Jubilee, American Style

Silver Jubilee billboard on the Thames
(image via Reuters Pictures)

So you're an American royal watcher, and you didn't book your plane tickets in time to see Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in person?  Don't worry -- those of us on the other side of the pond don't have to miss the fun!  Here's a rundown of some of the television coverage that US viewers can enjoy during the celebration.

(All times listed are Eastern; adjust accordingly!)

Saturday, May 26

CNN will air a half-hour documentary, Kate and Wills: First Anniversary, at 2:30 PM.  According to the network release, the documentary includes footage from the couple's Canadian tour (and will surely include highlights from the royal wedding).  The documentary will be shown again on June 3 at 8 PM.

Tuesday, May 29

Katie Couric's exclusive interview with members of the royal family, "The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family with Katie Couric," will air on ABC's 20/20 at 9 PM.  According to press from the network, the two-hour special will feature interviews with Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie.

Saturday, June 2

CBS morning anchor Erica Hill will be live in London during CBS This Morning Saturday at 8 AM.

On NBC, Meredith Viera returns to Today to report live from London, starting at 7 AM.


CNN will screen Andrew Marr's The Diamond Queen, beginning at 2:30 PM.  This documentary aired on the BBC earlier this year -- highly recommended.

ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer (6 PM) and Nightline (11:35 PM on most stations) will feature Jubilee coverage.

CNN en Español will have Jubilee coverage in Spanish on Mirador Mundial at 6 PM.

Another documentary on CNN: this time it's CNN Presents: The Woman Who Would Be Queen, all about the Duchess of Cambridge, airing at 8 PM.  The special is anchored by Soledad O'Brien and features interviews with Arthur Edwards and Jules Knight.  The network press release also promises that the hour-long show will explore the way that William and Kate "have honored the life and legacy of Diana," so Diana fans, take note.

Sunday, June 3

BBC America's full day of royal programming includes a whole slate of shows, including the following documentaries: William and Harry: The Brother Princes (5:30 AM and 6:30 PM), William & Kate: A Fairytale Romance (6 AM and 4 PM), All the Queen's Horses (7 AM), Memories of a Queen (8 AM and 1 PM), Britain's Royal Weddings (2 PM), Prince William & Prince Harry: Into the Future (5:30 PM), and William and Kate: A Fairytale Wedding (7 PM).

NBC's Today airs live at 8 AM from London with Meredith Viera; they're advertising a "preview" of the Jubilee water pageant on the show.

BBC America will also show live coverage of the Diamond Jubilee Water Pageant, starting at 8:30 AM.  CNN will also broadcast the Diamond Jubilee Water Pageant on the Thames for two hours, starting at 11 AM (seems like this will be on a delay).  Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will provide commentary.  CNN International will also show the pageant; its commentators are Becky Anderson, Richard Quest, Zain Verjee, and Max Foster.  CBS is streaming the event live on CBSNews.com.

ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer (6 PM) and Nightline (11:35 PM on most stations) will feature Jubilee coverage.

CNN en Español will have Jubilee coverage in Spanish on Mirador Mundial at 6 PM.

BBC America will show Andrew Marr's The Diamond Queen, starting at 8 PM.

CNN will re-air the half-hour documentary, Kate and Wills: First Anniversary, at 8 PM.

Here's a documentary for Harry fans: CNN will air Harry: The Fighter Prince, at 8:30 PM.  In this documentary, Harry speaks with Max Foster about his military service and his recent tour of the Caribbean.

Monday, June 4

ABC's Good Morning America (7 AM) will broadcast live (East Coast only) from London.

NBC will feature Meredith Viera live at Buckingham Palace at 7 AM.

ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer (6:30 PM) and Nightline (11:35 PM on most stations) will feature Jubilee coverage.

Tuesday, June 5

Starting at 3:30 AM, BBC America will air live coverage of the Jubilee Day celebrations, including the carriage procession, the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral, the balcony appearance, and the flypast.  Royals in the procession and appearing on the balcony are the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, and Prince Harry.

