Original subtitles

Narrator: WINDSOR--

\h\h\hTHE OLDEST AND LARGEST CONTINUALLY INHABITED CASTLE

IN THE WORLD.

FOR 1,000 YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S BEEN THE SYMBOL OF BRITAIN’S ROYAL DYNASTIES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE QUEEN, THIS IS A PALACE LIKE NO OTHER.

Man: THE WINDSOR CASTLE \h\h\h\h\h\hIS HER HOME.

IT IS A FAMILY HOME AS WELL,

\h\h\h\h\hAND SHE FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE THERE.

Narrator: 1,000 ROOMS,

HUNDREDS OF STAFF,

\hBILLIONS OF DOLLARS’ WORTH OF PAINTINGS AND FINE FURNISHINGS,

5,000 ACRES OF PARKLAND.

Man: IT’S A GREAT STAGE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON WHICH THE WHOLE ROYAL BUSINESS CAN BE ACTED OUT.

\hNarrator: IT’S ALSO WHERE THE ROYAL FAMILY

HIDE THEIR SECRETS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: THERE ARE DOCUMENTS AND LETTERS THERE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT I THINK PROBABLY EVERY HISTORIAN

WOULD GIVE THEIR EYETEETH FOR.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S BEEN THE QUEEN’S HOME FOR 80 YEARS.

\h\h\h\hWE’LL REVEAL WHAT REALLY HAPPENED

BEHIND THE CASTLE’S \h\hIMPOSING WALLS.

WE GO BACK TO THE QUEEN’S CHILDHOOD YEARS AT WINDSOR

\h\hTO SEE HOW THE CASTLE PROTECTED THE ROYAL FAMILY

DURING THE DARKEST HOURS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: WINDSOR BECAME A SORT OF CENTER FOR RESISTANCE.

I MEAN, THEY USED WINDSOR \h\h\h\h\hVERY, VERY WELL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WE REVEAL A COVERT MISSION

TO BRING SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS \h\h\h\hBACK TO THE CASTLE.

Woman: UNDOUBTEDLY THERE’S ALL KINDS

OF SENSATIONAL AND CONTROVERSIAL PAPERS AND JOTTINGS.

\h\hNarrator: AND LOOK AT HOW IT BECAME THE SETTING

\hFOR ELIZABETH’S WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

WITH A HANDSOME FOREIGN PRINCE.

Woman: THE KING REALIZES

THAT IF HE DENIES ELIZABETH \h\hHER CHANCE TO MARRY HIM,

SHE WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM.

Narrator: WINDSOR CASTLE

IS ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD.

\hMILLIONS OF TOURISTS FLOCK THERE EACH YEAR.

\h\h\hBUT WINDSOR IS LOVED AND CHERISHED MOST BY ONE PERSON,

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.

\h\h\h\hAnna Whitelock: \h\h\hBUCKINGHAM PALACE IS VERY MUCH THE OFFICE,

\h\h\hWINDSOR CASTLE IS THE KIND OF HOME.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S THE PLACE THAT SHE KIND OF GOES TO

IN A VERY UNCELEBRATED WAY

\h\h\hAND A BIT KIND OF ON THE QUIET, TO ESCAPE.

\h\h\hNarrator: ELIZABETH’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CASTLE

BEGAN OVER 80 YEARS AGO.

SHE NEVER EXPECTED \h\hTO LIVE THERE,

\hBUT WHEN SHE WAS JUST 10 YEARS OLD,

\h\h\h\hHER UNCLE EDWARD MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY ANNOUNCEMENT

THAT STUNNED THE WORLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 1936, EDWARD VIII BECAME KING.

\h\hHE FELL IN LOVE WITH WALLIS SIMPSON,

BUT SHE WAS DIVORCED.

HE WANTED TO MARRY HER,

\h\h\hBUT ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND,

IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO BE KING

AND HAVE A DIVORCEE AS HIS WIFE.

SO HE WAS FORCED TO CHOOSE \h\h\h\hBETWEEN THE CROWN

AND THE WOMAN HE LOVED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAndrew Morton: THE DARK DAYS IN DECEMBER 1936,

WHERE EDWARD VIII HAD OPPOSITION TO HIM MARRYING WALLACE SIMPSON,

BASICALLY PLAYED OUT \hAT WINDSOR CASTLE.

\hIT’S WHERE HE HAD HIS TORTUOUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS BROTHERS.

IT’S WHERE ONE OF HIS BROTHERS, THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER,

SLAPPED HIM IN THE FACE.

IT’S ALSO WHERE HE MADE \h\h\h\hTHE VERY FAMOUS,

\h\hPROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS ROYAL BROADCAST OF ALL TIME.

\h\h\h\hRadio announcer: THIS IS WINDSOR CASTLE.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS \h\hPRINCE EDWARD.

Edward VIII: BUT YOU MUST BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU

THAT I HAVE FOUND IT IMPOSSIBLE

TO CARRY THE HEAVY BURDEN \h\h\h\hOF RESPONSIBILITY

\hAND TO DISCHARGE MY DUTIES AS KING

AS I WOULD WISH TO DO

WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT \h\h\h\hOF THE WOMAN I LOVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EDWARD VIII GAVE UP THE THRONE

AND LEFT WINDSOR CASTLE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT NIGHT

FOR A LIFE IN EXILE.

\h\hHE HAD BEEN KING FOR JUST 10 MONTHS.

\h\h\h\hPiers Brendon: HIS LEAVING THE CASTLE

WAS DEEPLY SYMBOLIC,

BECAUSE HE WAS ABANDONING SHIP,

HE WAS ABANDONING THE COUNTRY,

HE WAS ABANDONING HIS DUTY,

HE WAS SACRIFICING, IN FACT-- \h\h\hWHAT MANY PEOPLE FELT--

HE WAS SACRIFICING DUTY TO PLEASURE.

Narrator: AT THE TIME,

\h\hPRINCESS ELIZABETH LIVED WITH HER FAMILY

A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD \h\h\hAT THE ROYAL LODGE.

\h\hHER FATHER, BERTIE, WAS NOW THE NEXT IN THE LINE TO THRONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTOGETHER, WITH HER MOTHER AND SISTER,

THE LIVES OF THIS YOUNG FAMILY WERE ABOUT TO CHANGE FOREVER.

RENAMED GEORGE VI,

\h\hBERTIE HAD TO MOVE INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

AND TAKE ON THE SMALL TASK

OF RULING THE LARGEST EMPIRE \h\h\h\h\hIN WORLD HISTORY.

Whitelock: GEORGE WAS NATURALLY A SHY, AWKWARD MAN

WHO WANTED TO LIVE

\h\h\hA RELATIVELY NORMAL FAMILY, DOMESTICATED LIFE.

\h\h\h\h\hAND SO IT WAS VERY MUCH A SHOCK TO HIM

\h\h\h\hAND REALLY MEANT THAT HE HAD TO SUMMON UP

ALL HIS KIND OF COURAGE

AND VERY MUCH GO AGAINST \h\hHIS NATURAL INSTINCT

TO TAKE THE POSITION OF KING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT THE STRESS OF THE ABDICATION

WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WAS COMING.

