If you’re a fan of Netflix’s The Crown, you know just how fascinating the lives of stuffy British aristocrats can be. The show is on its third season now and has gained massive popularity across the world. Mainly because it dramatises history, while still staying impressively accurate to the actual events. But even then, there’s plenty to discover about the Windsors than what the incessant coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage let on. If you’re a royal fanatic, or even a mildly interested history fan, these documentaries are a must-watch for you. From heartbreaking insights into Princess Diana’s tumultuous life to a detailed look into how much toothpaste Prince Charles likes on his toothbrush, these will take you right inside the lives of the most popular royal family in the world. Scroll ahead for our list.
The Royal House of Windsor
If you’re a history buff, and can withstand six episodes (all 45 minutes long on an average) of painstakingly curated history of the British royal family over the last century, then this one’s definitely for you. Through rare archival footage and interviews, the docu-series manages to take you through the fascinating history of the royals. The original documentary aired in 2017, chronicling the history of Britain’s monarchy, from King George V and the second World War to the modern-day royals. Streaming on Netflix
Diana: In Her Own Words
As the title suggests, this documentary offers a unique look into the fascinating life of Princess Diana, in her own words. Journalist and biographer Andrew Morton released previously unheard interview recordings that he had collected from Diana for his book on her. We get a chance to get up close and personal with the beloved royal with this two-hour long documentary, where Diana discusses her doomed marriage with Prince Charles and delves deep into her personal life. Streaming on Hotstar
Royal Family
If you’ve been bingeing on the latest season of The Crown, you would know about this one. In 1969, the royal family decided to let the public take a look into their private lives through a commissioned documentary that followed them through their daily routine. Think Keeping Up With the Kardashians, only with less talk of Kris Jenner’s drunk antics. It was a PR exercise, the brainchild of the royals’ newest press secretary, to turn the public opinion in their favour, especially because the Windsors were being seen as out-of-touch. But the most interesting part about this documentary is that you cannot find it anywhere in the world. For undisclosed reasons, the royal family banned the documentary from being showcased after the one time it was broadcasted across the world. You’ll have to be a researcher or a historian to get access to carefully edited out portions of the documentary, under closer supervision. And you’ll also have to pay for it.
Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute
On Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday in April 2016, the royal family released a documentary to celebrate her extraordinary life—featuring exclusive interviews of the entire royal family and heartwarming anecdotes about the longest, living monarch in history. The filmmakers also get exclusive access to the home movies made by the Queen herself, as well as those by Prince Philip and her parents.
Prince Philip: The Plot to Make a King
The ‘royal consort’ is usually considered to be the embodiment of all the reasons why monarchy in Britain should be abolished. The fact that he had close ties with Nazis (his closest family members were known associates) and his history of making racist remarks in public, is not news. Therefore, this documentary steers clear of the usual hagiographic route, offering a deeply researched insight into what went on behind the scenes to insert the controversial prince into the British monarchy. The main player of the game was Philip’s maternal uncle Lord Richard Mountbatten (who is known for his part in the violent India-Pakistan partition). According to the documentary, he orchestrated the marriage between Queen Elizabeth II and his nephew to get a foothold in the royal family. Watch the documentary to find out more about the fascinating mechanism behind the royal politics.
The Royals
If long-winded history lessons are not your thing, then you should give The Royals a try. Not to be confused by the highly entertaining and truly terrible series of the same name, this documentary is in the form of a six-part series. Each episode takes on a different topic related to the royal family, like weddings, deaths, and scandals, eschewing a more chronological presentation. If it helps, there’s an entire episode dedicated to royal pets.
Diana: 7 Days that Shook the World
On the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic demise, BBC released a documentary that focussed on the heartbreaking after-effects of her death and the highly scrutinised week leading up to her funeral. The film features touching interviews from her surviving sons Prince William and Prince Harry, talking candidly about what they went through at the time. It offers us a never-seen-before look into one of the darkest periods in British royals’ history.
Serving the Royals: Inside the Firm
The documentary’s creator, John Curtin, describes it as “Downton Abbey on steroids”, so you can imagine what a wild ride it promises to be. The film features the royal family through the perspective of those who make their lives easier every single day. From footmen, to bodyguards, nannies, and private secretaries prove why they’re the biggest assets, and also the biggest liabilities, when to comes to keeping secrets. It profiles 1,200 servants, consultants, advisers, and guards working for the royal family. So you can find out just how simply Princess Diana used to smuggle her alleged lovers to the palace, and how much toothpaste does Prince Charles likes squirted on his toothbrush. Yes, there’s apparently a toothbrush squirter for the royals. And you thought your job was bad. Streaming on Prime Video
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