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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
King Charles Makes His Debut As King as He Greets Mourners for Queen Elizabeth II Outside Buckingham Palace; Queen Elizabeth's II Memorable Sense Of Humor; NY Times: More Than A Dozen People Connected To Trump Receive Federal Grand Jury's Subpoenas This Week In Jan. 6 Case; 1,300+ Killed In Pakistan Floods Since June; VP Harris, Husband Visit British Embassy In D.C., Sign Condolence Book; Says Queen "Lived What it Means To Be Strong And Wise". Aired 8-9p ET
Aired September 09, 2022 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[20:00:20]
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Good evening.
For the first time in more than 70 years, the words "God Save the King" were officially uttered in the United Kingdom, a break from the only past most in that country and around the world have ever known when they are still mourning today as they remember the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.
Today again, church bells across the country, including at the storied Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral rang out. Today, mourners mourn the loss of the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Across the country and on ships at sea, the British Armed Forces fired salutes to honor Her Majesty. The Ministry of Defense says one round was fired for each of the 96 years that she lived.
All eyes now on her eldest son, King Charles III and his wife of 17 years, now the Queen Consort, Camilla. They returned as you see to Buckingham Palace today from Balmoral Castle where they were greeted warmly by the crowd and attendants, some of whom broke out in song.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: God save our Gracious King. Long live our Noble King. God Save the King.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love you Charles. We love you King Charles. We loved your mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: A member of the crowd was so overjoyed at meeting the new sovereign, she planted a kiss on his cheek.
Minutes later, a historic side, a King of England walking into the Royal residence in London, Buckingham Palace, one of many symbols of change today, and likely in the days to come.
The new King also spoke for the first time in his new capacity from Buckingham Palace, addressing his subjects and the world promising to follow in the footsteps of his mother who said hers was a life well- lived.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING CHARLES III: As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too, now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation and wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect, and love, as I have throughout my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Those words from the new King of England. It preceded a ceremony of remembrance for Elizabeth and touched upon her character, her faith, and ended with as I mentioned, the first time in more than 70 years, "God Save the King," the British National Anthem, was sung in an official capacity.
Here are some of the moments from that service at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHOIR singing.)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With proud Thanksgiving, we gather in this Cathedral today to mourn the death of our sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth II.
(CHOIR singing.)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She has been this nation's unerring heartbeat through times of progress, joy, and celebration, as well as in much darker and more difficult seasons.
(CHOIR singing.)
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE playing bagpipe.)
(CHOIR singing "God Save the King.")
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[20:05:25]
COOPER: And there will of course be more remembrances of the Queen, as well as a State Funeral as former Prime Minister Tony Blair told CNN this morning that she was able to blend tradition with modernity, and she was beloved not merely because of the length of her reign. Rather, he said, "Because of what she represented and because of this character that she had, this huge attachment to duty, and decency and dignity."
As one mourner told CNN shortly after today's ceremony, "The Queen is a hard act to follow for anybody, to be honest."
The new monarch said as much today when he met with the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING CHARLES III: But it has been so touching this afternoon, when we arrived here. All those people come to give their condolences. Put flowers.
LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Your Majesty, you're very gracious to say those.
KING CHARLES III: They were very kind. It's the moment I've been dreading, as I know a lot of people have. But, we'll try and keep everything going.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: A son grieving who has inherited a kingdom at the cost of losing his mom.
To fully comprehend what the future holds for King Charles and the British monarchy, it is best to understand his past. CNN's Bianca Nobilo starts us off tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING CHARLES III: I would hope that we might strive for an age of reverence -- reverence for what gives us life and for the fragile world in which we live.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Charles was born on November 14, 1948 to then heir to the throne, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To our Princess Elizabeth, heiress presumptive to the throne, a son had been born.
Glad news that was soon echoing around the world.
NOBILO (voice over): Charles was bestowed a host of titles at a young age, but did not become Prince of Wales until 1969, a role he sought to professionalize and redefine.
Many of Charles' predecessors treated the title, Prince of Wales, as a ticket to a luxury lifestyle, notably the previous Prince of Wales, the short-reigned King Edward VIII.
