British Documentaries And Television To Watch

I thought I would share some British documentaries and television shows that I've watched and found interesting. 

I love historical pieces & documentaries because it sheds light on why a person or place is what it is. 

Hope you enjoy. All can be found on Netflix. Victoria is on PBS. Have a great weekend!

Victoria - Season 1 & 2 

Queen Victoria reigned for over 60 years! She had 9 children! What I like about Victoria on PBS is not only do they talk about her reign and its many challenges, but they also focus on her as a woman. As women (no matter what we do), there are feelings, concerns, desires and wants. Season 2 in the US begins Sunday, January 14th, 2018 9/8c on PBS (Masterpiece). I can't wait. I really enjoyed Season 1. I hope this series follows Queen Victoria in her later years and doesn't stop after Albert's death. I guess we'll have to wait and see. If the chemistry between Jenna Coleman (Victoria) and Tom Hughes (Prince Albert) seem real, it's because they are dating in real life!

The Crown - Season 1 & 2

I am so enamored with The Crown. It's a historical drama television series that focuses on Queen Elizabeth II and all the elements that surrounded her throughout her life. Without revealing too much, it goes into detail about her dad's illness, close working relationship with Winston Churchill, insecurity about her lack of education, her insecurities with other women, the infidelities of her husband, difficulties she had with her sister (Princess Margaret) to name a few. We're always seeing documentaries of Queen Elizabeth II with a stiff upper lip and showing no emotion. Well this series shows an entirely different side. I grew up loving Princess Diana and kind of villain-ized Charles & Elizabeth. A lot in this series, has made me change my feelings.

Diana: Seven Days That Shook The World
I know you might be saying, not another Diana documentary! You may feel you know everything about her. I grew up following her life from when she was engaged to Charles to when she died. But this documentary talks about her death. I was shocked by the conditions of the room in the Paris hospital her body stayed in before being retrieved by Prince Charles and two sisters. They also talk about the struggles of the funeral arrangements. These are personal accounts by people who worked with her. It was an eye-opener.


Secrets of Althorp: The Spencers
Althorp is Princess Diana's  (Diana Spencer) family home & where she is buried. The home & land is overseen by her brother Charles Spencer. It is 75 miles from London and beautiful both inside and out. It's only open a couple of months out of the year (Althorp Estate). This documentary shows many of the rooms, family portraits, the upkeep that is required, the grounds, her burial space and overall their family history. See how President George Washington is linked to The Spencers and also The "American" Flag.


 
Prince Philip: The Plot To Make A King
You don't hear much about Prince Philip. I always wanted to know about his background. Who were his parents? Did he have any siblings? He's not from England. He's German. What was his childhood like? How did Elizabeth meet him? Well all of those questions are answered in this documentary.




Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute
This shows some really old film of Queen Elizabeth II during various stages of her life and reflections from the family (including Prince Charles, William and Harry). This documentary shows things you've never seen before (at least I haven't in other documentaries). I'm so amazed that there were video camera recorders back then. I don't think they became mainstream for society until maybe the 70's or 80's. They show some of the toys of Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret! It was interesting seeing their International and family trips! Their life is fully documented.

The Royal House of Windsor
This documentary (2017) will take you from Queen Victoria to King George V and Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth's Grandparents) to present day royalty. The scandals, historical struggles, wars, failed health, divorce, infidelity etc. Again, it just brings up things you never knew about this family. I think more and more is being released now that Queen Elizabeth II is getting older.




Secrets of Great British Castles
I knew England had a lot of castles, but I didn't realize they had that many! This is split into two series where they showcase Dover Castle, The Tower of London, Warwick Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Stirling Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Cardiff Castle, York Castle, Lancaster Castle, Leeds Castle, and Arundel Castle. Some housed royal families. Some were used as prisons and torcher. Royal families from other countries gifted exotic animals that were kept in castles. Some were fortresses for battle. It was very interesting to learn the history of each.