The Royal House of Windsor

History

Station:
Channel 4 (GB)

Status:
Ended

Start:
2017-02-22

Rating:
0/10 from 0 users

Drawing on newly available evidence, this epic series explores the Windsor dynasty's gripping family saga, providing fresh insights into how our royal family have survived four generations of crisis.

The Royal House of Windsor Next Episode Air Date

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List of episodes

S1E4 - Shadow of a King

The fourth episode of the gripping saga of the world's most famous dynasty features intimate letters from the Prince of Wales and previously unseen family photos of the aristocratic relative earmarked by Charles' great uncle for him to marry in the late 1970s. Charles was determined to do the right thing as Prince of Wales and avoid the mistakes of his great uncle King Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry the divorced woman who he loved, and almost brought the House of Windsor to its knees. Another great uncle, Lord Mountbatten - an ambitious man of boundless energy and ego - wants to cement his position at the heart of the House of Windsor by acting as kingmaker to Prince Charles, who calls him his 'honorary grandpa'. The programme reveals how Mountbatten arranged a secret meeting in Paris between the exiled King and Charles. But, rather than fearing 'Uncle David' as a warning from history, Charles describes how he sees him as an object of sympathy, even affection.

As Prince Charles comes of age, he faces pressure to avoid the romantic pitfalls of Edward VIII, and is taken under Lord Mountbatten's wing.

Air Date: 15 Mar 2017 16:00 (CDT)

S1E5 - Fire, Feud and Fury

The fifth instalment of the epic family saga of the world's most famous dynasty features correspondence from the Queen's personal family archive held at Windsor, and reveals how a naïve 19-year-old was transformed into a global celebrity. Diana's huge personal popularity and tragic death posed the greatest challenge to the Windsors since the abdication of Edward VIII. Like Edward VIII, Diana was a stellar personality who found attention overwhelming but craved the limelight. She also developed her own vision of monarchy, talking openly about her life and problems; behaviour that was taboo under the Windsors' code of zipped tight discretion. On paper Diana was perfect; in reality she turns out to be deeply troubled. As her marriage flounders she turns her vulnerability to her advantage by reaching out to other damaged people and wins huge affection as result.

The royal family struggles with challenges caused by Diana's extreme popularity, her rift with Prince Charles, and her tragic death.

Air Date: 22 Mar 2017 16:00 (CDT)

S1E6 - The Top Job

The last episode in the epic series that tells the gripping saga of the world's most famous dynasty. Prince Charles is the most outspoken heir to the throne in the Windsors' history. He's promised a vision for the monarchy that's radically different from his mother's. But will his reign make or break the Windsor dynasty? From the age of 20, Charles is determined to do something as Prince of Wales and not just be a playboy 'ribbon cutter' waiting for his mother to die. By the time he's Prince William's age, he'd set up the Prince's Trust to help unfashionable causes like drug addicts and homeless young people. He's prepared to wade into controversial political issues like immigration and relations between Islam and the West. In 1999, he snubs the Chinese President, insulting his mother and angering the Labour government.

Pursuing his unconventional vision of the monarchy, Prince Charles tackles social and political issues, sometimes clashing with Queen Elizaabeth.

Air Date: 29 Mar 2017 15:00 (CDT)