A new ITV documentary featuring King Charles has ignited a debate over royal protocol, following presenter Steve Backshall's notably informal and at times brash interviewing style. Steve Backshall's Royal Arctic Challenge on ITV1 documented the naturalist's own expedition while revisiting the King's adventurous trip to the Canadian far north 50 years ago.
A Question of Protocol and Deference
The programme began with a modern-day audience granted to Backshall by the King. While the presenter did use the formal address 'Your Majesty' upon meeting, observers noted his bow was a mere muted nod. The interaction quickly became more casual, with Backshall breaking royal protocol twice in quick succession. He patted the monarch on the shoulder and asked, 'How are you, sir?'—a question some found intrusive given the King's recent cancer treatment.
From that point, any remaining deference seemed to vanish. Backshall bombarded Charles with questions about his 1975 visit as Prince of Wales, frequently talking over the royal replies and failing to address him as 'sir' again. Critics have labelled the presenter's manner as 'bumptious' and suggested a lack of basic briefing on royal etiquette, though the King himself bore the approach with characteristic good grace.
Reliving the 'Action Man' Arctic Adventure of 1975
The heart of the documentary focused on King Charles's memorable journey to the Arctic five decades ago. The trip is fondly remembered for its light-hearted moments, showcasing the then-Prince's sense of humour. After a scuba dive beneath the sea ice, Charles demonstrated his survival suit to a shivering press corps, inflating and deflating it with a button.
Waddling with the suit fully inflated, he then released the air in one long hiss, crumpling comically until bent double. His diving instructor, Dr Joe MacInnis, now 88, matched the silliness by donning a bowler hat and opening an umbrella underwater. 'He thought I'd gone mad,' Dr MacInnis chuckled, recalling how Charles 'got into the spirit', took the props, and floated upwards 'trailing a stream of bubbles like Mary Poppins.' Sadly, this iconic moment was not captured on film, but the King enjoyed watching the existing archive footage, musing, 'I'm afraid I've always tended to live life dangerously.'
Polar Bears, Glaciers, and Pacing Problems
The two-hour special devoted significant time to Backshall's contemporary Arctic expedition. While footage of a mother polar bear with her two cubs was described as magical and the glacial landscapes as otherworldly, the pacing drew criticism. Some viewers felt the programme would have benefited from being trimmed to 90 minutes, with segments like scientists meticulously mapping ice thickness failing to engage. The contrast between the fascinating royal historical footage and the slower modern expedition segments created an uneven viewing experience.
The episode left many reflecting on how a different royal might have handled Backshall's approach. Commentators noted that such 'insolence' directed at the late Prince Philip would likely have earned the presenter a sharp rebuke, or as one reviewer colourfully suggested, 'possibly a boot in the Backshall backside.'