While Charles did indulge in partying years, the British press giving him the nickname "The Playboy Prince," he didn't want to wait until he became King to make a difference.
Following his studies at Cambridge University, Charles went into the military. After leaving the Royal Navy in 1976, he founded the Prince's Trust.
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: The Prince's Trust is something that he cares deeply about. He's done it for so long. It's one of his first causes, his first charities, but it also speaks to something he feels very strongly about, which is youth unemployment.
NOBILO (voice over): On top of his own charities, he is patron of over 400 more, dedicated to subjects close to his heart -- youth, environment, and education.
His schedule notoriously intense. In a typical year, he would carry out more than 500 Royal engagements, official duties coordinated from his London base at Clarence House,
FOSTER: So, he is a perfectionist. He wants to know everything about all of his different projects and causes and roles.
NOBILO (voice over): His campaigns sometimes sailed dangerously close to the line dividing the monarchy and politics. The infamous Black Spider Memos revealed his passionate pleas on issues he was concerned about, and gave him the nickname of "The Meddling Prince."
FOSTER: The Head of State, which is the monarch, they have a duty to remain independent. Charles always took the view that he had more leeway before he was on the throne, but he always made it very clear that when he became monarch, he would no longer express opinions in that way.
NOBILO (voice over): Arguably, the cause he has championed the most is the environment. His home at Highgrove was set up to become an organic farming powerhouse.
He talked about pollution issues long before they were mainstream, becoming a leading figure in the fight against the climate crisis and plastic pollution.
KING CHARLES III: Global warming, climate change, and the devastating loss of biodiversity are the greatest threats humanity has ever faced.
NOBILO (voice over): Charles is now the oldest Royal to be crowned King or Queen. Much of his legacy already written.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Bianca Nobilo joins me now from St. Paul's Cathedral.
What have we learned today about the type of monarch King Charles might be, have you gotten more clues?
NOBILO: It was revealing that King Charles III's first public act when he arrived at Buckingham Palace was to go immediately to the crowds, to make himself accessible to shake their hands, to be kissed by some people, to hear their condolences, to respond to them, he did that you In a double act with his wife, the Queen Consort. I think that tells us how well they're going to work together as a pair.
[20:10:07]
Queen Elizabeth II signed off of Camilla as Queen Consort, gave us that indication that she wanted the country to recognize that she had her blessing, too.
But what we really saw today from the walkabout, which was pioneered by King Charles' mother and from the speech which he gave to the nation is a monarch that is more modern, prepared to show more emotion, not remote, reserved, and stoic, and indeed, the British monarchy has suffered.
Queen Elizabeth II herself suffered when they showed themselves in that way, when they didn't reveal to the public that they too were grieving, that they too experience hardships.
I think we can expect King Charles to try and navigate an appropriate path between the stoicism of the office in the past and perhaps the more oversharing modernity that some people in the United Kingdom think for example, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have pushed a little bit too far.
He'll need to find a middle way, Anderson. It looks like he is well on his way to doing that.
COOPER: Bianca Nobilo, thank you. Appreciate it.
Perspective now from an acclaimed biographer, Robert Hardman, is author of "Queen of Our Times: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II," released earlier this year.
Robert, I appreciate you being with us.
King Charles has obviously been preparing for this moment, as best he can his whole life. What do you expect to see from him in the coming days and weeks as he tries to settle in and define this role as his own?
ROBERT HARDMAN, AUTHOR, "QUEEN OF OUR TIMES": Well, Anderson, yes, you're right. He has been preparing for longer than any other monarch in our history. What is really interesting is we haven't really known what his plans are, and that's for the very good reason that he didn't like discussing them while his mother was alive. He thought that was disrespectful. So, a lot of this is sort of coming as new. He has given a lot of thought, but I thought it was very telling there those images, there we see him.
His first act on returning from Balmoral to London is not to go home to that current size, is not to go inside the Palace to meet the staff and the officials all waiting to greet the new monarch. His priority is to go out and meet the people.
