History

Lucy Worsley's Royal Myths & Secrets

Lucy Worsley travels across Britain and Europe visiting the incredible locations where Royal history was made. In beautiful palaces and castles and on dramatic battlefields she investigates how Royal history is a mixture of facts, exaggeration, manipulation and mythology.

The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution

54m

The October Revolution of 1917 has gone down in history as the only Russian Revolution that really mattered. But Lucy Worsley reveals that the earlier revolution in February that year was downplayed in Bolshevik history books and films despite the fact that it was the truly spontaneous popular uprising that swept the Czar from power.

Episodes

  • The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Romanovs & The Russian Revolution

    S1 E6 - 54m

    The October Revolution of 1917 has gone down in history as the only Russian Revolution that really mattered. But Lucy Worsley reveals that the earlier revolution in February that year was downplayed in Bolshevik history books and films despite the fact that it was the truly spontaneous popular uprising that swept the Czar from power.

  • Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Kings George III & IV and the Napoleonic War

    S1 E5 - 54m 55s

    Lucy Worsley reveals how mental health problems forced King George III to relinquish power to his debauched and extravagant son. Was this really an era of elegance and regal splendor or an age of radicalism and revolution? How were myths and secrets used to save the British monarchy?

  • Henry VIII's Reformation: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Henry VIII's Reformation

    S1 E4 - 54m 20s

    Lucy Worsley investigates the inside story of the English Reformation. Was Henry VIII's desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn the real reason for England's split from Catholic Europe? Or was a secret political agenda at work behind the scenes?

  • Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen

    S1 E3 - 54m 35s

    Find out why Marie Antoinette is often blamed for causing the French Revolution by saying “let them eat cake” to her starving subjects. Lucy Worsley uncovers the myths and secrets that led the doomed queen to the guillotine.

  • Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain

    S1 E2 - 54m 31s

    Investigate why Queen Anne’s powerful role in the forging of Great Britain has often been forgotten. Lucy Worsley shares the inside story of the salacious gossip about Anne’s love life that helped destroy her image and legacy.

  • Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen

    S1 E1 - 54m 4s

    Join Lucy Worsley for an exploration of how Elizabeth I’s image as a warrior queen, created by a series of myths and secrets about her victory over the Spanish Armada, shaped British national identity for centuries.

Extras + Features

  • Episode 3 Preview | Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 3 Preview | Marie Antoinette: The Doomed Queen

    S1 E3 - 30s

    Find out why Marie Antoinette is often blamed for causing the French Revolution by saying “let them eat cake” to her starving subjects. Lucy Worsley uncovers the myths and secrets that led the doomed queen to the guillotine.

  • "Do Not Make Me Suffer": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    "Do Not Make Me Suffer"

    S1 E3 - 2m 58s

    The trial of Marie Antoinette was largely a show trial. She was found guilty and sentenced to death. Marie Antoinette had time to write a last letter about the love she felt for her children who she would never see again. She was executed on the October 6, 1793. She faced the guillotine with dignity and composure.

  • The Favorite: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Favorite

    S1 E2 - 3m 19s

    Lucy takes us to Hampton Court Palace where Queen Anne lived. She gives us an insight into what life was like at the palace. Queen Anne was extremely ill and shy and kept herself to herself mainly in the company of her ladies. We also learn how powerful and influential her “favorite," Sarah Churchill, was and how she controlled access to the queen.

  • Episode 2 Preview | Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 2 Preview | Queen Anne: The Mother of Great Britain

    S1 E2 - 30s

    Investigate why Queen Anne’s powerful role in the forging of Great Britain has often been forgotten. Lucy Worsley shares the inside story of the salacious gossip about Anne’s love life that helped destroy her image and legacy.

  • "The Dirty Chambermaid": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    "The Dirty Chambermaid"

    S1 E2 - 3m 29s

    Queen Anne now has a new favorite. Her name is Abigail Masham and she attends to Queen Anne day and night. Sarah Churchill has found herself out in the cold. The close relationship with Abigail has caused a stir. A song commissioned by Sarah Churchill will damage the Queen’s reputation.

  • The Bear Pit: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Bear Pit

    S1 E2 - 3m 14s

    Lucy describes Queen Anne’s first speech to parliament in 1702. One of her ministers described her as too clumsy and lame to be effective so expectations were low. With the help of Sarah Churchill, Anne arrived immaculately dressed and delivered an impressive speech which charmed both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

  • Queen Elizabeth I's Encounter with the Count of Feria: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Queen Elizabeth I's Encounter with the Count of Feria

    S1 E1 - 2m 46s

    In 1558 King Philip of Spain sends an ambassador, the Count of Feria, to woo young Queen Elizabeth. He tries to persuade her that she should ditch the Protestant faith for the Catholic Church. Feria tries to exploit Elizabeth’s inexperience as she is only 25 years old but he has underestimated Elizabeth.

  • A Royal Makeover: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Royal Makeover

    S1 E1 - 3m 12s

    We see Lucy as Queen Elizabeth I on her victory procession through the streets of London. The reality of post Armada England was one of economic crisis and an increasingly unpopular queen. It was time for a royal makeover and the creation of a powerful Elizabethan marketing campaign.

  • A Spanish Dance: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Spanish Dance

    S1 E1 - 3m 6s

    The Protestant population was rebelling in The Netherlands so Elizabeth sent an army of over 6,000 troops to help the Protestant revolt. This was Philip’s territory so she knew it was a dangerous move. She tried to take control of the situation by circulating a pamphlet across Europe justifying her actions. Elizabeth provoked Spain into setting sail to invade England in May 1588.

  • Episode 1 Preview | Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 1 Preview | Elizabeth I: The Warrior Queen

    S1 E1 - 30s

    Join Lucy Worsley for an exploration of how Elizabeth I’s image as a warrior queen, created by a series of myths and secrets about her victory over the Spanish Armada, shaped British national identity for centuries.

  • Queen Elizabeth I's Speech at Tilbury: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Queen Elizabeth I's Speech at Tilbury

    S1 E1 - 3m

    Lucy takes us to Tilbury where Queen Elizabeth I delivered her most famous speech to English troops where they had assembled to protect Essex from invasion. We learn that this rousing historic event at Tilbury happened 11 days after the fire ships and the battle against the Spanish Armada was in fact already over.

Schedule

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.