Sky HISTORY to Premiere Royal Autopsy Docuseries

A+E Networks UK has commissioned for Sky HISTORY the new documentary series Royal Autopsy, produced by Phoenix Television and Motion Content Group.

Presented by Professor Alice Roberts, the series investigates the cause of death of two of Britain’s most famous monarchs: Queen Elizabeth I and King Charles II. The series will air on Sky HISTORY in October 2022.

Royal Autopsy will feature a blend of historical and medical expertise, as well as contemporaneous accounts and documents to piece together how and why these monarchs died. Each investigation follows an autopsy conducted by Home Office pathologist Dr. Brett Lockyer, using a combination of prosthetic bodies, actors and ethically sourced animal organs to reveal how each of the monarchs died. Forensic analysis and toxicology testing are used to determine whether there is any evidence of foul play in each case.

Roberts will then take the findings to medicolegal experts and constitutional historians to determine how each ailment and affliction might have impacted either monarch’s reign in their later years and in the run-up to their deaths. Using eyewitness accounts sourced from the time of their deaths, the final dying days of these historic figures are brought to life with scripted dramatic scenes.

Royal Autopsy has completed production and is set to broadcast in the U.K. on Sky HISTORY in October. The series will also premiere in December on the HISTORY Channel in the Netherlands, Sweden and later in 2023 throughout the rest of Europe. Royal Autopsy is distributed internationally by Abacus Media Rights.

Roberts said: “In this series, we employ new historical research, forensic pathology and special effects to achieve something which has never been done before: a 21st-century autopsy on a long-dead monarch. Teaming up with a brilliant forensic pathologist, Dr. Brett Lockyer, I take a fresh look at these cold cases and discover new insights into disease and medicine, life and death in the past. In each case, we dug into the evidence—and we weren’t afraid to draw our own conclusions about the cause of death.”

Dan Korn, VP of programming at A+E Networks UK, commented: “We at Sky HISTORY are continually exploring different ways of delving into some of the most crucial periods in British history. By using modern techniques and technology to conduct autopsies of some of our most famous monarchs, we gain a unique insight into their lives and into the manner of their deaths.”

Phoenix’s Miles Jarvis said: “Royal Autopsy’s unique approach to re-examining the deaths of our monarchs means Alice’s investigations have brought an exciting new perspective on their lives and deaths that deliver new conclusions on what actually killed them and why.”

Motion Content Group’s Melanie Darlaston added: “Royal Autopsy is the Silent Witness for history buffs, revealing some fascinating new information on these illustrious monarchs.”