Some 50 Canadians from Newfoundland and Labrador, to B.C., to the Arctic were given special glasses to take part in the test group for the 3D test broadcast on the CBC Network at 12 a.m. on Wednesday. (CBC)

Several dozen Canadians got a first look at landmark 3D images of the Queen early Wednesday morning, as the CBC staged a test TV broadcast in advance of its forthcoming documentary Queen Elizabeth in 3D this fall.

The 3D test footage showed scenes from the Queen's recent visit to Canada, including her review of the Canadian naval fleet in Halifax, participation in the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa and attendance at the Queen's Plate in Toronto.

Queen Elizabeth in 3D marks the first Canadian-shot and Canadian-produced 3D program to be transmitted countrywide.

About 50 Canadians across the country — wearing inexpensive 3D glasses — participated in the brief test, which was broadcast at midnight. The test will be repeated again several times in the next few weeks before the documentary airs for calibration purposes.

Mark Starowicz, CBC's executive director of documentary programming, led the team that created the film, which incorporates archival 3D footage from 1953 with new material filmed in Canada and at Buckingham Palace.

"We got those [archival] pictures and [also] shot Her Majesty today," Starowicz said Wednesday morning.

"We had 3D crews following her across the country and it was hush-hush," he said.

Viewers will require 3D glasses to watch the documentary: two million pairs will be distributed free at Canada Post outlets in early September.

A special television is not needed to view the documentary in 3-D, which would appear in slightly blurry form if viewed without 3D glasses.

Queen Elizabeth in 3D will air Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., followed by a broadcast of the acclaimed 2006 drama The Queen, starring Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.