I also thought it was very telling, it is nearly 25 years ago to the day not quite, but nearly, but his previous monarch, his mother, the Queen, also stopped her car outside Buckingham Palace on her way back down for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and that was a very telling moment that transformed the mood in the crowd and we saw that today.
I've been spending the whole day down there at Buckingham Palace. I was there as the King arrived. And all day, there being this sort of sense of rudderless nation, people not quite knowing what to do, feeling this great sense of loss, and suddenly the fact that he landed in this way, came straight to the crowd, plowed in, you know, it made a difference.
It definitely -- you see smiles there. We haven't seen smiles outside the Palace before that, suddenly people are sensing, "This is a new monarchy. He is hitting the ground running." But the next few days will be all about obviously remembering his mother before he really get to the essence of the new reign.
COOPER: It's so interesting. You mentioned Queen Elizabeth doing this after Diana's death, after they returned to London. I remember being there covering that funeral as a young reporter at ABC and there was such anger and frustration with the Royal family, with the Queen in particular, with Prince Charles at that time.
They really -- and the Queen to her credit, though slowly, did really learn, I think from that experience. And clearly, as you point out, Charles, now King Charles has taken a number of lessons from that as well.
HARDMAN: Yes, absolutely. It was a very bold move 25 years ago by the Queen. I mean, it could have gone any way. The fact was, it did change the atmosphere like you and I was there. Absolutely. There was a sort of sea change in the national mood.
Very different circumstances, today, of course. There's a huge groundswell of goodwill and good wishes from this enormous crowd.
By the way, these crowds, I think they've taken everybody by surprise. I think there is one cause for concern in the days ahead is how they're going to manage that the level of public reaction because I mean, this is 24 hours after the death of the Queen.
But you know, what we are seeing there is a King who has got very clear ideas, and a speech later on after this return showed, you know he has a clear vision of what he is going to do. We didn't expect to hear nearly as much in that speech, as we did about the way forward, about plans for his children. And, you know his commitment. He repeated that pledge that his mother famously made at the age of 21. He is going to be 75 next year.
COOPER: Yes, in fact, let's play that pledge that she made on her 21st birthday.
[20:15:02]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And King Charles today called it more than a promise, saying it was a profound personal commitment, which defined her whole life and a commitment that he was making as well.
HARDMAN: He did, and he echoed her words slightly differently. He talked about "for as long as God gives me," it wasn't quite the same as her, "For the whole of my life, whether it be long or short," as it was in her case, it was a very long life.
You know, he is the oldest heir to the throne to come to the throne in our history. And, you know, he appreciates that. I mean, his life will be defined by really by what he has done as Prince of Wales over the last 70 years because you know that he has always seen it. He has always understood that he would he would come to the throne later in life.
But what is very clear is he's not going to waste any time.
COOPER: Robert Hardman, really fascinating. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
Our coverage continues. Next, we'll go to Buckingham Palace to CNN's Matthew Chance to hear what those gathering at the Palace are thinking about their Queen and their new King. And then we'll look at one of the many things that endeared Her Majesty to the world, her sense of humor.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:20:31]
COOPER: We mentioned Charles' first speech as King earlier. At the very end of it, he became emotional as he directly addressed his departed mother.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING CHARLES III: To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this. Thank you.
Thank you, for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: King Charles has lived long enough in the spotlight for the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to form some opinion of him. Certainly, his personal life and his opinions have made headlines for decades.
CNN's Matthew Chance joins us now on what he has been hearing from Britons about their new sovereign and the one that they have just lost.
So, you're at Buckingham Palace. Can you just describe the mood right now?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I kind of am at the gates of Buckingham Palace as you can see. There is a wall of flowers, bouquets, notes offering their thanks to Queen Elizabeth for 70 years of service.
And you know, the crowds have pretty much cleared away, but there are still some people, you remember, it is what -- half past -- or a quarter past one in the morning now local time. And so, it is surprising there is anybody here at all, but there are.
There have been thousands upon thousands of people coming here all night. Very emotional scenes, people expressing their sadness, of course, but I'd say the overwhelming attitude that people, or you know emotion that people are trying to communicate here over the course of these past two days has been one of gratitude.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE (voice over): It was a day of grief for these mourners, the first without their beloved Queen. A sea of flowers lined Buckingham Palace, a symbol of Elizabeth II's strongest legacy, the affection and respect she inspired in people's hearts.
