On October 29, 1966, eight days after the disaster, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Aberfan to pay their respects to those who had died, coinciding with the end of the main rescue phase. In March 1973, the Queen would return and open the Memorial Garden, which is on the site of Pantglas Junior School. In May 1997, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would plant a commemorative tree in the same garden.
The episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More).
In reality, when Queen Elizabeth visited Aberfan, it was with her husband, Prince Philip.