\hIN 1939, JUST THREE YEARS AFTER GEORGE VI BECAME KING,

BRITAIN DECLARED WAR \h\hON NAZI GERMANY.

WHERE THE ROYAL FAMILY LIVED, ESPECIALLY THE ROYAL CHILDREN,

BECAME A NATIONAL CONCERN.

\h\h\h\h\hKate Williams: WHEN THE WAR BROKE OUT,

\h\hTHE PUBLIC HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY WERE COMPLETELY TERRIFIED.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY FEARED AN ALL-OUT BOMBING RAID

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHICH PERHAPS WOULD FLATTEN THE COUNTRY,

\hAND THE IDEA THAT THESE TWO PRINCESSES

AND THE FUTURE HEIR \h\h\hTO THE THRONE

\h\h\h\hCOULD BE INJURED OR TOUCHED BY THIS BOMB

WAS REALLY TERRIFYING.

\h\hNarrator: IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE HEIRS TO THE THRONE

SHOULD BE KEPT AWAY FROM LONDON.

ON THE 12th OF MAY 1940,

WINDSOR CASTLE WAS CHOSEN AS THE PERFECT SAFE HOUSE

FOR 14-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH \hAND 9-YEAR-OLD MARGARET.

\h\h\hWITH ITS MAGNIFICENT VIEWS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CASTLE,

THE ROYAL SISTERS

\h\h\h\hMOVED INTO ROOMS IN THE LANCASTER TOWER.

Williams: THESE TWO PRINCESSES \h\h\hHAD THIS GIGANTIC CASTLE

TO EXPLORE JUST FOR THEMSELVES.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE ELIZABETH,

WHO WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN HERITAGE AND HISTORY

AND IN HER FAMILY’S BELONGINGS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS SOMEWHERE THAT SHE REALLY LOVED TO TOUR

\h\hAND LOOK AT AND EXPLORE WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

\h\h\h\hFOR MARGARET, IT WAS A PLACE OF FUN.

YOU COULD RUN AROUND \h\h\hTHE CORRIDORS,

YOU COULD GIGGLE,

\h\h\hYOU COULD DASH ALL OVER THE PLACE,

YOU COULD PLAY HIDE AND SEEK.

\h\h\h\h\hFOR HER, IT WAS ONE BIG THEME PARK OF FUN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ENTRUSTED WITH PROTECTING

\hTHE TWO PRINCESSES INSIDE THEIR CASTLE

WAS A SCOTTISH GOVERNESS CALLED MARION CRAWFORD.

NICKNAMED "CRAWFIE,"

SHE WAS AN INSEPARABLE \h\h\hAND DEVOTED PART

OF THE YOUNG PRINCESSES’ LIVES.

\h\h\hNigel Astell: SHE WAS INDOMITABLE.

SHE HAD VERY HIGH STANDARDS.

SHE DEMANDED LOYALTY,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SAME WAY THAT SHE GAVE LOYALTY.

\hSHE SORT OF PUT HER WHOLE LIFE INTO LOOKING AFTER THESE GIRLS.

\hAND ALL SHE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS THE LIFE THEY HAD THERE.

SHE USED TO TALK ABOUT THE FUN \h\hTHEY USED TO HAVE PLAYING

\h\hAND THE HUGE SPACE THERE WAS AT WINDSOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR

HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON THE LIVES \hOF THE PRINCESSES AT WINDSOR

OR THEIR PARENTS IN LONDON.

\hBUT IN SEPTEMBER 1940, WAVES OF GERMAN BOMBERS

BEGAN TO DESTROY LONDON \h\h\hSTREET BY STREET.

THE OFFICIAL LINE WAS

\h\h\hTHAT THE KING AND QUEEN REMAINED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

THROUGHOUT THE BLITZ

\h\hIN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR PEOPLE.

♪ THE KING IS STILL IN LONDON ♪

♪ IN LONDON, IN LONDON ♪

♪ LIKE MR. JONES AND MR. BROWN ♪

♪ THE KING IS STILL \h\hIN LONDON TOWN ♪

♪

Narrator: IN FACT,

THEY SPENT THEIR WEEKDAYS \h\h\hAT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

AND NIGHTS AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

\hBrendon: THE THEORY IS THAT THE KING AND QUEEN

DID WONDERS FOR THE MORALE \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE PEOPLE.

\h\h\hIN FACT, THE KING WASN’T STILL IN LONDON.

\h\h\hTHE KING, EVERY EVENING DURING THE WORST OF THE BLITZ,

THEY TRAVELED DOWN TO WINDSOR \h\h\h\h\hTO SPEND THE NIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT WASN’T JUST THE ROYALS

WHO WERE SHELTERED AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\hSO, TOO, WERE SOME OF THE NATION’S GREATEST TREASURES.

Morton: BECAUSE THERE’D BEEN \h\h\h\h\hSOME BOMBING THERE

AROUND THE TOWER OF LONDON,

THEY SECRETLY TOOK OUT ALL THE CROWN JEWELS,

THESE FABLED GEMS,

THESE SAPPHIRES, THESE EMERALDS,

TOOK THEM TO WINDSOR CASTLE

AND VERY SECRETLY THEY USED \hPLIERS, THEY USED HAMMERS,

TO PRIZE THESE GEMS \hOUT OF THE CROWNS

AND PUT THEM INTO VELVET BAGS,

THEN PUT THEM INTO HAT BOXES,

AND HID THEM IN THE BASEMENT.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHOUGHT THE FAMILY AND THEIR JEWELS WOULD BE SAFE

INSIDE THEIR ANCIENT FORTRESS.

BUT THE NAZIS HAD OTHER IDEAS.

BOMBS WOULD BE DROPPED \h\hALL OVER BRITAIN,

AND WINDSOR WOULD NOT BE SPARED FROM HITLER’S EVIL PLANS.

IN LATE 1940, TOWNS AND CITIES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hACROSS BRITAIN,

INCLUDING WINDSOR,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWERE NOW IN THE GERMAN BOMBERS’ SIGHTS.

THE CASTLE BECAME

THE ROYAL FAMILY’S AIR RAID SHELTER.

\hChristopher Warwick: PRINCESS MARGARET SAID

THAT IT ALWAYS SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY’D JUST GOT TO SLEEP

WHEN THE ENEMY AIRCRAFT \h\hSTARTED GOING OVER.

[EXPLOSION]

THEY HAD TO BE ROUSED,

\h\hDRESSED IN THEIR LITTLE BOILER SUITS.

THEY’D GOT THEIR LITTLE CASES

WITH THEIR BITS AND PIECES IN \h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT THEY WANTED.

\h\h\h\hAND THEN THEY WOULD MAKE THE TREK WAY, WAY DOWN

\h\h\h\hINTO THE CELLARS, THE BASEMENTS OF THE TOWER

IN WHICH THEY LIVED.

\h\h\hWilliams: THE BEST PLACE TO SHELTER FOR WINDSOR CASTLE

WAS RIGHT IN THE DEPTHS \h\h\h\hIN THE DUNGEONS,

AND HISTORICALLY

\h\hTHAT’S WHERE THEIR ANCESTORS HAD IMPRISONED ALL THE BADDIES,

ALL THE TRAITORS,

EVERYONE THEY WANTED \h\hOUT OF THE WAY.