KATIE MALLINGS, MOURNER She's just been a part of our life -- well, all of our lives apart from anyone that was born before her. So she has just been that constant strength and a rock really, throughout any bad times throughout our lives.
CHANCE (voice over): For most here, Queen Elizabeth was the only monarch they've ever known. Some even comparing her death to losing a member of their own family.
(on camera): We can see there is this enormous outpouring of grief, sadness, I think overwhelmingly respect from people in Britain towards Queen Elizabeth now that she has passed and people at the gates of Buckingham Palace here, actually in thronged with thousands of people. They are coming to lay flowers as they are sort of stacking them up outside the gates of Buckingham Palace and laying messages as well like this one here, it says, addressed to the Queen, obviously "Thank you for all you've done for the people of the world. May you rest in peace."
(voice over): Indeed, the queen of many countries, the monarch who ruled over 15 nations, as well as Britain, and touched the hearts of the millions of people who respected her, the same people now mourning her loss across the globe.
But this was also a day of renewal, to celebrate a new sovereign.
It was an apprehensive King Charles III who met his new subjects for the first time as their monarch and his welcome was encouraging and warm, even received an out of protocol kiss from a member of the public, a memorable moment indeed, as he became King.
The succession may be automatic in Britain's system of monarchy, but what's not automatic is the transfer of respect his mother enjoyed as the Head of State.
King Charles III will have to work to achieve the same place as his mother in the hearts and minds of the British public.
LESLEY GARRETT, OPERA SINGER: Sorry, that was just God's way. I'll never ever sing "God Save the Queen" again. She's just meant so much to this entire country for so long. It's like the tectonic plates of our society have shifted and they'll never be the same, never.
(CROWD singing "God Save the King.")
[20:25:04]
CHANCE (voice over): From now on, it is "God Save the King." And for a younger generation, Charles III will have to become their symbol of the British crown.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: And Matthew, in speaking to people, do you notice any divide in feelings about the monarchy of between younger or older generations of people you're meeting there?
CHANCE: Yes. I think so. Look, I mean, everybody is sort of generally sad -- saddened by the news of Queen Elizabeth's passing, obviously.
I mean, that's why so many people are coming here to pay their respects, but I think that that feeling is much deeper amongst the older generation, because these are people for whom Queen Elizabeth has always been there. They've grown up with her, 70 years, she served as the monarch of this country.
And so the fact that she's now gone represents for them a huge break with everything they've known. She was like a real figure of continuity for them, despite all the changes that have taken place in this country over the past 70 years, she has been constant. So, it is a very emotional loss.
For the younger generations and the younger people we speak to. They also have a great deal of respect for her, and you know, think she was a great Queen and all of that, but it's not such an emotional break. They haven't known her. She hasn't been such a part of their lives as their monarch now for many people, there's going to be as I mentioned there in that report, King Charles III.
COOPER: Matthew Chance, appreciate it. Thank you.
Perspective now from CNN's Julia Chatterley.
It is remarkable to just see the outpouring, of course, and we have seen that, you know, in so many cases in the past, but what do you make of how Charles has already begun his role as King.
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR, "FIRST MOVE": I think today was a good day. I mean, it was a terrible day, and he said, it's a day he has dreaded, but I look back over the speech and my gut instinct there was that he sounded like a King, and it's the highest compliment, actually, that I can pay to him.
He was emotional. We felt it. He spoke very well.
He made some obvious points about how his life would change, that perhaps he's going to be a little less outspoken. He made an outreach of love to Meghan and Harry, very important to what Matthew was saying, in terms of an outreach to the younger generations, because he's not that popular.
And whereas Queen Elizabeth II's popularity, I think transcended generations, age groups, his doesn't, and that's really important.
So for me, pretty pitch perfect.
COOPER: I'm not sure if he was reading a teleprompter, and I haven't looked at it closely enough. But if he was, he was reading it brilliantly.
CHATTERLEY: I couldn't agree more. He is a better anchor than me.
