Although Shakespeare's Richard III boasts that "the king's name is a tower of strength", English history shows how easily the tower crumbles. This six-part series chronicles the royal pageantry and power struggle that have scarred and ennobled the "scepter'd isle" for nearly a millennium. From the Battle of Hastings to the budget battles of today's monarchy, these programs delve into the machinations behind centuries of spilled blood, drained treasuries, and broken alliances - yielding remarkable insight into the past and future of a fragile institution.

Six programs 45-47 minutes each:
THE NORMANS
THE YORKS AND LANCASTERS
THE TUDORS
THE STUARTS
THE HANOVARIANS
THE MODERN MONARCHS