Lucy Worsley’s Royal Photo Album
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, April 13, at 3 PM
Monday, April 14, at 4 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, May 25, at 4 PM
Once upon a time, the idea of the monarchy was spread through fairy tales, but since the days of Victoria and Albert, photographic images have shaped public perception. From official portraits to tabloid snapshots, the camera has been the British royal family’s confidante, messenger—and nemesis. In this intriguing new special, Lucy Worsley explores the royal family photo album, from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana to the current generation, and reveals how the monarchy used the power of the photograph to reinvent itself, engage the public and ensure its survival.
Worsley explores the various types of photos that enabled the royal family to conduct a dialogue with the British people, forging a modern monarchy that reigns rather than rules. Along the way, she re-creates Queen Elizabeth II’s iconic coronation portrait, digs out photogenic outfits from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, has her own Victorian-style picture taken and gets the inside story from current royal photographers Anwar Hussein and Chris Jackson.