\h\h\h\hSO THEY’D BEEN A VERY UNHAPPY PLACE.

[AIRCRAFT ROARING]

Narrator: DEEP IN THE DUNGEONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE YOUNG GIRLS WERE SURROUNDED BY THE GHOSTS

OF WINDSOR CASTLE’S GRIM PAST.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSOME OF THESE WERE THE INNOCENT VICTIMS

OF THE VICIOUS KING JOHN,

THE GREAT, GREAT GRANDSON OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

HE INHERITED THE CASTLE IN 1199, AND FROM THERE,

HE SET ABOUT IMPRISONING AND KILLING HIS ENEMIES.

Marc Morris: KING JOHN

WAS A VERY, VERY NASTY \h\h\h\hPIECE OF WORK.

HE REALLY WAS A GENUINE ROTTER.

HE FALLS OUT

\hWITH ONE OF HIS GREAT MEN, WILLIAM DE BRAOSE, IN 1208,

\h\h\hAND HE CATCHES UP WITH THE BRAOSE FAMILY.

JOHN GETS HOLD OF HIS WIFE \h\h\hAND HIS ELDEST SON.

AND THOSE TWO PRISONERS

\h\h\h\h\hHE LOCKS UP AND STARVES TO DEATH.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MOTHER WAS IN HER SON’S ARMS,

AND SHE, IN DESPERATION, HAD GNAWED AT HIS CHEEKS

\hBECAUSE SHE WAS STARVING TO DEATH.

Narrator: IF STARVING PEOPLE TO DEATH WASN’T BAD ENOUGH,

\hKING JOHN NEARLY MANAGED TO DESTROY HIS OWN CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorris: JOHN WAS SUCH A DISASTROUS KING,

VERY SOON INTO HIS REIGN,

PEOPLE ARE REBELLING \h\h\h\hAGAINST HIM.

IT COMES TO A HEAD IN 1215, \h\h\hWHEN A GROUP OF BARONS

\h\h\h\hGET JOHN TO PROMISE TO BEHAVE BETTER IN FUTURE.

AND THAT PROMISE, FAMOUSLY, \h\h\h\h\h\hIS MAGNA CARTA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ON THE 15th OF JUNE 1215,

JOHN RODE OUT FROM WINDSOR \h\h\hTO NEARBY RUNNYMEDE

TO PLACE HIS ROYAL SEAL \h\hON THE MAGNA CARTA.

\hIT’S SEEN AS THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGAL DOCUMENT

IN ENGLISH HISTORY.

BUT JUST A FEW WEEKS LATER, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAR BROKE OUT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IN 1216, WINDSOR CASTLE WAS UNDER SIEGE.

Morris: JOHN’S REIGN ENDS WITH NOT JUST A CIVIL WAR,

BUT A FOREIGN INVASION

\h\h\hAND HALF THE COUNTRY OCCUPIED BY FRENCH FORCES.

\h\hTHE FRENCH BATTER AWAY AT WINDSOR FOR TWO WHOLE MONTHS,

THROWING EVERYTHING THEY’VE GOT AT IT--

CATAPULTS, TRYING TO TUNNEL \h\h\hUNDERNEATH THE WALLS,

\h\h\h\hTRYING TO THROW INCENDIARY BOMBS AT IT.

\h\hALL OF THESE ATTEMPTS AT TAKING THE CASTLE FAIL.

[AIRPLANE ROARING]

Narrator: OVER 700 YEARS LATER, WINDSOR WAS AGAIN UNDER ATTACK.

BUT THE BLITZ WAS JUST ONE PART

OF HITLER’S EVIL MASTER PLAN \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR BRITAIN.

AFTER THE BOMBING,

HE PLANNED TO INVADE THE COUNTRY AND TAKE IT BY FORCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWINDSOR CASTLE HAD A TOP-SECRET ESCAPE ROUTE

FOR ELIZABETH AND MARGARET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBrian Hoey: IF THE GERMANS, FOR EXAMPLE,

\h\h\h\h\hIF THE ENEMY HAD MANAGED TO GET IN

OR THERE WAS A DANGER

THAT THEY WERE APPROACHING \h\hTHE CASTLE IN THAT WAY

AND THE NORMAL AVENUES OF ESCAPE HAD BEEN SEALED OFF,

THERE IS A SECRET EXIT \h\hFROM THE DUNGEONS,

WHICH IS STILL THERE,

\hWHICH TAKES YOU OUT NEAR THE RIVER THAMES,

AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SPIRITED AWAY THAT WAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT THE HEIGHT OF THE BLITZ,

IN OCTOBER 1940,

\hBRITAIN WAS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF DEFEAT.

PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL

\h\h\hASKED THE KING TO LET HIS DAUGHTER

MAKE A CRUCIAL CONTRIBUTION \h\h\h\h\hTO THE WAR EFFORT.

HE WANTED THE 14-YEAR-OLD \h\h\h\hPRINCESS ELIZABETH

TO MAKE HER VERY FIRST \h\h\hRADIO BROADCAST

TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE \h\hAROUND THE WORLD.

IT WOULD BE RECORDED FROM WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIngrid Seward: THERE WERE WEEKS AND WEEKS

\h\hOF PREPARATIONS WITH HER GOVERNESS.

I MEAN, SHE PRACTICED BREATHING.

\h\hIT WASN’T JUST DONE LIKE SHE READ A SCRIPT.

\hIT WAS VERY, VERY CAREFULLY REHEARSED.

AND SHE WAS VERY NERVOUS.

SHE READ IT SEVERAL TIMES \h\h\h\h\h\hTO HER PARENTS

\h\hBEFORE SHE ACTUALLY COMPLETED THE BROADCAST.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE SPEECH WAS WRITTEN

\hTO OFFER COMFORT TO HOMESICK YOUNG EVACUEES SENT OVERSEAS.

BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER MORE IMPORTANT MOTIVE.

BRITAIN WAS DESPERATE \h\h\h\h\hFOR AN ALLY,

\hAND CHURCHILL BELIEVED THAT THE YOUNG ELIZABETH

\h\hCOULD CHARM AMERICA INTO DECLARING WAR ON THE NAZIS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSeward: THE SPEECH WAS RECORDED

IN ONE OF THE ROOMS \hIN WINDSOR CASTLE,

\h\hBECAUSE I THINK THEY WANTED IT TO BE

AS SORT OF HOMELY AS POSSIBLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME

\h\h\h\hTHE PUBLIC HAD HEARD THE YOUNG PRINCESS’S VOICE.

ELIZABETH NEEDED TO SUMMON ALL HER WEEKS OF PRACTICE

TO REMAIN CALM AND COMPOSED.

Princess Elizabeth: ALL OF US CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL AT HOME

\h\h\h\h\hTHINK CONTINUALLY OF OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIONS

WHO HAVE GONE OVERSEAS,

WHO HAVE TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES

TO FIND A WARTIME HOME

\hAND A KINDLY WELCOME IN CANADA, AUSTRALIA,

NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA,

AND THE UNITED STATES \h\h\h\h\hOF AMERICA.

Brendon: IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO

\h\h\hWHAT CHURCHILL WAS DESPERATE TO DO,

WHICH WAS TO GAIN THE SYMPATHY \h\h\h\h\hAND, WITH ANY LUCK,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE ALLIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT IT WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO SHOW THAT THEY WERE GOOD FOR MORALE.

\h\hPrincess Elizabeth: MY SISTER IS BY MY SIDE,

AND WE ARE BOTH GOING TO SAY \h\h\h\h\hGOOD NIGHT TO YOU.

COME ON, MARGARET.

\h\hPrincess Margaret: GOOD NIGHT, CHILDREN.

Princess Elizabeth: GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSeward: YOU CAN TELL IN THAT SPEECH,

\h\h\h\h\hSOME OF THE WAYS SHE PRONOUNCES HER WORDS,

THAT THAT’S ACTUALLY HOW \h\h\hSHE ALWAYS SPOKE.

AND I LOVE THE FACT

\h\hTHAT THE AMERICANS PICKED UP THE PHRASE, "COME ON, MARGARET,"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND USED IT AS A SORT OF SLANG PHRASE.

"HEY, COME ON, MARGARET."

Narrator: THE WINDSOR SPEECH \h\h\hWAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS.

IT WAS FRONT-PAGE NEWS.

AND A SKEPTICAL AMERICAN PUBLIC

\h\h\h\h\hWAS WON OVER BY THE YOUNG PRINCESS.

WINDSOR CASTLE ITSELF BECAME \hBOTH A SYMBOL OF DEFIANCE

\h\h\hAND A BEACON OF HOPE AGAINST A SUPERIOR ENEMY.

\h\h\h\hBrendon: WINDSOR BECAME A SORT OF CENTER FOR RESISTANCE.

I MEAN, THEY USED WINDSOR \h\h\h\h\hVERY, VERY WELL.

THEY PLOWED UP WINDSOR PARK

AND TURNED IT OVER \h\hTO VEGETABLES.

THE QUEEN DISTRIBUTED

A LOT OF THE FURNITURE \hFROM WINDSOR CASTLE

TO PEOPLE WHO’D BEEN BOMBED OUT.

THERE WAS A HUGE EFFORT TO SHOW THAT ROYALTY WAS DOING ITS BIT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN THE CHAOS OF WORLD WAR II,

THE PRINCESSES TRIED TO LEAD \hA NORMAL LIFE AT WINDSOR.

MIXING WITH LOCAL CHILDREN

HELPED KEEP THEIR FEET \h\h\h\hON THE GROUND.

THEY WERE BOTH ACTIVE MEMBERS \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE SEA CADETS

AND THE GIRL GUIDES.

Williams: EVERY THURSDAY AFTERNOON FROM 2 TILL 4

THEY WORKED FOR THEIR GUIDES \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCOOKING BADGE,

MAKING CAKES, MAKING STEWS,

\h\h\hLEARNING HOW TO COOK IN THE KITCHENS OF WINDSOR CASTLE

WHERE THEIR ANCESTORS WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE.

\h\h\hNO ROYAL WOULD EVER GO ANYWHERE NEAR THE KITCHENS.

\hTHAT WAS THE SERVANTS. YOU WOULDN’T TOUCH THEM.

AND YET HERE’S ELIZABETH, \h\h\h\hTHE FUTURE QUEEN,

IN THE ROYAL KITCHENS.

Narrator: SURPRISINGLY,

ELIZABETH’S WARTIME EXPERIENCES AT WINDSOR CASTLE

ARE SOME OF THE HAPPIEST \h\hIN HER LONG LIFE...

THANKS IN PART TO THE ARRIVAL OF A TALL AND HANDSOME YOUNG MAN

AS A GUEST AT CHRISTMAS, 1943.

\h\hPRINCE PHILIP WAS A 22-YEAR-OLD WAR HERO

WHO CHANGED THE DESTINIES \h\h\hOF BOTH THE COUNTRY

AND THE 17-YEAR-OLD PRINCESS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOREVER.

A ROYAL WITH GERMAN ANCESTRY,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPHILIP HAD BEEN PRINCE OF DENMARK AND GREECE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWilliams: THE CASTLE IS FANTASTIC.

IT’S HUGE, IT’S HISTORIC.

\hHE NEVER REALLY HAD A FAMILY HOME.

\h\h\hAND PHILIP IS A PERSON WHO DOESN’T HAVE MUCH MONEY,

\hAND THERE’S SOME RATHER UNKIND MOCKERY MADE OF HIM

\h\h\hWHEN HE COMES TO VISIT THE CASTLE,

\h\h\hBECAUSE WHEN HIS BAG IS UNPACKED BY THE VALETS,

THEY REALIZE HE’S ONLY GOT \h\h\hONE PAIR OF PAJAMAS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE JUST REALLY HASN’T GOT VERY MUCH MONEY.

\h\h\h\hPhilip Eade: HIS OWN FAMILY LIFE

HAD BEEN COMPLETELY SORT OF BLOWN APART.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHIS MOTHER HAD A VERY BAD NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

AND WAS FORCIBLY TAKEN OFF \h\h\h\h\hTO A SANATORIUM.

\hHIS FATHER ALSO MORE OR LESS ABANDONED THE FAMILY AS WELL.

Narrator: DESPITE THIS,

ELIZABETH HAD HER EYE \h\hON THE YOUNG MAN.

\h\hAND SHE HAD THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS HIM.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF WINDSOR’S \h\h\hWARTIME CHRISTMASES

WAS THE ANNUAL PANTOMIME,

PERFORMED IN ONE OF THE CASTLE’S GRANDEST SPACES.

Paul Burrell: WATERLOO CHAMBER \h\hAT WINDSOR CASTLE IS HUGE.

IT HAS A MASSIVE CEILING

\h\h\h\h\hWHICH IS OVER-LIT BY A DOME WITH WINDOWS IN IT

TO LET THE LIGHT IN.

THE ROOM IS JUST SURROUNDED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY PORTRAITS OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON

AND THE GENERALS WHO FOUGHT \hAT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.

SO THAT’S A VERY FAMOUS ROOM.

Narrator: THE WATERLOO CHAMBER \hWAS CONVERTED INTO A THEATER

FIT FOR ROYALTY EVERY CHRISTMAS.

AND IN THE 1943 PANTOMIME,

\h\h\h\h\h\hELIZABETH DEMANDED THE STARRING ROLE IN ALADDIN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH MARGARET SUPPORTING HER BIG SISTER.

PHILIP WAS GOING TO BE \h\h\hIN THE AUDIENCE.

\h\h\hELIZABETH WAS HOPING TO SWEEP HIM OFF HIS FEET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWilliams: HERE’S ELIZABETH ON STAGE,

\h\h\h\hSHE’S THE LEAD ROLE, SHE’S GIVING ALL THE LINES,

SHE’S GIVING THEM \h\h\hMARVELOUSLY.

IT’S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VIEW OF ELIZABETH AND OF HER FIGURE.

SHE’S 17,

\hAND SHE LOOKS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC IN THESE TIGHTS

AND IN THESE SORT OF \h\h\hSHORT SHORTS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ACCORDING TO THE STORY,

ALADDIN IS GIVEN THREE WISHES.

PRINCESS ELIZABETH \hWAS GRANTED ONE.

SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW,

THE PRINCE WAS CHARMED \hBY HER PERFORMANCE.

