King George VI: Brother, Husband, King

Britain’s King George VI was a complicated character. Forced onto the throne when his brother, Edward VIII, fell in love with Wallis Simpson and abdicated. He was a reluctant monarch. This gripping royal history documentary reveals he could be a brutal father with a terrifying temper, but also shy and withdrawn. He was a man who sacrificed everything when offered no choice but to serve his nation.
Watch King George VI: Brother, Husband, King and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
Royalty documentaries
Explore the history of the British monarchy with our collection of Royal Family documentaries. From Henry VIII and Queen Victoria to today.

Elizabeth and Philip: Love and Duty
A look at the Queen and Prince Philip’s marriage as they celebrated 70 years together.

Elizabeth I and II: The Golden Queens
Exploring the parallels between Queen Elizabeth I and II

Queen Victoria and her Nine Children
How Queen Victoria's grief changed her as a mother and a monarch

The Queen's Palaces
What secrets lurk within the walls of Buckingham Palace and other royal residences?

My Years with the Queen
What’s it like to be close friends with Queen Elizabeth II? Lady Pamela Hicks reveals all.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The fascinating story of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

A Very Royal Crisis: Countdown to Abdication
The biggest scandal and constitutional crisis ever to engulf the British Royal Family.

Elizabeth & Margaret: Love and Loyalty
The complex, pained and loving relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

The Queen Of Empire: Victoria
Victoria oversaw an astonishing period of change as the British Empire ruled the world.

The Forgotten Queen: Anne
Modelling her reign on Elizabeth I, Anne was the first queen of a unified Great Britain.

The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I
Elizabeth ruled a divided nation but became one of the most powerful leaders in history.

The Queen Mother's Blitz
How The Queen Mother helped to boost the morale of Brits during the Second World War.

Behind the Stories: The Monarchy
Royal reporters tell the inside story of historic moments in the British monarchy.

Behind The Scenes: The Coronation of King Charles III
Discover what goes into the planning and organization of a historic royal coronation.

Royal Holiday Secrets
What does the royal family do to relax, and where are their favorite places to escape to?

Charles R: The Making of a Monarch
An intimate portrait of King Charles told in his own words with rare archive footage.

Charles III: Will the King Change the Monarchy?
Will King Charles III adapt the British monarchy to suit modern times?

A Very Royal Wedding
A Very Royal Wedding
A joyful look back at the royal wedding day of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

A Grand Royal Design
Follow King Charles’ bold plan to save an 18th century mansion, and help the community.

Edward VII: Prince of Pleasure
Unravelling the mystery of King Edward VII to understand how his legacy is still relevant today.

King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy
The pioneering reign of Elizabeth II's grandparents, King George and Queen Mary.

Born To Be The King
What does the future hold for the heir to the British throne, Prince George?

How Mad Was King George?
King George III is remembered as a madman, but is this assessment unfair?

Secrets Of The Royal Gardens
Discover little-known facts and horticultural wonders hidden in royal parks and gardens.

Princess Anne: The Seven Loves of Her Life
The complex and at times scandalous love life of Queen Elizabeth’s only daughter.

Before They Were Royal
The story of Prince Philip, Camilla Parker-Bowles and more before they became royal

Princess Diana: A Life After Death
How Princess Diana's tragic death and legacy changed the British monarchy forever.

Secrets Of Royal Travel
The unseen luxury and decadence within the royal family’s planes and trains.

Princess Margaret: Queen of Mustique
Scandal and gossip stalked Princess Margaret on the luxurious island of Mustique.

Elizabeth Fashioning A Monarch
How the Queen used clothing and jewelry to send a message to the world

Elizabeth: Her Passions and Pastimes
A look back at the pastimes, passions and pleasures of Queen Elizabeth II

When the Queen Spoke to the Nation
Exploring the Queen’s annual Christmas Day messages and other special addresses.

Picturing Elizabeth: Her Life in Pictures
The stories behind some of the most famous and era-defining pictures of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Platinum Jubilee Interview: Tina Brown
Writer Tina Brown speaks with Katty Kay about decades chronicling the British royal family

Young Victoria
How a modest little girl turned into Queen Victoria, one of history's most powerful women.

A Royal Guide to…
A revealing look into some of the more peculiar protocols followed by the Royal Family.

Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King
The amazing story of the former British King who may have had Nazi sympathies during WWII.

The Palace & The Press
Why is the British tabloid press so obsessed with the Royal Family and its activities?

The Queen Mother
The triumphs and pain that came to define the woman affectionately known as the Queen Mum.

The Princes and the Press
Explore the changing relationship between the Royal Family and British tabloid press

The Six Queens of Henry VIII
Rediscover the Queens who shaped a King & his legacy in The Six Queens of Henry VIII, BBC's new look at the King's infamous wives.

Royal Cousins at War
It makes The Crown look like Sesame Street. The bitter regal rivalries that led to war.
WW2

The Lost Heroes
A deep dive into a perilous and mysterious WWII British Navy midget submarine mission.

Hitler: A Life In Pictures
Photos and film reveal the public and private life of Germany's infamous dictator.

Belsen: The Untold Story
Using survivor testimony and archive footage, the story of the infamous camp is told.

Image of a court in session.
Nuremburg: The Nazi Trials
Exploring one of history’s most important trials that brought Nazis to justice

Schindler: The Real Story
How did Oskar Schindler differ from the one seen in the famous film?

Churchill's First World War
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's extraordinary experiences during World War I.

Death Camp Treblinka
Those who survived the Treblinka Nazi extermination camp tell their story

BBC at War
This enthralling series asks, how much did World War II shape the personality of the BBC?

Could Hitler Have Been Stopped?
Leading historians debate whether Adolf Hitler and the Nazis could have been stopped.

Churchill: Winning the War, Losing the Peace
Why was Winston Churchill ousted from power after World War II?

Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial
Could the Nuremberg trials help shed light on the motivations of leading Nazis?

Edward VIII: Britain's Traitor King
The amazing story of the former British King who may have had Nazi sympathies during WWII.

Countdown to War
The story of the 3 days between the Nazis invading Poland and the beginning of World War II.

The Wheelchair President
How did the physical and emotional issues facing FDR shape his approach to WWII?

Lost Home Movies Of Nazi Germany
What was life really like within Nazi Germany? These amateur home movies reveal all.

World War Two: 1941 and the Man of Steel
How influential was Stalin on the defeat of Hitler and eventual outcome of WWII?

Stalin: Inside the Terror
A man synonymous with bloodshed, murder and hate. What desires drove Joseph Stalin?

The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler: Leading Millions into the Abyss
From failure to Fuhrer. How did Adolf Hitler charm the German people?

Auschwitz: Nazis & The Final Solution
The story of the concentration camp told by those who were there
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