big change is that people were very deferential to the Royal family when the Queen first came to the throne. She was 26 when her father died and people would literally bow very deeply and they would walk backwards in the presence. Now the Queen doesn't even ask people to curtsy or bow to her, she does move with the times."
VO3: Unlike her son Charles, little is known of the Queen's views on political issues...
But as an unelected Head of State, some groups want to see the Monarchy removed altogether...
Graham Smith is from campaign group Republic...
CUT3: Graham Smith, Republic: "On the political side of things it doesn't work because the Queen is not independent of the Prime Minister, she only does what the Prime Minister tells her to do, so there's almost no point in her being there. What we could have in her place is someone who is independent of the Prime Minister by the fact they've been elected by the people."
VO4: There is no doubting the popularity of the Queen and the Royal Family among visitors to Britain, with millions of tourists coming every year...
Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second remains active in public royal engagements...
But as she gradually relinquishes some roles to Charles who is next in line, many are taking this milestone to reflect on more than six decades of unwavering dedication.
SOC.
>>
ENDS
INTRO: Queen Elizabeth the second will today become Britain's longest reigning Monarch...
She has been at the helm for 63 years, seven months and two days, surpassing Queen Victoria's record...
The 89-year-old will mark the day by opening a new railway line in Scotland...
Our UK correspondent Dan Whitehead reports...
IN: *QUEEN: I declare before you...*
OUT: ...SOC.
DUR: 2'47"
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-AIR.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ARN.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-GENERIC.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ICRT.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-VON.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-RNZ.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-VATICAN.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0909QUEEN-PKG-DW-ZIZ.mp3
Script:
NAT SOUND - QUEEN: "I declare before you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, will be devoted to your service..." FADE DOWN
VO1: Today, Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second beats the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, becoming Britain's longest reigning Monarch, at 63 years, seven months and two days...
Crowned on the second of June 1953, the Queen has seen 12 Prime Ministers come and go in her role as Head of State and of the Commonwealth...
Ingrid Seward in author of The Queen's Speech and editor of Majesty Magazine...
CUT1: Ingrid Seward, author: The Queen's Speech: "I think the Queen has been so successful A) because she has put duty before everything else, duty before self and if you're tired you just forget it, if you've got a cold, take an Aspirin and you just concentrate. I suppose she was the first person to ever do mindfulness. She just decided, I've got to stand here for four hours so I'm going to stand here for four hours."
VO2: During her reign the Queen took a leading role in the Irish peace process, and also travelled the world meeting and playing host to fellow royalty and leaders.
Discontent with the Monarchy reached an all time peak in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, but support was regained after the queen gave a live broadcast five days later.
The role of the Royal family has undoubtably changed, with the new generation bringing the family more into touch with the modern and public life...
CUT2: Ingrid Seward, author: The Queen's Speech: "The really big change is that people were very deferential to the Royal family when the Queen first came to the throne. She was 26 when her father died and people would literally bow very deeply and they would walk backwards in the presence. Now the Queen doesn't even ask people to curtsy or bow to her, she does move with the times."
VO3: Unlike her son Charles, little is known of the Queen's views on political issues...
But as an unelected Head of State, some groups want to see the Monarchy removed altogether...
Graham Smith is from campaign group Republic...
CUT3: Graham Smith, Republic: "On the political side of things it doesn't work because the Queen is not independent of the Prime Minister, she only does what the Prime Minister tells her to do, so there's almost no point in her being there. What we could have in her place is someone who is independent of the Prime Minister by the fact they've been elected by the people."
VO4: There is no doubting the popularity of the Queen and the Royal Family among visitors to Britain, with millions of tourists coming every year...
Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Second remains active in public royal engagements...
But as she gradually relinquishes some roles to Charles who is next in line, many are taking this milestone to reflect on more than six decades of unwavering dedication.
SOC.
>>
ENDS