ANNIE LEIBOVITZ - BBC TO BROADCAST ROYALS SHOW

BBC TO BROADCAST ROYALS SHOW

BBC is to broadcast the controversial series about the royal family that led to the resignation of three senior members of staff.

BBC1 controller Peter Fincham, head of publicity Jane Fletcher, and Stephen Lambert, head of production company RDF Media, stepped down after misleading editing of a trailer promoting the documentary suggested the Queen had stormed out of a photography session with renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.

It was reported the monarch had been angered by the photographer's suggestion that she remove her crown to give the pictures a "less dressy" tone.

But an independent inquiry led by former BBC executive Will Wyatt was highly critical of the corporation for permitting RDF's editing of the trailer.

Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, has today confirmed the five-part series Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work, will be broadcast before Christmas.

Ms Bennett said: "I am delighted that we are going ahead with this series and bringing it to BBC1 this year.

"There has never been any doubt about the integrity of the films themselves: they are a serious and important look at the way the monarchy works."

She added: "With exceptional access, viewers will get a remarkable picture of the work of the royal family over the course of a year."

All profits from the series - the broadcast date of which has not yet been confirmed - are to go to charities nominated by the royal household and agreed by all parties, a BBC statement confirmed.