ABC's Good Morning America (7 AM) will broadcast live (East Coast only) from London.

Matt Lauer joins Meredith Viera in London for Today on NBC at 7 AM.

CNN will also show the carriage procession, balcony appearance, and flypast for two hours, beginning at 9 AM (once again, on a delay).  Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will provide commentary.  CNN International will also show the event ; its commentators are Becky Anderson, Richard Quest, Zain Verjee, and Max Foster.

The only American network to broadcast the Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace will be ABC, which will air the two-hour event at 9 PM.  (There won't be live coverage of the concert here or anywhere else on American TV.)  Royals at the concert should include the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate, and Prince Harry.  Performers will include Elton John, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Stevie Wonder, will.i.am, and Jessie J.  Katie Couric will provide exclusive backstage interviews.  The network's press release suggests that they will also show the fireworks and light show.

ABC's World News with Diane Sawyer (6:30 PM) and Nightline (11:35 PM on most stations) will feature Jubilee coverage.


So, if you'd like to catch as much of the coverage as possible, here's a handy timetable.  As always, double check that your local television stations are airing programs at these times.  Live events are bolded.

Saturday, May 26
2:30 PM: Kate and Wills: First Anniversary (CNN)


Tuesday, May 29

9:00 PM: 20/20, "The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family with Katie Couric" (ABC)

Saturday, June 2

7:00 AM: Today (NBC)
8:00 AM: CBS This Morning Saturday (CBS)
2:30 PM: The Diamond Queen (CNN)

6:00 PM: World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC)

6:00 PM: Mirador Mundial (CNN en Español)

8:00 PM: CNN Presents: The Woman Who Would Be Queen (CNN)

11:35 PM: Nightline (ABC)

Sunday, June 3

5:30 AM: William and Harry: The Brother Princes (BBC America)

6:00 AM: William & Kate: A Fairytale Romance (BBC America)

7:00 AM: All the Queen's Horses (BBC America)

8:00 AM: Memories of a Queen (BBC America)
8:00 AM: Today (NBC)

8:30 AM: Diamond Jubilee Water Pageant (BBC America)

11:00 AM: Diamond Jubilee Water Pageant (CNN and CNN International)

1:00 PM: Memories of a Queen (BBC America)

2:00 PM: Britain's Royal Weddings (BBC America)

4:00 PM: William & Kate: A Fairytale Romance (BBC America)

5:30 PM: Prince William & Prince Harry: Into the Future (BBC America)

6:00 PM: World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC)

6:00 PM: Mirador Mundial (CNN en Español)

6: 30 PM: William and Harry: The Brother Princes (BBC America)

7:00 PM: William and Kate: A Fairytale Wedding (BBC America)

8:00 PM: The Diamond Queen (BBC America)

8:00 PM: Kate and Wills: First Anniversary (CNN)

8:30 PM: Harry: The Fighter Prince (CNN)

11:00 PM: The Diamond Queen (BBC America)

11:35 PM: Nightline (ABC)

Monday, June 4

2:00 AM: Britain's Royal Weddings (BBC America)

4:00 AM: William and Kate: A Fairytale Wedding (BBC America)

5:00 AM: Prince William & Prince Harry: Into the Future (BBC America)

7:00 AM: Good Morning America (ABC)
7:00 AM: Today (NBC)

6:30 PM: World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC)

11:35 PM: Nightline (ABC)

Tuesday, June 5

3:30 AM: Jubilee Day Coverage (BBC America) -- schedule notes Part 1 at 4:15 AM, Part 2 at 6:00 AM, and Part 3 at 8:30 AM

7:00 AM: Good Morning America (ABC)
7:00 AM: Today (NBC)

9:00 AM: Jubilee Day Coverage (CNN and CNN International)

6:30 PM: World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC)

9:00 PM: Diamond Jubilee Concert (ABC)

11:35 PM: Nightline (ABC)

Happy Jubilee Watching, Yanks! :)