\hEade: HE WAS SEEN TO LAUGH VERY LOUDLY

AT ALL THE BAD JOKES,

AND PRINCESS ELIZABETH, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hMEANWHILE,

WAS MORE ANIMATED THAN ANYONE \h\h\h\h\h\hHAD EVER SEEN HER.

THE EVIDENT FRISSON BETWEEN THEM

SEEMED TO CONTINUE AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

♪

Williams: FOR PRINCE PHILIP,

\hSEEING THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ELIZABETH AT CHRISTMAS

REALLY TRANSFORMED HIS VIEW OF THEM.

THAT WAS EVERYTHING \hHE’D EVER WANTED--

\h\h\h\h\h\hA CLOSE FAMILY WHO TALKED TO EACH OTHER,

PLAYED CARDS, PLAYED CHARADES.

THESE SIMPLE PLEASURES \h\hTHAT HE HADN’T HAD

\hBECAUSE HIS FAMILY LIFE HAD BEEN SO VERY UNHAPPY.

SO GOING TO WINDSOR

WAS HIS CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE \h\h\h\h\hTHAT FAMILY LIFE.

Narrator: OVER CHRISTMAS,

PHILIP AND ELIZABETH’S \h\h\h\h\hRELATIONSHIP

WENT INTO OVERDRIVE.

WHEN THE KING AND QUEEN REALIZED

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hJUST HOW CLOSE THE YOUNG COUPLE HAD BECOME,

\h\h\h\hTHEY WERE BOTH SHOCKED AND APPALLED.

Whitelock: WHEN ELIZABETH FELL IN LOVE WITH PHILIP--

AND SHE REALLY DID.

\h\h\h\hI MEAN, SHE FELL HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE

WITH THIS VERY HANDSOME MAN.

BUT IT WAS SORT OF IRONIC

THAT PHILIP WOULD HAVE BEEN \h\h\h\h\h\hSORT OF PERFECT

BY THE STANDARDS OF THE 1930s,

BUT NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

\hTHE FACT THAT HE CAME FROM A GERMAN BACKGROUND

\hMEANT THAT HE WAS FAR LESS DESIRABLE.

Narrator: ANY CONNECTION \hWITH HITLER’S GERMANY

WAS A PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER.

THREE OF PHILIP’S FOUR SISTERS \hHAD MARRIED PROMINENT NAZIS.

\h\h\h\hONE OF HIS NEPHEWS WAS EVEN NAMED KARL ADOLF

IN HONOR OF THE FUHRER.

\h\h\h\hBUT PRINCESS ELIZABETH WAS MADLY AND BLINDLY IN LOVE.

Williams: THE KING REALIZES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE DISTRUSTS PHILIP,

\hNO MATTER HOW MUCH HE DOESN’T LIKE HIM,

\hIF HE DENIES ELIZABETH HER CHANCE TO MARRY HIM,

SHE WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM.

\h\hAND SO HE HAS TO DO IT, HE HAS TO LET HER MARRY HIM.

Narrator: KING GEORGE VI

\hDIDN’T HAVE THE HEART TO END THE RELATIONSHIP.

INSTEAD HE TOLD THE YOUNG COUPLE THEY HAD TO KEEP IT SECRET

UNTIL AFTER THE WAR.

BUT WHEN THE WAR IN EUROPE \h\h\h\hENDED IN MAY 1945,

\hWINDSOR CASTLE HAD A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH.

GEORGE HAD BEEN TIPPED OFF \h\h\h\hTHAT HIS BROTHER,

THE EXILED KING EDWARD VIII,

MAY HAVE COMMITTED TREASON

BY MAKING SHADY DEALS \h\h\hWITH THE NAZIS.

IF SO, IT WAS A DARK SECRET THAT MUST BE HIDDEN AT ALL COSTS.

Morton: WHAT GEORGE VI \hWAS TERRIFIED ABOUT

WAS THE PUBLIC FINDING OUT

ABOUT HIS OLDER BROTHER BEING \h\h\h\hBASICALLY A NEO-NAZI.

HERE’S A MAN WHO CONTACTED THE NAZIS DURING THE WAR,

\hHAS LITTLE INTEREST IN BRITAIN’S SURVIVAL.

\h\h\h\hSO IN A WAY IT WOULD BE VERY EMBARRASSING FOR THE DUKE,

\hBUT ALSO CRIPPLING FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY

AND FOR THE MONARCHY.

Narrator: THE ROYAL FAMILY \h\h\h\hWAS LED TO BELIEVE

THAT INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS EXISTED IN POST-WAR GERMANY

AND THAT THE DOCUMENTS STATED

\h\hTHAT IF HITLER CONQUERED BRITAIN,

EDWARD WOULD RETAKE THE THRONE WITH HIS WIFE, WALLIS SIMPSON.

A DARING PLAN WAS HATCHED \hTO RECOVER THE EVIDENCE

BEFORE THE PRESS DISCOVERED IT

\h\h\h\h\hAND STASH IT INSIDE WINDSOR CASTLE.

Brendon: THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE ANXIOUS TO MAKE SURE

THAT ANY CORRESPONDENCE \h\hTHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE

\h\hBETWEEN THE DUKE AND THE NAZI REGIME

SHOULD BE UNDER WRAPS.

AND SO, IT APPEARS COURTIERS \h\h\h\hFROM WINDSOR CASTLE

WERE SENT ACROSS TO GERMANY

\h\h\hTO BRING BACK VARIOUS MANUSCRIPTS

WHICH HAVE DISAPPEARED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IN THE MONTHS AFTER THE WAR,

THE ROYAL COURTIERS MADE SEVERAL TRIPS TO GERMANY

AND BROUGHT A TROVE OF MATERIALS BACK TO WINDSOR CASTLE.

IT’S UNKNOWN IF THE COURTIERS \h\h\hFOUND WHAT THEY WANTED,

\h\h\hBECAUSE EVERYTHING THEY BROUGHT BACK WAS LOCKED AWAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBrendon: WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,

AND WE PROBABLY WON’T KNOW \h\h\h\h\h\hWHAT HAPPENED

FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS,

OR A HUNDRED YEARS AT ANY RATE.

Narrator: THE DOCUMENTS ARE PART OF A VAST CACHE

\hTHAT THE ROYAL FAMILY KEEP UNDER LOCK AND KEY

IN THE ROUND TOWER.

IT’S CALLED THE ROYAL ARCHIVES.

IT’S WHERE THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR

\h\h\h\hKEEPS ALL ITS MOST INTIMATE SECRETS.

\h\hAnne de Courcy: WINDSOR, OF COURSE,

IS A REPOSITORY FOR SECRETS.

THERE ARE DOCUMENTS \hAND LETTERS THERE

THAT I THINK PROBABLY \h\h\hEVERY HISTORIAN

WOULD GIVE THEIR EYETEETH FOR.

Narrator: THE ROYAL FAMILY \h\h\h\hRUTHLESSLY CONTROL

WHO CAN ACCESS THE ARCHIVES

\h\h\h\hAND WHAT EXACTLY THEY’RE ALLOWED TO SEE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hINCLUDING EDWARD VIII’S LETTERS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE SECRET HOARD OF PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE

STRETCHES BACK 250 YEARS.

FOR ROYAL BIOGRAPHERS, \h\hIT’S A GOLD MINE.

\h\hDe Courcy: THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO THE ROYAL ARCHIVES,

I FOUND IT FRIGHTFULLY DIFFICULT TO GET INTO

BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE ROUND TOWER,

AND YOU GO UP A LOT OF STEPS,

AND THE SECURITY IS INTENSE.

\h\h\hYOU AREN’T EVEN ALLOWED TO GO TO THE LOO BY YOURSELF.

\h\hSOMEBODY ACCOMPANIES YOU AND STANDS OUTSIDE THE DOOR.

\h\hIT IS, AFTER ALL, THEIR PRIVATE LETTERS.

ONE MUSTN’T FORGET THAT.

ANY FAMILY HAS RESERVATIONS

\hABOUT WHO SEES ALL THE MOST INTIMATE DIARIES AND LETTERS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBrendon: THE ROYAL ARCHIVES CONTAIN

LOTS OF PRIVATE ROYAL THINGS,

BUT THEY ALSO CONTAIN \h\h\hLOTS OF MATERIAL

\h\h\hTHAT OUGHT TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

ROYALTY IS CONTROLLING THE PAST.

\h\h\h\h\hAND AS WE KNOW, THOSE WHO CONTROL THE PAST

\h\hHAVE A GREAT INTEREST IN CONTROLLING THE FUTURE.

\hNarrator: BUT THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY SECRETS HIDDEN AT WINDSOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE CASTLE IS ONE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY’S GIANT SAFES,

HOME TO A VAST AND PRIVATE \h\hCOLLECTION OF ARTWORK.

\h\h\h\h\hIT’S CALLED THE ROYAL COLLECTION--

ONE OF THE FINEST, LARGEST, \h\hAND MOST VALUABLE TROVES

OF ART AND JEWELRY \h\hIN THE WORLD.

\hBrendon: WINDSOR CASTLE IS A HUGE TREASURE CHEST,

IT’S A VAST CORNUCOPIA \h\h\hOF ART OBJECTS.

MUCH OF IT IS IMPERIAL LOOT.

EVERY TIME A VICTORIOUS GENERAL

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONQUERED SOME OUTPOST OF EMPIRE,

HE WOULD SEND BACK THE PRIZE JEWELS.

\hNarrator: ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THE CASTLE’S 1,000 ROOMS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS CRAMMED WITH PRICELESS OBJECTS,

WHILE ITS SHELVES ARE STUFFED \hFULL OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS

AND FIRST EDITIONS.

Brian Hoey: YOU’VE GOT RENOIRS \h\h\h\hAND MANETS AND MONETS.

\h\h\hIT’S EXTRAORDINARY, IT’S QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

\h\h\hI SAW A COUPLE OF CANALETTOS THERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I THOUGHT, I WONDER IF THEY’RE REAL?

AND I THOUGHT, SILLY ME, OF COURSE THEY’RE REAL.

THERE’S NOTHING FAKE HERE.

Brendon: EVERY ARTIST \hYOU’VE EVER HEARD OF

\h\hIS REPRESENTED IN WINDSOR CASTLE.

\hTHERE MUST BE SOMETHING LIKE TWO MILLION SEPARATE OBJECTS,

OF WHICH THE PUBLIC HAVE SEEN \h\h\h\hA TINY, TINY FRACTION.

THIS VAST COLLECTION \h\h\hOF GOODIES...

IT’S WORTH...

ESTIMATES VARY,

BUT, I MEAN, IT’S WORTH PERHAPS 10 BILLION, PERHAPS 50 BILLION.

Narrator: THE COLLECTION \h\hIS TRULY PRICELESS.

\h\h\h\h\hAND IN 1947, IT GREW A BIT BIGGER.

THAT YEAR, DESPITE RESISTANCE \h\h\h\h\h\hFROM HER PARENTS,

ELIZABETH MARRIED PHILIP ON THE 20th OF NOVEMBER.

THE PUBLIC WAS OVERJOYED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWilliams: WEDDING GIFTS WERE SENT

TO PHILIP AND ELIZABETH FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD,

AND THEY WERE DISPLAYED ON SHOW,

AND THERE WERE QUEUES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO SEE THEM.

THEY WEREN’T RESENTFUL \hOF THIS BIG WEDDING.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY \hEXCITED ABOUT IT

AND VERY HOPEFUL THAT THIS MEANT THE END OF THE DARK DAYS

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE BEGINNING OF A MARVELOUS FUTURE FOR BRITAIN.

Narrator: THAT FUTURE SOON BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE IN 1948,

WHEN PRINCESS ELIZABETH \hGAVE BIRTH TO CHARLES.

ANNE FOLLOWED TWO YEARS LATER.

APART FROM RARE APPEARANCES \h\hIN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS,

RAISING CHILDREN AT WINDSOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIVATE AFFAIR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN 1950, THE WORLD GOT A UNIQUE LOOK

AT BEHIND-THE-SCENES LIFE \h\h\h\hINSIDE THE CASTLE.

DEVOTED TO THE ROYAL FAMILY,

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNESS \h\h\hMARION CRAWFORD

HAD LOOKED AFTER ELIZABETH AND MARGARET FOR 17 YEARS.

\h\h\h\hNOW SHE WOULD FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS

IF YOU REVEAL WINDSOR SECRETS.

Williams: NORMALLY A GOVERNESS

WOULD EXPECT TO BE THE GOVERNESS TO THE NEXT SET OF CHILDREN,

BUT THAT DOESN’T REALLY HAPPEN,

\hAND INSTEAD SHE’S GIVEN A GRACE AND FAVOR COTTAGE.

SHE’S GIVEN HER OWN COTTAGE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO LIVE IN,

AND INSTEAD WHAT SHE DOES \h\hIS SHE’S RATHER NAIVE.

SHE THINKS, I KNOW, \hI’LL WRITE A BOOK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: CRAWFIE WROTE AN ACCOUNT

ABOUT HER LIFE WITH THE ROYALS

AND SEEMED TO HAVE NO IDEA \hSHE WAS CROSSING A LINE.

CALLED "THE LITTLE PRINCESSES,"

ITS PAGES ARE FULL OF MEMORIES,

LIKE TEA PARTIES WITH THE GIRLS INSIDE THE CASTLE,

\hHIDING IN THE DUNGEONS, AND THE ROYAL PANTOMIMES.

HOWEVER, SHE WROTE THE BOOK \hWITHOUT ROYAL PERMISSION.

\hAstell: IT’S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN PICK UP,

THEY CAN READ,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY CAN GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAPPENS

\h\h\h\hIN THE ORDINARY PARTS OF THE DAYS WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY.

\hYOU KNOW, WHEN THEY’RE NOT OUT ON STATE VISITS,

\h\hWHAT THEY DO AT HOME, HOW THEY ARE AS A FAMILY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE EXTREMELY PRIVATE LIVES

OF ELIZABETH AND MARGARET,

\hAS WELL AS THE KING AND QUEEN THEMSELVES,

WERE NOW ON FULL PUBLIC DISPLAY IN CRAWFIE’S BOOK.

IN ROYALTY-OBSESSED AMERICA, \h\hIT BECAME A BEST-SELLER,

AND CRAWFORD BECAME \hA VERY RICH WOMAN.

\hWilliams: THERE IS THIS AMAZING ADVERT AT THE TIME

FOR "THE LITTLE PRINCESSES" \hIN AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT SAYS, "COME INTO OUR CASTLE!"

COME INTO OUR CASTLE?

\h\hAND THEY’VE GOT THIS REALLY BRILLIANT PICTURE

OF WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\hSO THEY’RE SAYING, IF YOU READ THIS BOOK,

YOU WILL GET PRIVILEGED ACCESS \h\h\h\h\hINTO WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT "THE LITTLE PRINCESSES"

ALSO REVEALED THAT THE KING AND QUEEN WERE OLD-FASHIONED

AND OFTEN ABSENT PARENTS.

IT WAS AN EMBARRASSING

AND DEEPLY PERSONAL LEAK \h\h\h\hOF ROYAL SECRETS

THAT COULD NOT GO UNPUNISHED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMARION CRAWFORD WAS SHUT OUT OF ROYAL CIRCLES

AND EXPELLED FROM WINDSOR.

Astell: IT BECAME A TRAGEDY...

JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A LADY \h\h\hWHO HAD DONE EVERYTHING

WITH THE FINEST INTENTIONS.

THERE IS NO SALACIOUS GOSSIP.

\h\hIT IS ALL JUST STRAIGHT REPORTING

AND REPORTING WITH LOVE.

BUT SHE THEN HAD TO LIVE HER LIFE AS THE OUTCAST.

Narrator: CRAWFIE NEVER SAW \h\h\hTHE PRINCESSES AGAIN.

BANISHED FROM CASTLE LIFE,

HER TREATMENT WAS INTENDED \h\hTO PREVENT ANYONE ELSE

\hFROM SELLING OUT THE ROYAL FAMILY.

Astell: SHE HELD THEM \hIN VERY HIGH ESTEEM.

I FOUND IT ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

\hTHAT SHE NEVER SAID A BAD WORD ABOUT THEM.

AND I WAS NEVER ALLOWED \h\h\hTO SAY A BAD WORD.

I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET THE QUEEN

AND EXPLAIN TO HER HOW CRAWFIE FELT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: CRAWFIE’S TELL-ALL BOOK

\h\h\h\h\hWASN’T THE END OF THE FAMILY’S TROUBLE

\h\hWITH SERVANTS AT WINDSOR CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE 1950s, IT WAS THE KING’S EQUERRY,

GROUP CAPTAIN PETER TOWNSEND,

WHO BECAME AN EVEN BIGGER \hPROBLEM FOR THE ROYALS.

HIS PRESENCE AT WINDSOR

\h\h\hSET OFF A SCANDAL THAT RUPTURED THE FAMILY

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND PITTED SISTER AGAINST SISTER.

Christopher Warwick: \h\hPETER TOWNSEND,

\h\hHE WAS A VERY DISTINGUISHED BATTLE OF BRITAIN FIGHTER PILOT.

HE WAS HIGHLY DECORATED.

HE WAS VERY MUCH A FIRM FAVORITE

\h\h\hAND A FIRM FIXTURE WITHIN THE ROYAL FAMILY

AND WITHIN THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TOWNSEND AND HIS YOUNG FAMILY

HAD BEEN FIXTURES AT WINDSOR \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSINCE 1945,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHEN HE WAS GIVEN AN EXCLUSIVE ROYAL RESIDENCE,

ADELAIDE COTTAGE,

ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CASTLE.

Hoey: ADELAIDE COTTAGE

\h\h\h\hIS A BEAUTIFUL GRACE AND FAVOR HOME.

IT’S VERY PRETTY.

\hPARTS OF IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE A SWISS COTTAGE, I SUPPOSE.

A VERY LARGE SWISS COTTAGE \h\h\hBECAUSE IT’S ABOUT--

IT HAS FIVE OR SIX BEDROOMS,

SOME VERY, VERY NICE \h\hRECEPTION ROOMS.

BUT INSIDE IT FEELS COZY.

Narrator: THIS HANDSOME \hNEW ARRIVAL AT WINDSOR

MADE AN INSTANT IMPACT

ON ONE IMPRESSIONABLE MEMBER \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE FAMILY.

\h\hPRINCESS MARGARET BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES

\hTO VISIT TOWNSEND AT ADELAIDE COTTAGE,

JUST A STONE’S THROW \h\hFROM THE CASTLE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWarwick: HE WAS EXTREMELY GOOD-LOOKING,

VERY, VERY CHARMING, \h\h\hGREAT COMPANY,

AND PRINCESS MARGARET, \h\h\h\h\hIT WAS FELT,

LIKE A LOT OF GIRLS,

THAT SHE’D GOT A CRUSH ON HIM.

Narrator: HE WAS 16 YEARS OLDER THAN THE YOUNG PRINCESS.

BUT MARGARET DIDN’T CARE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hWINDSOR WAS HER PRIVATE PLAYGROUND,

\h\h\hAND TOWNSEND WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THEIR FLIRTATION.

\hWilliams: WINDSOR WAS WHERE HE AND MARGARET COULD BE FREE.

NO ONE WAS LOOKING AT THEM,

NO ONE WAS WATCHING THEM \hOR PHOTOGRAPHING THEM.

THEY WENT OUT WALKING TOGETHER,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY ENJOYED THE OUTSIDE TOGETHER,

\h\hTHEY DID REALLY SPEND TIME TOGETHER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO TO HIM, WINDSOR’S THIS IDYLLIC PLACE

\h\hTHAT DEVELOPED THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN PRIVACY.

Narrator: IN THE SECURE \hSANCTUARY OF WINDSOR,

PETER AND MARGARET’S FRIENDSHIP

\h\h\hDEVELOPED INTO A FULL-BLOWN AFFAIR.

BUT A DARK CLOUD WOULD THREATEN THIS CHARMED AND SECRET WORLD.

\hKING GEORGE VI’S HEALTH WAS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING.

\h\h\h\hIN JUNE 1951, HE ESCAPED TO WINDSOR,

\hHOPING THE COUNTRY AIR MIGHT HELP HIS RECOVERY.

Whitelock: WINDSOR ONCE AGAIN

WAS THIS KIND OF PLACE OF REFUGE WHERE HE RECUPERATED,

\h\hAND IT WAS HOPED WOULD ACTUALLY FULLY GET BETTER.

\h\h\hIT DID SEEM LIKE HE’D TURNED THE CORNER

AND WAS ON A ROAD TO RECOVERY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BUT IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY.

A LIFELONG SMOKER,

GEORGE WAS TERMINALLY ILL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH CANCER.

AN EMERGENCY OPERATION \h\h\hTO REMOVE A LUNG

COULDN’T SAVE HIM.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE DIED SUDDENLY ON THE 6th OF FEBRUARY 1952,

AGED JUST 56.

\hNews announcer: TO ROYAL WINDSOR,

HOME OF KINGS FOR 900 YEARS, \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHE COMES HOME.

\h\h\hTHROUGH THE OLD TOWN AND ON TOWARDS THE CASTLE

THE PROCESSION HEADS.

JOURNEY’S END IS NEAR.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ON THE 15th OF FEBRUARY 1952,

THE COFFIN OF KING GEORGE VI WAS BROUGHT TO ST. GEORGE’S CHAPEL

IN THE HEART OF WINDSOR CASTLE.

