Secrets of the Royal Traditions

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was a powerful display of royal tradition, capturing the deep bond between monarch and people. This programme explores the origins of such traditions from ancient symbols like the Orb and Sceptre to humorous customs like plaque unveilings. It uncovers the secret messages behind royal fashion, the impact of Princess Diana's funeral, and how rituals help the monarchy maintain its role in British identity, both on the world stage and in everyday life. 

There is nothing like the pomp and ceremony of a Royal State Visit - a chance for the royal family to use all the traditions at their disposal to champion Britain on the world stage. In the second episode of the series, we delve into the history of this very British tradition to discover the origins of these three-day spectacles of banquets, public processions and multiple gun salutes. We also reveal the secrets of more everyday- and yet vital- royal traditions that have become part of the world around us. From the traditions of how royal makeup can send powerful messages of defiance to the successes and failures of royal statues through the centuries, these are the customs and rituals that have kept the royal family at the core of British Life.

Nothing showcases the traditions at the heart of the Royal Family like a coronation and King Charles's spectacular ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 2023 showed the world the thousands of years of rituals and customs that play a crucial role in the crowning of a new monarch. This edition investigate the origins of these traditions to discover that some of the most sacred elements of coronations date back to biblical times, and also explores other traditions that have been passed down through generations, including Trooping the Colour.

Exploring the origins of the traditional royal banquet, a display of opulence, ritual and wealth that can be traced back almost 700 years. Plus, a look at the monarch's role as the head of the Church of England, the embodiment of morality made more challenging by another tradition followed by royals over the centuries - the royal affair.