CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: 'Why Steve Backshall's cocky and rude interview with King Charles left me cold'
A recent two-hour TV special revisited King Charles’s 1975 Arctic adventure, showcasing both his humour and a surprising lack of protocol. The programme also featured explorer Steve Backshall, who interviewed the monarch a year earlier. Their exchange revealed a more relaxed approach than the late Queen’s reserved style.
The special focused heavily on Backshall’s own Arctic expedition, which dominated much of the runtime. Viewers noted that the segment could have been shortened to 90 minutes without losing impact.
Backshall’s interview with the King took an informal turn. Initially addressing him as 'Your Majesty,' the explorer later broke royal protocol by patting Charles on the shoulder and dropping the title 'sir.' Despite this, the King remained composed and handled the breach with good humour. The King appeared delighted while watching archive footage of his 1975 Arctic trip. He recalled the experience fondly, describing himself as someone who lived life dangerously. The clips included moments of levity, such as him inflating and deflating his survival suit and his diving instructor’s underwater antics with a bowler hat and umbrella. Unlike his mother, who rarely gave interviews, King Charles has been more open to public conversations. Backshall, however, bombarded him with questions about the 1975 visit, showing little of the expected deference. The King, unfazed, engaged warmly with the discussion.
The programme highlighted the King’s willingness to reflect on past adventures and his easygoing response to Backshall’s informal approach. Unlike the late Queen’s strict adherence to tradition, Charles’s relaxed manner suggests a shift in royal interactions. The special left viewers with a clearer picture of his personality and his memories of the Arctic expedition.
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