Hugo Vickers

It has been said that no two sisters were ever less alike. One reserved and proper. The other lively and controversial. One the anchor of a commonwealth of nations. The other searching for purpose in life.

Prince Philip has walked two steps behind Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth ever since she became Queen in 1952. For many years before then and many years since he has been the supporting man, husband and father that the Royal Family has needed him to be.

Ever since King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, the official explanation had been simply that the government disapproved of his marriage to a twice-divorced woman. However newly-released documents, embargoed until recently, suggest that Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, played a large part in a plan to make certain that Edward VIII abdicated, not only because of his marriage to a divorcee but also because the archbishop disapproved of the King's whole lifestyle and modern attitudes to life.

Même si le Royaume-Uni a depuis des siècles une monarchie parlementaire et que le pouvoir royal reste fort limité, chaque Premier ministre est tenu de faire chaque semaine un rapport à Buckingham Palace. Le pays et ses citoyens ont bien changé en soixante-dix ans, mais certaines traditions restent immuables. Des secrétaires privés de la reine, des familiers des us et des coutumes de la Cour comme des locataires temporaires du 10 Downing Street expliquent les rouages d'un microsme unique au monde.

This fascinating documentary reveals the behind the scenes story of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, drawing on rare archive footage and made using eyewitness accounts of participants and historical experts.

In this documentary, former staff of members of the British Royal Family reveal the routines and duties that take place out of the public eye. Also, historian Kate Williams explores servant duties from ancient times.