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Before They Were Royal

Season 1
They are some of the most familiar faces on the planet. Figures who would be written about and commented upon constantly. But what was life like before these particular people joined the British royal family? This compelling documentary series looks at the early lives of various royals, including Prince Philip and Camilla Parker-Bowles before fame and their acceptance into the monarchy.
20214 episodesTV-G
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Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Camilla: Making of a Mistress
    July 10, 2021
    46min
    ALL
    She was once one of the most hated women in Britain. Now she is a beloved member of the royal family. The former Camilla Parker Bowles' journey from royal mistress to Queen Consort has been a dramatic one. But who is the woman for whom Charles risked everything and why did her relationship with the future king mysteriously falter and turn into an affair that sparked frenzied media speculation?
    Free trial of BBC Select
  2. S1 E2 - Wallis Simpson: Femme Fatale
    July 3, 2021
    46min
    TV-G
    In 1931, Wallis Simpson met Edward, the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne. At that moment, she was on course to change history. Twice divorced, Edward's subsequent engagement to Wallis led to a constitutional crisis and his abdication of the crown. But was Mrs. Simpson a scheming seductress or a clever, well-meaning woman who was simply unlucky in love?
    Free trial of BBC Select
  3. S1 E3 - Prince Philip: The Bachelor Years
    June 29, 2021
    46min
    TV-G
    Prince Philip was constantly by Queen Elizabeth's side throughout her reign, providing comfort and support. But his life before they were married was rather more colorful. The Queen's Consort had a playboy father, a troubled mother and a highly turbulent childhood. But it was during these formative years that he made the connection that would soon blossom into a royal romance.
    Free trial of BBC Select
  4. S1 E4 - Princess Alice
    July 17, 2021
    47min
    ALL
    A great granddaughter to Queen Victoria, and mother to Prince Philip, the extraordinary story of Princess Alice is rarely told. From her struggles with mental illness, to her remarkable humanitarian work, she was a woman who refused to fit in the royal mold. She was defined by her generosity, risking her life to shelter Jewish families in Nazi-occupied Greece. Why is her story not better known?
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Details

More info

Subtitles
None available
Producers
George Waldrum
Cast
Glynis Barber
Studio
ITN Productions
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