History

Secrets of the Royal Palaces

Historian Kate Williams (Prince Philip: For Queen and Country; The Stuarts: A Bloody Reign) explores more stories about the residences of the British monarchy. Guiding the viewer through the art, architecture and recent events are specialist historians, royal commentators and ex-royal staff members who share the behind-the-scenes palace stories that have shaped the modern royal family.

Royal Duty

43m 1s

Includes the controversy around Russian spy Anthony Blunt’s long stay at the Palace in the '80s, the revelation that Blunt had performed a secret mission retrieving incriminating evidence linking Queen Elizabeth’s family with the Nazis, the tumultuous history of the Scottish Crown Jewels, and Diana’s ascent to fashion icon status with her “Black Sheep” jumper.

Episodes

  • Royal Duty: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Royal Duty

    S5 E504 - 43m 1s

    Includes the controversy around Russian spy Anthony Blunt’s long stay at the Palace in the '80s, the revelation that Blunt had performed a secret mission retrieving incriminating evidence linking Queen Elizabeth’s family with the Nazis, the tumultuous history of the Scottish Crown Jewels, and Diana’s ascent to fashion icon status with her “Black Sheep” jumper.

  • Royal Scandals: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Royal Scandals

    S5 E503 - 43m 49s

    Details the art scandal of the forged masterpieces in King Charles’ Dumfries House, the 1986 Charles and Diana vacation to Marivent Palace in Spain, a failed 2023 assassination attempt on Elizabeth II in Windsor Castle, and a 2021 theft of valuable items from Buckingham Palace by a member of staff.

  • Private Life: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Private Life

    S5 E502 - 43m 28s

    Recounts the royal family’s desperate race to Balmoral Castle during Queen Elizabeth’s final hours, William I the Conqueror’s odorous burial in St. Stephen’s Abbey in Caen, France, and the quest to discern the full extent of the 1943 Greville Bequest—a remarkable collection of jewelry and personal items bequeathed by philanthropist Margaret Greville.

  • Love and Marriage: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Love and Marriage

    S5 E501 - 43m 32s

    Includes the “Squidgygate” phone recording of Princess Diana at Sandringham Palace with James Gilbey in 1992, and the ensuing mystery around who was really behind the phone call leak. Also, Queen Elizabeth II’s 1988 stay at the Palace of Madrid, Queen Victoria’s scandalous statue of Prince Albert, and a glimpse of Charles and Camila’s secret Welsh getaway estate.

Schedule

  • Image
    Secrets of the Royal Palaces: Kensington Palace: TVSS: Iconic

    Secrets of the Royal Palaces

    Kensington Palace

    Tuesday
    Apr 8

    1 Hour

    William III renovates Nottingham House, turning it into Kensington Palace.
  • Image
    Secrets of the Royal Palaces: Kensington Palace: TVSS: Iconic

    Secrets of the Royal Palaces

    Kensington Palace

    Tuesday
    Apr 8

    1 Hour

    William III renovates Nottingham House, turning it into Kensington Palace.

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