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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

Queen 'couldn't say no' to 'humiliating' idea that became royals' 'biggest ever c**k up'

The Queen's motto that you need to be seen to be believed is something all the royal family live by, so they're always keen to be involved in as many projects as possible.

They attend royal engagements and travel the world on tours, meeting thousands of people every year.

But sometimes, when a royal is starting to fall out of favour, they may do other bits and bobs in a bid to win fans over - with differing levels of success.

In June 1987, Prince Edward, who organised the event, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Fergie went head-to-head in a special episode of It's a Royal Knockout.

Prince Edward organised the event (pixel8000)

Each royal had a team, which was representing a different charity, made up of celebrities, including the late Meat Loaf, who competed in a number of different events.

However, it didn't go quite as they hoped and has since been described as a "disaster from start to finish" and one of the "biggest c***-ups" in the royal family's history.

Royal expert Ben Pimlott claims the Queen didn't like the idea at all and all of her staff believed it would be a mistake.

Each royal had their own team of celebrities (BBC)
Prince Charles and Diana refused to take part (BBC)

An insider told him: "[The Queen] was against it, but one of her faults is that she can't say no."

Recalling the show on Channel 5's Fergie Vs Diana:Royal Wives at War, royal expert Jennie Bond said: "It's a Royal Knockout will go down in royal history as one of the biggest c**k-ups of all time I think.

"It was a disaster from beginning to end, it was absolutely humiliating.

"Sarah with her usual gusto entered into it, and if she gets into something she does it with bells on."

However not all of the royal family took up the offer of taking part.

Speaking on the documentary, the Daily Mail's Richard Kay said: "Diana famously didn't take part, neither did Charles. He thought it was something that was beneath them.

"In a way, it's kind of unfair, Fergie took a lot of the blame, almost the scapegoat.

"Her behaviour was being commented on and I think, then, is when Diana came into her own."

The show, which was filmed at Alton Towers, was hosted by Stuart Hall, Les Dawson and Su Pollard. Paul Daniels acted as the chief referee.

Princess Anne's red team, raising cash for Save the Children, included Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, actress Jenny Agutter, and athlete Deborah Flintoff.

Fergie was joined by Michael Brandon, Ben Cross and Jane Seymour, while Prince Andrew's World Wildlife Team included Gary Lineker, Margot Kidder, Rhys Jones and John Travolta. Meat Loaf, who passed away this week, also took part.

Prince Edward was in charge of the yellow team, raising cash for the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme.

Among the celebs on his team were John Cleese, Eddie Grant, Peter Blake and Christopher Reeve.

More than 18million people turned into watch it, making it the fourth most watched show of the year.

However, it wasn't all bad news as they at least managed to raise £1.5m for their chosen charities.

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