COOPER: Yes, I mean, if he was reading a teleprompter, that is a brilliant teleprompter read.
CHATTERLEY: I read emotion in that and actually the bit that you played as well where he was saying, this is now my mother on a journey to see my father and, you know, they're flying with the angels. I mean, you saw the emotion there. If that was autocue reading, then someone hand him an Oscar.
COOPER: Yes, I mean, he clearly wrote it -- or rewrote it himself, because it's certainly him.
He also spoke about the Queen Consort, Camilla. That has been obviously a relationship that has made headlines for long before they were man and wife, obviously. I actually covered the wedding at Windsor.
How is she viewed? And what does that mean? Queen Consort? Does one refer to her as the Queen?
CHATTERLEY: Yes, we will. We'll drop the "Consort." This is complicated just because it's technicalities in monarchy.
So traditionally, Queen Consort is the wife of the monarch, the King, in this case, we just haven't heard the term, of course for 70 years.
What makes it more complicated is the history. She was a mistress to a future King, the divorce of course with Diana, and there is still negative sentiment towards calling her Queen.
There was a poll done in May of this year, just 20 percent of people said they wanted her to be called Queen; around the same said they didn't want her to be given a title at all.
Now, Queen Elizabeth II said at the Jubilee, it is her sincerest wish that Camilla will be called Queen, and we will call her Queen. It doesn't mean people have to like it.
COOPER: And honestly when you step back and think about it, I mean, it is nice that these two people who clearly have loved each other for a very, very long time aren't like generations of people in the Royal family who have been forcibly broken apart and had to marry people they didn't love.
They, you know -- obviously, it was very messy, and a lot of people were hurt, but they did in the end get to be together and that is nice.
CHATTERLEY: And there are going to be people listening to me that are scandalized by what I say here, but actually, I couldn't agree more, and I think that's what he said today. He said, I need this woman. And again, I think the Queen, Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip proved that you actually do need a partner in crime and you need someone who supports you.
And he said, look, she's been that for me for 17 years. Some could argue she has been that to him for a lot longer than that even before their both first marriages.
COOPER: Of course, Diana, famously saying it was like there were three people.
CHATTERLEY: You don't get to choose your King and Queen as a citizen, but they didn't get to choose either and he sent a very strong message today; quietly, but a strong one nevertheless. It's a good start.
COOPER: Julia Chatterley, thank you so much.
Up next, as the world remembers Queen Elizabeth's reign, we are also reminded of the playful side she brought to the monarchy, the naughty, cheeky side as Julia might say. Our Randi Kaye shares some of her most humorous moments, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:30:31]
COOPER: In his address today, the new King Charles not only paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth's life and service but also to her more cheerful side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING CHARLES: The affection, admiration and respect she inspired, became the hallmark of her reign. And as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humor and an unerring ability always to see the best in people. I pay tribute to my mother's memory and I honor her life of service.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Following her death many have shared their joyful memories of the Queen, recounting the more playful side of the monarch even in the most unlikely times.
360's Randi Kaye has some of the most notable memories of that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee this year. That's her sharing a cup of tea with Paddington Bear.
PADDINGTON BEAR: Perhaps he would like a marmalade sandwich. I always keep one for emergencies.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: So do I. I keep mine in here. For later.
KAYE (voice-over): Queen Elizabeth was known to have a quick wit and a wicked sense of humor even around other heads of state. Last year she lightened the mood when posing for pictures at the G7 summit in Cornwall, England.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Are you supposed to look like as if you are enjoying?
UNDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE (voice-over): And years ago, after then President George W. Bush made a verbal slip up saying she had visited the U.S. in 1776 instead of 1976, she gently teased him during her opening toast at the White House State Dinner.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: I wondered whether I should start this toast by saying, when I was here in 1776.
[20:35:06]
KAYE (voice-over): Watch how she played along with the Obamas and her grandson Harry when she was helping Harry promote the Invictus Games a competition for wounded warriors.
MICHELLE OBAMA, FMR FIRST LADY: (INAUDIBLE) remember when you told us to bring it at the Invictus Games.
