Words missing from Queen’s 21st birthday pledge in Harry and Meghan’s Netflix show

By Laura Elston, PA Court Reporter

Words are missing from the late Queen Elizabeth’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 April 21st, 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.

It was on this overseas visit to South Africa that Princess Elizabeth celebrated her 21st birthday and delivered her famous radio broadcast in the garden of Government House. 📻 pic.twitter.com/BOAzM2tmKa

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 22, 2022

“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.”