ITV to screen royal birthday pageant

A pageant is celebrating the Queen Mother's cetenary

ITV will screen live footage of the Queen Mother's 100th birthday pageant, after the BBC was criticised for turning down the broadcast.

The Independent Television network has accepted an invitation from the producer of the celebrations, Major Michael Parker, to cover it live.

Sir Trevor McDonald, John Suchet and Kirsty Young will front the broadcast which will be produced by ITN.

The BBC rejected suggestions last week that it snubbed the Queen Mother by opting not to show live coverage of a pageant in her honour.

ITV director of programmes David Liddiment said their decision was based on the fact that the "British public wants the chance to share in this historic event".

'We wish ITV well'

But the BBC said it will be providing extensive coverage of other birthday celebrations taking place throughout the summer.

A BBC spokeswoman said the corporation had thought "long and hard" about covering the event.

The BBC's coverage of the Queen Mother's birthday celebrations

Live coverage of the state Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral

Songs of Praise special from Glamis (Her Majesty's birthplace)

Live coverage (two hours) from Clarence House/Buckingham Palace with David Dimbleby on the birthday

Repeat of BBC documentary of Her Majesty as a young girl/woman

Entertainment led retrospective 'The Queen Mother at the Royal Variety Show'

The Royal Variety Show later this year will celebrate the birthday

"We decided that Her Majesty's birthday itself should be our main priority and that the BBC's comprehensive level of coverage was right," she said.

"Now that another broadcaster has decided to cover the pageant we wish it and the organisers well.

"We will of course cover the event on our news programmes."

Major General Evelyn Webb-Carter, chairman of the organising committee, said: "We are delighted that, thanks to ITV, this tribute will now be seen by many more people around the country."

And Tory MP Peter Ainsworth also congratulated ITV for taking up the invitation.

The pageant, on 19 July, is the main focus of the event involving a cast of 7,000 as well as many charities for whom the Queen Mother is patron.

Among the highlights will be a march-past of the Household Cavalry and King's Troop, a fly-past by Second World War aircraft, music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a tribute from actor Sir John Mills.