BARACK OBAMA, FMR PRESIDENT: Be careful what you wish for.
UNDENTIFIED MALE: Boom.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Oh really, please.
PRINCE HARRY: Boom.
KAYE (voice-over): The Queen love to delight those around her. Last year when she was presented with a birthday cake in an event, she borrowed an enormous ceremonial sword to cut the cake instead of the knife on hand.
UNDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is (INAUDIBLE).
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: (INAUDIBLE). This is something at least more unusual.
KAYE (voice-over): In a spoof once for the Olympics, the Queen upstaged actor Daniel Craig, she even made it look like she jumped out of a helicopter with 007. She also once cracked a joke during this video call with the governor and premier of South Australia after the unveiling of a statue in the Queen's honor.
UNDENTIFIED MALE: That feel very close to you through this standing in front of the statue.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: You just never think possibly might be quite alarming, just suddenly see it out of the window.
(CROSSTALK)
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Gracious that she arrived, yes, unexpectedly.
KAYE (voice-over): Her quick wit also showed through during this interview with Sir David Attenborough at Buckingham Palace. Watch her reaction when he points out she has a sundial in the shade.
SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, ENGLISH BROADCASTER: Sundial neatly planted in the shade.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Isn't it, good? Yes. Have you thought of that? This was planted in the shade. It wasn't in the shade originally, I'm sure. Maybe we could move it.
KAYE (voice-over): A former bodyguard for the Queen likes to tell the story about when the Queen met an American couple while out on a hike. They didn't recognize her. And she had fun toying with them when they asked her if she had ever met the Queen.
RICHARD GRIFFIN, FMR ROYAL PROTECTION OFFICER: Says well, I haven't the dicke you meets regularly. And before I could see what's happening, it gets his camera gives it to the Queen, it says can you take a picture of the two of us. We swapped places and I took a picture of them with the Queen and we never let on. And then imagine she said to me, I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows us photographs to friends in America. And hopefully someone tells him who I am.
KAYE (voice-over): A sense of humor now silenced perhaps Paddington Bear said it best.
PADDINGTON BEAR: Thank you everything.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II: That's very kind,
KAYE (voice-over): Randy Kaye, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COOPER: Expression on our face once you realize it isn't the sundial is in the shade was. Amazing.
Coming up, next reporting just in from the New York Times who the time said, we'll tell you who the time says was subpoenaed this week by a federal grand jury in a January 6 case connected to the former President's political action committee. Maggie Haberman has the reporting, she's going to join us.
Also, CNN exclusive, what the chief (INAUDIBLE) Department of Public Safety is saying now about allegations of a cover up in Uvalde in the investigation, how he's responding to claims and he told captain's quote, no one is losing their jobs over the response, the botched response to shooting at Robb Elementary School, and we'll hear from victims families about what they have to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:41:59]
COOPER: This just in from the New York Times, the headline two top Trump political aides among those subpoenaed in January 6 case, the time says Brian Jack, the former president's final White House political director and Stephen Miller, the top speech writer and a senior policy adviser were among more than a dozen people connected to the former president to receive subpoenas from our federal grand jury this week.
Sharing the byline is New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman, who's also CNN political analyst and she joins me now. So, Maggie, why did the Justice Department subpoena Stephen Miller and Brian Jack?
MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Anderson, they are to have at least a dozen people around Donald Trump either in his White House or in the campaign, who have been subpoenaed this week. And we are learning more about what they the subpoena is seeking information about. It relates in part to the plot to install so-called fake collector slates on January 6, when the electoral college vote was being certified. But it also includes information requests related to former President Trump's fundraising vehicle, Save America pack this these subpoenas Andersen have gone to people far and wide, junior and senior, it is still not clear exactly what investigators are looking for.
COOPER: And do we know if Miller or Jack will cooperate?
HABERMAN: I assume that they will. But we don't know the answer to that yet neither. Neither would comment either themselves or through their lawyer. So, it remains to be seen but not cooperating with a subpoena request has actually generally not been what most people around Trump have done.
COOPER: And who you said these have gone out to others. Do we know how, who else has gotten these subpoenas?
