A Royal Night Out

A Royal Night Out is a film about one perfect, glorious evening in the lives of two real-life princesses. They are Elizabeth and Margaret Windsor and the night is 8 May 1945, V-E Night.

The whole of London was on the streets to celebrate the official end of World War II in Europe. It is known the young princesses, aged 19 and 14, slipped out of the palace to join the communal euphoria. They danced a conga in the Ritz, mingled with the crowds unrecognised in Piccadilly and joined the cheering crowds outside the palace gates at midnight. Directed by acclaimed UK director Julian Jarrold (Becoming Jane, Kinky Boots, Brideshead Revisited), A ROYAL NIGHT OUT is an affectionate ‘what-if’ story about the adventures Elizabeth and Margaret might have had on the joyous night that brought the whole of London together.

“The idea of the two princesses, out on the town, incognito, is very exciting,” says Jarrold. “The story is so intriguing. We don’t know exactly what happened. So our film Is a little fantasy inspired by that true story. It’s also a romantic comedy adventure about an odd couple: Jack, a working-class air- man with republican instincts and Elizabeth , the heir apparent. They are thrown together by chance and have to make their way through London on this crazy, unbelievable night. I really wanted to capture the energy and spirit of that and optimism of that night.

The original script was written by newcomer Trevor de Silva and then Kevin Hood, with whom Jarrold had worked closely on Becoming Jane. “Kevin and I had a very good collaboration,” says Jarrold. “Kevin has done a fantastic job ,depicting the girls behind the iconic image and capturing the texture of the different worlds from the Royal palace to the dens of Soho. He’s also very good on the witty humour of the characters.”

A Royal Night Out is produced by Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae of Ecosse Films, the UK production company that has made its name for skilfully blending historical figures and events with fictional elements in films such as Mrs Brown, Nowhere Boy, and Becoming Jane.

Classification 12A