BBC accused of being ‘anti-British’ as it slashes team behind major state occasions such as Queen’s funeral and Remembrance Sunday to just one – despite sending army of 550 staff to Glasto

The BBC was tonight accused of being ‘anti-British’ over secret plans to cut TV crews behind coverage of royal ceremonies and veterans’ commemorations.

The broadcaster is understood to have reduced staff at BBC Studios Events Productions to a single member in a bid to save cash.

The team covers State events such as the Queen’s funeral, the coronation of King Charles and the annual Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.

Critics accused the Corporation of prioritizing woke events such as the Glastonbury Festival over more traditional events, including the annual Colored Troop.

A source said the move had been ‘sneaked in’ at a time of turmoil at the Company, which currently lacks a permanent chief executive in charge.

Boss Tim Davie, who resigned following criticism of the editing of US President Donald Trump’s Panorama video clip, is expected to leave this week, but the new boss, former Google executive Matt Brittin, is not expected to take over until May. The BBC said Rhodri Talfan Davies, the broadcaster’s countries director, will run the broadcaster on an interim basis.

The small but experienced BBC Events team, whose coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and funeral has been recognized by BAFTA, currently operates with no more than six permanent staff and costs ‘peanuts’ compared to the millions the BBC spends each year to send an army of 550 staff to the Worthy Farm music event in Somerset, a source said.

It is understood news of the job losses came last week, just a day after the team won the Royal Television Society Award for live coverage of Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 2025.

The source said it would be impossible for a single person to cover historically significant events such as VE Day and D-Day anniversary celebrations, which require months of coordination even with the help of freelancers.

Those at Buckingham Palace are also concerned about the consequences of royal programming if much of the cast is absent, fearing that the quality of production and planning previously provided to them will be diminished.

Members of the King’s Guard take part in the Colored Troop Parade honoring King Charles on his official birthday on June 14, 2025 in London

King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in central London on 9 November 2025.

Controversial punk singer Bobby Vylan performs at Glastobury in June 2025. The BBC was heavily criticized for live-streaming his set, which included slogans against the Israel Defense Forces.

The singer also waved the Palestinian flag during her set at Worthy Farm in Somerset.

‘He sneaked under the radar while their DG was away,’ says a senior source. ‘There will be one person left to answer the phone, but it would be better if they dropped the subject. ‘These big events can take months to plan.’

The source said bosses have decided to remove BBC Events from coverage of the Opening of Parliament in May and will instead feature news teams only.

It also comes after the company announced it would not broadcast the famous Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race on either TV or radio next weekend for the first time in a century.

Earlier this month bosses canceled a live broadcast of the Commonwealth Day Service, replacing it with an episode of Escape to the Country on BBC One. The BBC blamed ‘funding difficulties’ for this decision, which was described as ‘appalling’.

Former Attorney-General Sir Michael Ellis KC, who served as Arts Minister in Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, said: ‘This is another shameful anti-British decision by the BBC.

‘Somehow they can find unlimited resources to send a ridiculous entourage of 550 staff to the Glastonbury Festival, but they want to cut the excellent team who win awards for their coverage of major ceremonies and important State events in the life of this nation.

‘His coverage of spectacular events such as Uniting the Colors and the State Opening of Parliament has been admired and admired worldwide. But this is the department they chose to cut.

‘This is yet another complete departure from the principles on which Lord Reith founded the BBC, and another reason why forcing the public to pay license fees is an anachronism that cannot continue.’

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall with Members of the Royal Family. The annual festival honors the past and present service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel

Rod Stewart performs 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 an ‘insult to the memory of veterans’.

He said: ‘It is outrageous that the BBC has seen fit to send 550 staff to cover Glastonbury, especially given the controversy surrounding Bob Vylan’s performance last year, while also making cuts to the department responsible for presenting some of the most important events in history and the dates in the diary to the public.

‘Covering events such as the Queen’s funeral is important to our Britishness, and it is insulting and frankly unpleasant that they prioritize a music festival over important dates in the diary such as Remembrance Sunday, which honors the bravest of the brave who gave their lives for this country.’

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith also said he was ‘surprised’ by the sacking of BBC Events staff.

As well as Royal events, which often attract billions of global viewers, the team also organizes broadcasts of the Easter Sunday service from Canterbury Cathedral, the New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration and the annual Christmas carol concert from King’s College, Cambridge.

‘I would ask the BBC to think very carefully when making this decision,’ he said.

‘BBC’s coverage of royal events, funerals, weddings and other official events spreads around the world; this is the crown jewel of BBC broadcasting.

‘The UK and the BBC do these kinds of shows very well, so it seems odd that they would want to get rid of these people when they are providing some of the most valuable output.’

A spokesman for the BBC insisted viewers would not notice any changes to its news and claimed the move was part of an effort to become more efficient.

“As a prudent business with a mission to maximize returns for the BBC, we regularly look at how we are set up and where we can operate more efficiently,” the spokesman said.

‘We are proposing some changes that will help us remain creatively strong and continue to deliver a range of high-quality programmes, while managing our costs in a challenging and fast-moving market.’