HABERMAN: At least in some cases, it is lower level aides, two personal aides to the former president, the former chief of staff in the White House for Ivanka Trump, the former CFO of the 2020 campaign, and then, you know, a series of campaign lower level campaign aides. Again, Anderson, it's not clear exactly what the through line is here, but the DOJ is clearly casting a very wide net.
COOPER: Yes, Maggie Haberman, appreciate the reporting. Thank you.
Now a CNN exclusive, accusations of a cover up against the top cop in Texas in the investigation, the deadly shootings at Robb Elementary School where 19 children and two teachers were murdered. The new reporting from CNN Shimon Prokupecz who has been on this story from the start.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME & JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): People have accused you of being part of a cover up.
STEVEN MCCRAW, DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: That's correct. That's fine.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): Do you disagree with that?
MCCRAW: Absolutely.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): It has been three and a half months since the Uvalde massacre, since the failed police response that left the gunman alone in a classroom full of children and their teachers for over an hour. In that time, anger at the Texas Department of Public Safety has only grown. The agency had 91 officers who have responded. None has lost their job or faced any consequences. DPS officials never fully answered any of the lingering questions about its officers actions that day, not to furious parents to an angry town mayor or to any reporters until now. MCCRAW: First of all, there's no cover up. And bottom line as soon as we can release everything.
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PROKUPECZ (on-camera): But it needs to be done sir. The families are starving for information.
MCCRAW: (INAUDIBLE) on the district 20 says so.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): This week, two DPS officers were suspended with pay and referred for formal investigation by the Inspector General. The Department said three others will also be investigated. CNN tracked down DPS Director Steven McCraw after obtaining minutes from an internal meeting held in August. These minutes seem to paint a very different picture than the pledge of full accountability the DPS chief has given publicly. And oh, by the way, the minutes quote him, no one is losing their jobs. Quite the contrary, all leaders in Region 3 did what they were supposed to do, and have stepped up to meet the moment.
(on-camera): And you said no one is losing their jobs.
MCCRAW: Have -- no I didn't say that.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): You're denying that you said that.
MCCRAW: I didn't say that.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): You're denying that you said --
(CROSSTALK)
MCCRAW: (INAUDIBLE) says that losing his job?
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): Just Victor Escalon.
(voice-over): Victor Escalon is the DPS Regional Director for South Texas. He can be seen in the hallway at Robb Elementary and in the days after he repeatedly helped deliver incorrect information to the media. Before this McCraw has not given any extensive interviews since the May 24th atrocity. He became a public face of the law enforcement response in the days after, first at a table with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, when the efforts of officers were praised.
MCCRAW: Law enforcement was there. They didn't engage immediately.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Then at a later news conference, when he admitted to the police failure.
MCCRAW: For the benefit of hindsight where I'm sitting now, that of course, it was not the right decision.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): And in Texas Senate testimony when you call the operation, a quote, abject failure.
MCCRAW: I don't care if you flip flops and wearing Bermuda shorts, it doesn't matter. You go in.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): McCraw's comments put him in the middle of a vastly changing narrative that left him and his department open to criticism by the Uvalde mayor, victims families and local politicians.
(on-camera): I think it's important.
MCCRAW: I can't think of any more important.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): And that's why -- that's why people think there's a cover up because no one is talking about what happens.
MCCRAW: When I get it -- we get the ability to talk and we'll go my line by line in terms of what Trooper did what. OK? But not just what Trooper -- what DPS officer. We will be entirely transparent. The public will have it. They'll have excruciating details in terms of what we did. You know, when we did it, and those gaps. And like I said, what we're not going to do is we're not going to give anybody an opportunity to undermine the criminal investigation.
PROKUPECZ (on-camera): Now McCraw says he'll resign if his agency was shown to have culpability for the botched response.
MCCRAW: Your patient. Well, I'll be the first resign, OK. I'll be gladly resign or tender my resignation to the governor. OK. If I think there's any culpability on the Department Public Safety, OK. But we're going to hold our officers accountable. No one gets a pass. But every officer is going to be held accountable.
