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Royalty documentaries

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Explore the history of the British monarchy with our collection of Royal Family documentaries from the BBC and beyond. From Henry VIII and Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, as well as other monarchies from around the world, stream BBC series and films about the past and present of royalty.

Elizabeth and Philip: Love and Duty

Kirsty Young offers a unique view of the life together of the Queen and Prince Philip as they celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary in 2017.

My Years with the Queen

Lady Pamela Hicks talks for the first time about her incredible life growing up within the British royal family and her very special relationship with Queen Elizabeth II. As the great great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and cousin to Prince Philip and the Queen, experience her remarkable story of duty and friendship.

The Queen's Palaces

Stream the Queen's Palaces on BBC Select

Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. From Henry VIII to Harry and Meghan, these buildings have been part of British royal history for hundreds of years.

Fiona Bruce tells the story of these amazing places in this majestic BBC royal documentary.

What secrets lurk in the long history of the Queen’s Palaces and what treasures can be discovered within their walls?

A Royal Guide to…

Watch A Royal Guide To On BBC Select

Why are certain royal babies christened in holy water imported from the River Jordan? And why would Princes be required to wear shorts until the age of eight? This fascinating 6-part series explores the British Royal Family’s obscure (and sometimes strange) protocols. Learn how to live like a king or queen and do everything from correctly hold a tea cup to performing the perfect the “Duchess slant” with this Royal Family documentary series. Go back through the history of royal families and learn about the origins of these customs and traditions that still continue today.

Queen Victoria and her Nine Children

Queen Victoria and her nine children

When her beloved husband Prince Albert died at a tragically young age, Queen Victoria found herself bereft, running an Empire alone and the single mother to nine small children. This three-part history documentary explores how Queen Victoria’s grief changed her as a mother and a monarch.

Queen Victoria’s coping mechanisms were quite extreme. She hid herself away from public life and began to focus on her children, micromanaging everything from what they wore to who they married. But her meddling would lead to resentment and tragedy.