Elizabeth: Our Queen

What’s on telly tonight? Our pick of the best shows on Tuesday 6th February
Princess Elizabeth (centre) with Princess Margaret and governess Marion Crawford (Image credit: Bettmann Archive)

A portrait of the woman behind the public persona

A portrait of the woman behind the public persona.

Now in the 65th year of her reign, the Queen is as popular and enigmatic as ever.

This new eight-part series uses archive footage and rare interviews to delve into the private life behind the public face.

Contributions from life-long friends Lady Prue Penn and Lady Myra Butter, and politicians such as Tony Blair, who worked closely with her, are particularly fascinating.

Tonight’s opening episode focuses on formative moments in Elizabeth’s life, including her uncle King Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936, her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 and the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.

The result is insightful, in-depth and surprisingly intimate.