Tales from the Royal Wardrobe

Dr. Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, presents the history of royal fashion.

Today, few people's clothes attract as much attention as the British royal family, but this is not a modern-day paparazzi-inspired obsession. Historian Dr. Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, reveals that it has always been this way.

Exploring the royal wardrobes of our kings and queens over the last 400 years, Dr. Worsley shows this isn't just a public fascination with what the royals choose to wear, but also a carefully orchestrated piece of theater managed by the royals themselves to control the right image and project the right message to their subjects. From Elizabeth I to the present Queen Elizabeth II, Dr. Worsley explains how the royal wardrobe's significance goes far beyond the fashions and personal statement of each monarch - they each reflect the ever-changing relationship of the monarchy to their people. As Dr. Worsley discovers, the kings and queens who have not carefully choreographed every aspect of their wardrobe have paid the price. As timeless as the monarchy itself, royal fashion is, and always has been, as much about politics as it is about the cut.

Producer: Endemol
Discs: 1
Subtitles: Y
Subtitle Language: English (SDH)
DVI: N
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen