Channel 4 Set to Bow A Royal Tour of the 20th Century

Channel 4 has acquired A Royal Tour of the 20th Century, which is set to premiere on the More4 service next week.

Produced by WildBear Entertainment, and originally commissioned by Mediawan Thematics in France, the 4×60-minute series follows the British royal family, and especially Queen Elizabeth, the world’s most-traveled head of state, as they influence and participate in a wealth of defining historical moments. Channel 4 acquired the series from DRG and it will premiere on the service on Monday, October 28.

From the Queen’s first tour of the Commonwealth in 1953-4 and a visit to India in 1961—a first since Partition—to her 1995 visit to South Africa at the end of Apartheid and Princess Diana’s trip to Angola to raise awareness of landmines (recently revisited by Prince Harry), it shows how the royal family has changed with the times, always striving to connect with people all over the world. Across four episodes, the series charts the royal family’s journey through post-war optimism, colonial power struggles, the Cold War, a declining influence over the Commonwealth and the rising media intrusion that remains such a prevalent topic today.

Elin Thomas, DRG’s executive VP of sales, commented: “A Royal Tour of the 20th Century presents a wonderful prism through which to view both major world events and the changing nature of the British royal family. At a time when both royal tours and the role of working royals are under intense scrutiny, this fascinating series offers a unique new look at the royal family at work and provides useful context for their enduring influence on the world stage.”