HIS DEATH TRIGGERED TURMOIL \h\h\h\h\hWITHIN HIS FAMILY.

NOW, AGED JUST 25,

HIS DAUGHTER WAS ON THE THRONE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hELIZABETH WAS THE YOUNGEST MONARCH

SINCE QUEEN VICTORIA.

\h\h\hSHE NOW HAD TO LEAD NOT ONLY A SHOCKED NATION,

BUT HER GRIEF-STRICKEN FAMILY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWarwick: THE FAMILY WAS FRACTURED.

ELIZABETH BECAME QUEEN.

\hSHE WAS A WIFE, SHE WAS A MOTHER.

SHE’S GOT ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SOVEREIGNTY ON HER SHOULDERS.

HER MOTHER, WIDOWED,

\h\h\h\hWAS TOTALLY IN A DARK WORLD OF GRIEF.

\h\hSO YOU’VE GOT MARGARET, ON HER OWN, FEELING LOST...

AND PRETTY VULNERABLE \h\h\h\hIN MANY WAYS.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: UTTERLY DISTRAUGHT,

PRINCESS MARGARET TURNED TO THE MAN WHO WAS SECRETLY HER LOVER,

GROUP CAPTAIN PETER TOWNSEND.

Williams: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MARGARET AND PETER

\h\h\h\h\hREALLY ACCELERATES, IT REALLY HITS A SECOND LEVEL.

\h\hAND PETER TOWNSEND HAS DIVORCED HIS WIFE,

\h\hAND HE DECIDES HE WANTS TO MARRY PRINCESS MARGARET.

\h\hNarrator: IN EARLY 1953, TOWNSEND AND MARGARET MET UP

IN ONE OF THE MOST PRIVATE AND \hOPULENT ROOMS IN THE CASTLE,

THE CRIMSON DRAWING ROOM.

Burrell: IT’S NAMED AFTER

THE CRIMSON SILK DAMASK \hWALLPAPER AND CURTAINS

WHICH HANG IN THAT ROOM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND, FAMOUSLY, TWO VERY IMPORTANT PORTRAITS

OF KING GEORGE VI

AND QUEEN ELIZABETH \h\hTHE QUEEN MOTHER

IN THEIR CORONATION ROBES

ARE EITHER SIDE THE FIREPLACE.

Narrator: FREE TO MARRY AGAIN \h\hAND AWAY FROM PRYING EYES,

\h\h\h\hPETER PROPOSED TO THE 22-YEAR-OLD PRINCESS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR ENGAGEMENT UNDER WRAPS.

\h\hBUT THIS WAS ONE SECRET THAT COULDN’T BE HIDDEN AWAY

INSIDE WINDSOR CASTLE.

♪

THE QUEEN’S CORONATION \hAT WESTMINSTER ABBEY

ON THE 2nd OF JUNE 1953

WAS THE MOST SPECTACULAR \hDISPLAY OF ROYAL POWER

EVER CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

\h\h\hTHE EYES OF THE WORLD AND THE PRESS WERE WATCHING,

HUNGRY FOR ANY ROYAL GOSSIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWilliams: IT’S ALL GONE BRILLIANTLY.

\hELIZABETH’S GOT THE CROWN ON HER HEAD, IT’S ALL GREAT,

\h\h\h\hBUT THEN MARGARET IS IN THE PORCH OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY,

AND THERE’S PETER TOWNSEND.

SHE’S TALKING TO HIM, HE’S IN FRONT OF HER.

NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BUT THEN SHE SORT OF FLICKS \hSOME DUST OFF HIS COLLAR,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT SEEMS AN INCREDIBLY INTIMATE MOVE.

\hAND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THE WORLD’S PRESS IS THERE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY REALIZE IT’S A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ONE SHARP-EYED REPORTER

BLEW THE AFFAIR WIDE OPEN.

\h\h\hTHE HANDSOME DIVORCE AND THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS

WAS A HUGE STORY.

Williams: IT IS AN INCREDIBLE \hSHOCK TO MARGARET AND PETER

THAT WHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP

\h\h\h\hIS NO LONGER THIS PRIVATE THING AT WINDSOR,

BUT THIS HUGE PUBLIC AFFAIR...

\h\hEVERYTHING THAT THEY HAD IN WINDSOR

IS PRETTY MUCH SHATTERED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE INNOCENCE THAT THEY HAD IS SHATTERED.

THEY SUDDENLY REALIZE

THAT THEIR MARRIAGE CANNOT BE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hA PRIVATE THING.

MARGARET’S A PUBLIC FIGURE,

\h\h\h\hAND SO IT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MARGARET’S ENGAGEMENT

SUDDENLY BECAME HER SISTER’S \hMOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.

IF MARGARET MARRIED A DIVORCE,

SHE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE ABROAD, \h\h\h\hLOSE HER COURT STATUS,

AND COME OFF THE ROYAL PAYROLL.

WITH ECHOES OF THE ABDICATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCRISIS IN 1936,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hQUEEN ELIZABETH HAD TO MAKE HER SEE THE LIGHT.

Warwick: ON A PERSONAL LEVEL,

\h\h\h\hTHE QUEEN WAS DELIGHTED THAT HER SISTER HAD FOUND LOVE.

\h\h\hBUT THE QUEEN ALSO IS A VERY UNCOMPLICATED WOMAN.

\hSHE REALLY COULDN’T UNDERSTAND HER SISTER.

SHE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHY MARGARET HAD TO COMPLICATE HER LIFE

BY BECOMING INVOLVED WITH A MARRIED MAN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: ELIZABETH MADE THE FIRST

BIG DECISION OF HER REIGN.

\h\h\h\hSHE PUT DUTY FIRST AND SEPARATED THE COUPLE.

SIX WEEKS AFTER THE CORONATION,

PETER TOWNSEND HAD TO LEAVE \h\h\h\h\h\hADELAIDE COTTAGE

AND WAS SENT TO WORK ABROAD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR TWO YEARS.

WHEN HE RETURNED, THE SEPARATION FROM WINDSOR HAD DONE ITS JOB.

MARGARET ENDED THE ENGAGEMENT,

AND THEIR FAMOUS ROMANCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAS OVER.

Warwick: SHE DID SAY TO ME \h\h\h\h\hON ONE OCCASION,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h"HOW DO YOU KNOW AFTER TWO YEARS OF BEING APART

\hIF YOU STILL WANT TO MARRY SOMEBODY?"

\h\h\h\hMY OWN FEELING IS THAT WHILST THEY STILL HAD

ENORMOUS AFFECTION \hFOR ONE ANOTHER,

\h\hTHEY’D ACTUALLY FALLEN OUT OF LOVE.

Narrator: THROUGH THE BETRAYALS AND THE SCANDALS

OF THOSE CLOSEST TO HER,

\h\hQUEEN ELIZABETH LEARNED HARSH LESSONS THE HARD WAY.

DUTY ALWAYS CAME BEFORE PLEASURE.

FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hSHE WOULD KEEP HER OWN SECRETS TO HERSELF

AND SAFE INSIDE HER FAVORITE \h\h\h\h\hHOME AND FORTRESS,

WINDSOR CASTLE.