Royalty

Born on August 4th 1900, one of 9 children to the fourteenth Earl of Strathmore, the extraordinary life of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, known around the world as "The Queen Mother," spanned the 20th Century. When she died in 2002 she was 102.

Princess Margaret was born in 1930 into a life of Royal privilege, with every possible advantage _ intelligence, wealth, position and good looks. Prevented from marrying her first love Peter Townsend in the name of duty and propriety, and forced to live a life in the shadow of her sister, Queen Elizabeth, Margaret has been described as a "Princess without a vocation."

In 1952, the sudden death of King George VI changed Elizabeth's life for ever. Our monarch was just 25, and mother to Prince Charles, three, and Princess Anne, 18 months, when she came to the Throne. Winston Churchill was her first Prime Minister. Britain was still bandaging its war wounds and the Coronation sparked the biggest party since VE Day.

The arrival of the 1960s found Britain in optimistic mood. Post-war austerity had given way to something of a consumer boom and the times were a-changing. The Royal Family was expanding fast. The Queen gave birth to Prince Andrew in 1960, ten years after Princess Anne. And Prince Edward was born in 1964.

The 1970s were a mix of gloom and glitter. The Queen and Prince Philip celebrated 25 years of marriage, and their daughter, Princess Anne, wed fellow equestrian Mark Phillips. But the troubles in Ireland spread to mainland Britain. Strikes forced a three-day working week, and a fuel crisis sparked food shortages and mounting discontent across the country.

When the 1980s began, there was one question on everybody's lips: whom would Prince Charles, the world's most eligible bachelor, take for a bride? We soon had our answer and a shy nursery teacher, Lady Diana Spencer, became famous around the world. Marriage preparations consumed the country and their union would become "The Wedding of the Century."

The 1990s began joyously for the Queen, as she became a grandmother for the sixth time, and prepared to mark 40 years on the throne. But this would be the decade in which the monarchy endured some of the worst crises of modern times.

The new millennium has witnessed powerful events and poignant moments for Queen and country. The whole nation celebrated the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother in 2000. But the devastating events of 9/11 ushered in a dark new era, and London itself would be traumatised by terrorism.

This is the story of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012. From the nationwide street parties to the spectacular pomp and pageantry on the river Thames, millions turned out to thank Queen Elizabeth II for 60 years of selfless devotion.

The newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth II visits her Commonwealth realms aboard her beloved Britannia in an epic journey around the world. This vintage documentary from 1954 sees the globe-trotting monarch in Jamaica, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Gibraltar.

Until the 20th century, royal weddings in Britain were celebrated behind closed doors. It all changed in 1923, when a shy Prince called Bertie, later King George VI, married a Scottish beauty, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. This was the first "modern" royal wedding to be filmed and shown to the public. Over a million people lined the streets and gathered outside Buckingham Palace to cheer the newlyweds.

Journey with the Queen to West Africa through this wonderful 1961 documentary narrated by Anthony Quayle.

The complex relationship between royal brothers Edward VIII and George VI, who were both at the heart of the infamous abdication crisis of 1936.

This spectacular 1953 documentary, released in cinemas, records the events of Elizabeth II's coronation day in glorious colour.

With its vintage commentary, this marvellous timepiece is the original 1937 coverage of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth that fascinated cinemagoers in a time before television news.

This 1953 documentary short chronicles, in wonderful colour cinematography, the activities of Elizabeth II during the month of her coronation, including a trip to the Derby.

The first of three marvellous films documenting the Royal Tour of the Commonwealth by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1953-54. In this part, they visit Jamaica.

The second of three marvellous documentaries chronicling the 1953-54 Royal Tour sees the Queen and Prince Philip explore the islands of Fiji and Tonga.

In the third and final part of this series documenting the 1953-54 Royal Tour of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit the beautiful country of New Zealand.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh sail the royal yacht Britannia to India where they tour that ancient land followed by a British Path_ film crew, resulting in a classic 1961 documentary.

The story of Wallis Simpson, an infamous, twice-divorced American who changed the course of history by marrying Edward VIII in 1937 - leading to an abdication crisis.