The US split from Great Britain is history, but the monarchy still has a hold on its former colony’s heart.

Two specials about Queen Elizabeth II and the celebration of her 70th year on the throne broke into last week’s US top 20 highest-rated programmes in prime time, according to Nielsen figures put out Tuesday, an AP report said.

ABC’s “Party at the Palace”, a star-laden concert that included Elton John, Diana Ross and Queen with Adam Lambert, ranked No. 15. The CBS News documentary “Her Majesty the Queen”, hosted by Gayle King, came in at No. 18.

A skit of the queen taking tea with an animated Paddington Bear charmed the throng of spectators at the Platinum Jubilee pop concert outside Buckingham Palace. The pre-taped video also proved widely irresistible online.

The first two games of the Golden State Warriors-Boston Celtics NBA finals topped the ratings, but viewers also had time for a special prime-time episode of  “The Price Is Right” honouring first responders.

Powered by basketball, ABC led the week in prime time, averaging 4.4 million viewers. CBS had 3.1 million, NBC had 2.5 million, Fox had 1.5 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 890,000 and Ion Television had 870,000.