Royals: Keeping the Crown

The British monarch, Queen Victoria, attempts to create peace in Europe through royal marriages. But when three cousins linked by Victoria’s royal blood turn against each other, and plunge Europe into the First World War, her dream of peace turns into a nightmare. With their people pushed to the brink, can these royal rulers survive the war to end all wars?

The Royals confront the dangers of fascism and the rise of Nazi Germany. When Edward VIII abandons royal duty for love, the crown is thrown into a deep crisis. Can the new King George VI restore the country's faith in the crown and steer Britain to victory in WWII?

WWII might be over, but it still casts a long shadow over royal family’s, particularly those with links to fascism. In Britain, King George VI works to keep his brother’s closeness to the Nazi’s away from the British people. But he also has to reinvent his family's image to avert a crisis. The Palace turns to Elizabeth. Can she keep the public's faith and hold onto the crown?

In this episode, royals discover that breaking with tradition can get them into deep water, while other royals who embrace change manage to cling onto their crowns. During the 60s and 70s, royal culture meets celebrity culture, giving the crown a popularity boost. But one monarch shows that breaking too many traditions can be a fast way to lose the throne.

Queen Elizabeth has clung onto power, but the royals' position is made more perilous as powerful anti establishment voices in the press threaten to end the era of deference to royals. Britain's royal House of Windsor looks to relaunch the family brand with a new fairy-tale princess. But Diana's marriage into the royal family will prove disastrous.

To survive into the future, the royal family must reinvent themselves - ditching their 'stiff upper lip' approach, appearing more 'normal', in order to stay relevant and in touch with their subjects. As the torchbearers of Diana's legacy, the Queen pins her hopes on William and Harry to take the monarchy into the 21st century. But just how normal can this next generation be?