Richard Whiteley interviews Lord and Lady Harewood. Lord Harewood, despite being in line to the throne has no royal duties. His interests include music especially opera for which he has a life-long passion. Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION – Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Title: Richard Whiteley Richard Whiteley reads a list of potential officials, directors, presidents,...

Richard Whiteley interviews Lord and Lady Harewood. Lord Harewood, despite being in line to the throne has no royal duties. His interests include music especially opera for which he has a life-long passion. Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION – Colour Production Colourful graphics based on various views of stylised male and female heads in profile introduce the programme. Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Title: Richard Whiteley Richard Whiteley reads a list of potential officials, directors, presidents, and others that may be applicable to a studio full of guests, but they all belong to one man. Richard introduces the Earl of Harewood and the Countess of Harewood. The audience applauds. Richard apologies for using the often used Yorkshire pronunciation of ‘Harewood’ where the first half of the sounds like the wild animal. Elsewhere it is pronounced ‘Harwood’. Richard asks which is right. Title: The Earl of Harewood Lord Harewood explains that ‘e’ in the name appeared about 200 years ago, so before that the pronunciation would have been ‘Harwood’, but his family has always used ‘Harwood’ so from his point of view this is correct. Richard quotes a friend of Lord Harewood, Ronald Duncan who wrote that many people start at the bottom in life and work their way to the top. Lord Harewood was born at the top and has had a ‘strenuous climb downwards! In response to that Lord Harewood insists any recognition for doing a job well, does not come automatically with an aristocratic title. In some respects, it’s a bit more difficult to establish your own qualifications and abilities. Lord Harewood talks about an experience when he was greeted with some scepticism when he first started working in an opera house. Lord Harewood, having mentioned earlier the character Bertie Wooster, a bumbling aristocrat created by the author P G Wodehouse, prompts Richard to ask Lady Harewood if there is anything pertaining to Bertie Wooster that features in her husband’s character. She emphatically denies that there is no similarity. Richard acknowledges the many achievements that Lord Harewood has made, and then moves on to his experience as a prisoner of war in Italy in 1944.Lord Harewood tells of his experience of being shot, and his move to the German prisoner of war camp at Colditz. His captors only finding out that he was a member of the British aristocracy when the war was coming to an end. Richard then talks to the Lord Harewood about his position of being 19th in line to the throne. The position does not seem to be uppermost in Lord Harewood’s thought and when Richard asks him about aspirations to be king. He is quite happy that his aspiration to work in an opera house has been fulfilled. He admits that post-university he was single-minded in his ambition to work in the arts. Richard asks Lord Harewood about any royal duties he performs his reply is that he has no royal duties. Title: The Countess of Harewood Richard asks the countess about a quote that she had apparently said about the best years of a woman’s life being between 18 and 28. Lady Harewood denies saying it, but when pressed about the topic, she says she would rather advocate doing whatever you want at whatever age you are. Her alternative answer is that she doesn’t know yet, maybe the best years are yet to come. Richard then moves on to her career as a violinist. She outlines her background as being from a musical family and feels very lucky to have been successful. As an Australian Richard asks why, in Lady Harewood’s opinion, has Australia been so successful at producing world famous musicians. She says there is strong singing and ballet presence in Australia. As for playing Lady Harewood says she doesn’t play now. Richard asks how the couple met. Lord Harewood says they met on a plane from Milan they shouldn’t have been on, as they had missed their scheduled flight. Richard moves the topic on to Princess Anne’s wedding, as the couple were not invited despite Lord Harewood being a cousin of the queen, in fact he was not surprised at not being invited, having been divorced from his first wife. Richard then asks Lord Harewood about Harewood House and it’s access by the public at weekends. Lord Harewood says that it gets busy but is manageable and following a question by Richard about lack of quietness and seclusion for the family, Lady Harewood says they have all of that, by living in areas of the house and grounds that are not given over to public traffic. Richard asks them about their weekly routine which is based on working and living in London during the week and back to Yorkshire at weekends. Lord Harewood and Lady Harewood talk a little about running the theatre company. Richard asks Lord Harewood if he ever attends the House of Lords. He replies only when there is a vote on the death penalty, a topic he is against. Richard asks Lord Harewood why he sold of various parts of his estate; his answer is to make ends meet. Richard goes on to ask about the Bird Garden at Harewood House. Lord Harewood says it was a joint venture where all the staff at the house were involved in its development. It was also an interest in tropical and domestic birds that motivated them. Also, being an outside location, they thought it might be more interesting for visitors especially children. Peter Brown ornithologist and curator of the bird garden chose the birds for this new venture. A film clip shows some of the birds in their enclosures. Lady Harewood talks about her favourite birds in the collection. Richard moves the topic on to football and as a former president of the football association, Richard asks if Lord Harewood is a footballer himself, he replies not now. Lord Harewood is a Leeds United enthusiast, and he has always loved football. Lady Harewood being Australian had not seen a game of soccer until 1956, but now she loves the game. Currently Lord Harewood would like to remain with the English National Opera. They talk about their son’s rock group the Global Village Trucking Company, neither parent understands the music, but they are supportive. Richard thanks his guests and closes the programme Title: CALENDAR PEOPLE Tonight Featured Credits: The Earl and Countess of Harewood Talking to Richard Whiteley Director – Nick Gray Producer – John Meade Editor – John Wilford End Title: YORKSHIRE TELEVISION Colour Production © Trident Television 1975