This film is part of Free

A State Visit to Turkey of Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen’s seven day tour of Turkey in October 1971 was the first British royal visit to the country since King Edward VIII visited the region in September 1936, three months before he abdicated.
Overview
Britain and Turkey had not always enjoyed the ‘special’ friendship referred to in the commentary. Their armies were on opposing sides in the First World War and there had been disagreementt over the future of Cyprus in the run up to the settlement of 1960. In the 1960s relations improved and this reciprocal tour (the President of Turkey, Cevdet Sunay, had paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 1967) was regarded as a milestone in the bilateral alliance between the two countries.
The camera affords the viewer a prime vantage point by which to marvel at the splendour of the pageantry and contemplate every nuance of gesture and sartorial detail. As we linger on the bejewelled Queen waiting patiently at the British Embassy in Ankara to greet her guests we wonder what it might be like to be in her shoes. The commentary refers to the recent earthquakes. Since 1966 earthquakes had claimed the lives of nearly 4000 Turkish citizens. But the veneer of gold and glitter insulates the viewer from the underlying political tremors that Turkey was facing at the time. Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel’s Justice Party had been ousted by a military coup in March 1971; Kurdish separatism had intensified; and there had been a series of bomb plots by left-wing activists. As the Queen, Prince Philip and Princess Anne, are paraded through the streets of Ankara in an open-topped car the rapturous faces of the crowds betray no sign that their city was under martial law. The film is as much a travelogue as a record of a state visit in that it showcases some of the most impressive sights of Turkey - from Istanbul’s lavish Blue Mosque, to the ancient ruins of Ephesus through the breathtaking ‘fairy chimneys’ of Cappodoccia. The ‘friendship’ between the UK and Turkey remains strong. The UK is the second biggest importer of goods from Turkey, after Germany, and approximately two million Britons spend their summer holidays in Turkey every year.
Related

Governor's Notebook 1 Governor's Notebook 1
Amateur film 1953 2 mins Silent Location: Stormont
An unforgettable day for Lady Wakehurst as the glamorous new monarch delights the crowds at Stormont

Royal Visit to Bearsden June 1965 Royal Visit to Bearsden June 1965
Amateur film 1965 11 mins Location: Bearsden
The Queen and Prince Philip enjoy a day out in the Glasgow suburbs in this sumptuous 1960s amateur film, complete with pipe band, flag-waving schoolchildren and very big hats.

Stranraer Royal Visit 1955 Stranraer Royal Visit 1955
Non-Fiction 1955 11 mins Silent Location: Stranraer
Visit Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, with a Royal accompaniment as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visit in 1955, enjoying an agricultural show and pageant along the way.

Jubilee Jubilee
Current affairs 1977 13 mins Location: Bath
A special report looks into the preparations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee and her subsequent tour of the South West.

Sierra Leone Greets the Queen Sierra Leone Greets the Queen
Non-Fiction 1961 21 mins
The Queen and Prince Philip's visit in late 1961, the year Sierra Leone became independent from Britain.

Royal Destiny Royal Destiny
Documentary 1953 17 mins
Produced by British Movietone for “Her Majesty’s Central Office of Information”, Royal Destiny traces Queen Elizabeth II’s young life up to her ascension to the throne.

Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.

Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.

Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.

Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.

Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.

Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.