Plot Synopsis

PRIVATE LIVES OF THE WINDSORS is a three-episode series that goes inside one of the planet's most famous families, revealing the inner lives of Queen Elizabeth's father, uncles and aunt -- the first young royals ever to be thrust into the spotlight to win over public opinion as part of a royal rebrand. Many are familiar with King George VI and his older brother Edward, who rejected the throne for love. Few, however, know much about their siblings, Mary, Henry, George, and John. This series examines the private lives of the first young Windsors across the social and political backdrop of the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. First-time access to personal diaries and letters reveals the scandals and secrets kept hidden behind the facade -- from Edward's infamous abdication and marriage to extraordinary love affairs and drug use -- making coverage of our modern royals seem tame by comparison. The three episodes include:

"Rebellion" (Monday, October 7, 2019 at 8pm): Monarchies surrounding Britain were falling fast in 1918, and King George V knew he needed to rebrand if he wanted to hold onto his throne. He changed the family name from the German "Saxe-Coburg and Gotha" to the quintessentially British "Windsor," and then sent his children out into the world to win over the hearts and minds of the British public. Thanks to newly released diaries and letters of the king's children, we go behind the royal facade to reveal secrets and untold family dramas.

"Family First" (Monday, October 14, 2019 at 8pm): In the 1920s, the Royal Family survived a surge of populism, but the 1930s presented new challenges. Britain faced economic depression, and criticism of the monarchy was being publicly voiced. The Windsor family's image became more important than ever. It was time for King George V's three unmarried sons to settle down and find suitable wives, but things didn't go according to plan. While Princes Henry and George eventually fell in line, Edward's relationship with the American divorcee Wallis Simpson would throw the family into crisis.

"War and Peace" (Monday, October 21, 2019 at 8pm): The series goes inside one of the planet's most famous families, revealing the inner lives of Queen Elizabeth's father, uncles and aunt -- the first young royals ever to be thrust into the spotlight to win over public opinion as part of a royal rebrand. In wartime, all the Royal siblings prove themselves, but Edward continues as the family problem.