4 British Royal Family Documentaries to Watch Right Now on Netflix and Amazon
Netflix and Amazon have some really good documentaries when it comes to the British royal family.
Undoubtedly a fascinating topic, there have been hundreds if not thousands of films, TV shows, and news programs dedicated to the subject of the British royal family. Not even six months ago in Oct. 2019, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex were speaking candidly in their own documentary, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey.
With so many documentaries about the British royal family out there, it can be overwhelming to pick just one which is why we’ve narrowed it down to a selection currently on Amazon and Netflix. Without further ado, here are 4 British royal family documentaries streaming right now.
1. ‘Diana: 7 Days That Shook the World’
Now on Netflix, Diana: 7 Days That Shook the World is a 93-minute documentary from the U.K.’s Channel 5, showing how the public grieved for Princess Diana after her death on Aug. 31, 1997, following a car accident in Paris, France. The crash killed her and two others leaving behind Diana’s bodyguard as the lone survivor.
According to the Observer, the documentary originally aired in the U.K. on May 30, 2017, and showed multiple videos of the flowers and cards members of the public placed outside Kensington Palace in honor of Diana in the days following her passing.
Apart from video footage in the aftermath of her death, people close to Diana were also interviewed for the documentary. Members of her staff spoke on-camera including Paul Burrell, her butler, as well as former Royal Press Secretary Dickie Arbiter who served as Queen Elizabeth II’s press spokesperson for 12 years from 1988 to 2000.
In addition to the interviews and footage, the film also examines how the British royal family put tradition aside to honor Princess Diana’s life.
2. ‘The Windsors: A Royal Family’
From PBS Masterpiece, 2018’s The Windsors: A Royal Family is a four-hour documentary split into four parts available on Amazon. Each episode covers a different time period within the British royal family.
Beginning with King George V in the first episode the documentary then moves on to Edward, Duke of Windsor who abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. From there, Queen Elizabeth II’s reign is highlighted. The documentary ends with the family’s more recent history in the 1990s.
3. ‘The Royals’
What’s unique about The Royals, a six-part docuseries from 2014, is that it’s broken up by topic. Available to watch on Amazon, each episode covers a different subject; royal weddings, royal funerals, royal teens, royal scandals, royal babies, and royal pets.
It has 4.6 stars out of 5 with a heavy dose of Diana “If you’re really into Princess Diana, this series is for you,” one reviewer wrote.
4. ‘The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II’
This 2013 documentary directed by Alan Byron covers Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and boasts a 4.5-star rating on Amazon. Those interviewed in the documentary include British historian and author Robert Lacey, the queen’s cousin Margaret Rhodes, journalist Hugo Vickers, royal expert Ingrid Seward, Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, and of course, the queen.
Featuring rare archival footage according to the documentary’s description, reviewers found The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II to be a “fascinating biography” and “informative as well as entertaining.”
Other documentaries we’ve previously mentioned are still available to stream. They include Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute, The Royal House of Windsor, and Diana: In Her Own Words.