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COOPER: And Shimon Prokupecz joins us now from San Antonio. It's fascinating discussion to hear you to go back and forth on that. How are the families of those killed in Uvalde reacting to the news of the leaked minutes and what he says about them?
PROKUPECZ: Right, so yes, Anderson, look, they're upset, you know, hearing these minutes that come out, of course, the director deny some of the comments he made about officers losing their jobs, but they were upset. You know, in a statement that a representative from the family said that they're disheartened and angry to hear that Texas DPS Chief McCraw believes that his officers stepped up to meet the moment they're taking issue, of course, with him saying that's sort of like these officers, they stepped up, they did what they have to do.
They also are concerned over the fact that he is saying that this referral that he made of five officers that it's only five officers, they certainly feel it should be more they said the referral only five officers to the Texas IG is a slap in the face to our families, Anderson.
COOPER: And why was it just the five officers at this point? I mean, is there the potential for more are they saying there? Why did they not wait to the end of the investigation, but they already went ahead with five officers? PROKUPECZ: Right. So, there's some indication Anderson based on the conversation that I had with Steve McCraw there that this internal review is complete, of course, they could find more information. But these five officers, two of which have been suspended. It appears that for all purposes right now that the internal review is complete, and that these five officers are the only ones that have been referred for further scrutiny and further investigation by the Inspector General.
COOPER: Shimon Prokupecz, staying on it was always much, much appreciated. Thank you, Shimon.
The rains may have stopped in parts of Pakistan, but there's massive destruction. There's like millions displaced in the region. Some villages completely wiped out. We have details on that next.
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COOPER: Disaster on a scale unimaginable now in Pakistan, more than 33 million people impacted by devastating floods in Pakistan around 15% of the population. Authorities say more than 1,300 people are dead children account for nearly a third of that figure.
CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is on the ground in southeast Pakistan and here's her report.
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CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The rains have stopped in Sindh province. But the waters are not subsiding. The city of Sehwan had been something of a sanctuary for some of the more than 6 million people displaced by the floods in this region. Now, the main highway has become a waterway. Smaller roads into the city are choked with traffic.
(on-camera): You can see there's just a steady stream of vehicles pouring into this area. These are all people who are desperately trying to escape their villages, which are now completely submerged underwater.
(voice-over): Pakistan is responsible for less than 1% of the world's emissions, but it is paying a stiff price for global warming. Heavy monsoon rains and melting glaciers have left nearly a third of this country underwater, wiping out villages like (INAUDIBLE). When the floods hit, residents carried whatever they could save to a narrow strip of land by the roadside.
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(on-camera): So this is how you're living now?
(voice-over): Imam Seto (ph) has been living in a makeshift shelter for over a week. There's no gas to cook what little food they have left. Outside aid has yet to arrive. And the prospects of returning home anytime soon are dim. It's very painful to see but where can we go, he says, This is my ancestral village.
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WARD (voice-over): A few miles down the road, locals are racing to stay ahead of the relentless waters. The government left them sent make sandbags, but little other assistance, overstretched by the unprecedented scale of the crisis.
(on-camera): So just so I understand you are building up these dikes to try to stop that water from completely destroying your village.
(voice-over): There's too much water coming in. Imran Ito (ph) tells us and we're afraid of it.
(on-camera): He's showing how deep it is. Can you see how deep that is?
(voice-over): One man plunges into the flood water to show how high the waters are. The flooding here has now reached its cruelest phase. The days no longer bring rain, but nor do they bring relief. And for the many who have lost everything, there is nothing to do but wait.
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COOPER: That was Clarissa Ward reporting.
Up next, just moments ago Vice President Kamala Harris paying her respects to Queen Elizabeth II in Washington.
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COOPER: Moments ago, Vice President Harris, her husband arrived at the British Embassy in Washington to sign the condolence book for Queen Elizabeth II. The President signed the book on Thursday, the Vice President bought a bouquet of flowers and spoke to the staff about what she said was a great loss not just for the United Kingdom, but the world. She said the Queen was always so sincere and that she lived what it means to be strong and wise.
Stay with CNN as we continue to remember the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth. The news continues. Want to hand over to Don Lemon, who's at Buckingham Palace tonight. Don.
