Words missing from Queen’s 21st birthday pledge in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary
The phrase ‘your service’ which appears in Princess Elizabeth’s original broadcast does not appear in the audio used in the docuseries.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Words are missing from the late Queen’s famous dedication of her life to service on her 21st birthday when it appears as part of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix documentary.
In a radio broadcast from South Africa on 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth pledged to serve people across the nation and the Commonwealth for the rest of her life.
But in episode three of Harry and Meghan’s docuseries, the words “your service” are missing from the recording of the late monarch’s well known declaration.
The princess’s actual words were: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
In the audio on Netflix, which appears as part of a discussion about the Queen’s life mission being to “fight” for the Commonwealth and the suggestion the family of nations could be seen as “Empire 2.0”, the princess is heard saying: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
The original quotation has long been seen as a key moment in Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, and the late monarch referred back to it on the eve of her historic Platinum Jubilee, in her message in which she backed Camilla to be Queen Consort.
“As we mark this anniversary, it gives me pleasure to renew to you the pledge I gave in 1947 that my life will always be devoted to your service,” she said in February 2022, just seven months before she died.
The “potential editing”, reported by MailOnline, was noticed by public speaking coach Susie Ashfield, who shared a spot the difference on TikTok.
Netflix has yet to comment on why the words are missing.
In 2021, when the Queen stripped the Sussexes of their royal patronages and Harry of his honorary military roles after a 12-month review of Megxit, Harry and Meghan were accused of disrespecting the monarch when a spokesperson for the couple said: “We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.”