In a controversial move, the BBC faces accusations of being ‘anti-British’ due to undisclosed plans to drastically reduce its television team responsible for covering significant royal events and veterans’ remembrance ceremonies.
Reports indicate that the broadcaster intends to downsize the staff at BBC Studios Events Productions to a mere single member, ostensibly as a cost-cutting measure. This team is pivotal in organizing broadcasts of national importance, such as the Queen’s funeral, King Charles’ coronation, and the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
Critics have voiced concerns, suggesting that the Corporation is shifting its focus toward modern cultural events like the Glastonbury Festival, at the expense of more traditional ceremonies, including the esteemed Trooping the Colour.
Insiders claim that this decision is being quietly implemented amid a period of instability at the BBC, which currently lacks a permanent director general. The outgoing boss, Tim Davie, who stepped down after backlash over the editing of a Panorama video clip involving US President Donald Trump, is set to depart this week. His successor, former Google executive Matt Brittin, is not expected to assume his role until May. Meanwhile, Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC’s director of nations, will temporarily lead the organization, according to a statement from the Corporation.
A source said the move was being ‘sneaked through’ at a time of turmoil at the Corporation, which currently has no permanent director general in charge.
Boss Tim Davie, who resigned following criticism of the editing of a Panorama video clip of US President Donald Trump, is due to leave this week but new boss, ex-Google executive Matt Brittin, is not due to take over until May. Rhodri Talfan Davies, the broadcaster’s director of nations, will lead the broadcaster in the interim, the BBC said.
A source said the small but experienced BBC Events team – whose coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and funeral has been recognised by BAFTA – already operates with no more than six permanent staff and costs ‘peanuts’ in comparison to the millions the BBC spends every year on sending a 550-strong army of employees to the Worthy Farm music event, in Somerset.
It is understood that news of the job losses came last week – just a day after the team won a Royal Television Society Award for their live coverage of Holocaust Memorial Day, which marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, on January 27, 2025.
The source said it will be impossible for one individual to organise coverage of historically important occasions, such as the anniversary celebrations of VE Day and D-Day, which take months of co-ordination, even with the help of freelance workers.
Insiders at Buckingham Palace are also worried about the implications for royal programming if the team is decimated, and fear a knock on in production quality and scheduling prominence afforded to them previously.
Coverage of state events, such as Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, are organised by BBC Events, which is facing staff cuts due to the Corporation’s ‘efficiency’ drive
Members of the King’s Guard take part in the Trooping the Colour parade which honours King Charles on his official birthday, in London, on June 14, 2025
King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London on November 9, 2025.
Controversial punk singer Bobby Vylan performing at Glastobury in June 2025. The BBC were heavily criticised for live streaming his set, which included chants against the Israeli Defence Forces
The singer also waved the Palestinian flag during his set at Worthy Farm, Somerset
‘It’s been sneaked in under the radar while they have no DG,’ says a senior source. ‘They will have one person left to answer the phone but they might as well shut the thing down. These big events can take months of planning.’
The source said bosses had already decided to remove BBC Events from coverage of the State Opening of Parliament, in May, which instead will be staffed by news crews alone.
It also comes after the Corporation announced it would not be broadcasting the famous Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race on either TV or radio next weekend for the first time in a century.
Earlier this month bosses axed live coverage of the Commonwealth Day Service, which was replaced on BBC One by an episode of Escape to the Country. The BBC blamed ‘funding challenges’ for that decision, which was branded ‘appalling.’
Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis KC, who served as Minister for Arts in Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, said: ‘This is another disgraceful anti-British decision from the BBC.
‘Somehow they can find unlimited resources to send an absurd retinue of 550 staff to the Glastonbury Festival but they want to cut the excellent team who have won awards for their coverage of important ceremonial and key State events in the life of this nation.
‘Their coverage of such wonderful events as Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament have been enjoyed and admired around the world. Yet that is the department they have chosen to slash.
‘This is another total departure from the principles upon which Lord Reith established the BBC and is yet another reason why forcing the public to pay a licence fee is an anachronism that cannot continue.’
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, together with Members of the Royal Family, attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. The annual festival honours the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel, past and present
Rod Stewart performing during the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday November 8, 2025
Tory MP and former television presenter Esther McVey described the move as ‘insulting to the memory of veterans.’
She said: ‘It is outrageous that the BBC sees fit to send 550 members of staff to cover Glastonbury, particularly given the controversy around the Bob Vylan performance last year, while at the same time is making cuts to the department responsible for bringing some of the most significant events in history and dates in the diary to the public.
‘Covering occasions, such as the Queen’s funeral, are important for our British-ness and it is insulting and frankly distasteful that they are prioritising a music festival over key dates in the diary, such as Remembrance Sunday, that honour the bravest of the brave who gave their lives for this country.’
While ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also said he was ‘surprised’ that staff at BBC Events were being axed.
As well as coverage of Royal events, which often pull in billions of global viewers, the team also organises broadcasts of the Easter Sunday service from Canterbury Cathedral, New Year’s Eve firework’s celebration and the annual Christmas carol concert from King’s College, Cambridge.
‘I would ask the BBC to think very carefully about making this decision,’ he said.
‘The BBC’s coverage of royal events, funerals, weddings and other state occasions goes around the world, it is the crown jewels of BBC output.
‘Britain and the BBC does this kind of pageantry very well, so it seems strange that they want to get rid of these people when they provide some of the most valuable output.’
A spokesman for the BBC insisted viewers would not notice any change in their coverage and claimed the move was part of a drive to be more efficient.
‘As a prudent commercial business with a mandate to maximise returns to the BBC, we regularly look at how we’re set up and where we can work more efficiently,’ the spokesman said.
‘We’re proposing some changes that will help us stay strong creatively and continue to deliver a range of high-quality programmes – whilst managing our costs in a challenging and fast‑moving market.’
