The Queen: A Life in Film

Wallis Simpson is one of the most reviled women of the 20th century. It was to marry this twice-divorced American that King Edward VIII of England renounced the throne in 1936, after less than a year on the throne. Born in Pennsylvania in 1896, Wallis, orphaned of her father, grew up in precarious conditions, and very early on relied on marriage to advance socially. But her matrimonial choices were far from always happy. From 1935 onwards, her affair with Crown Prince Edward opened the doors to "a shimmering new world", but it also made her the target of numerous rumors and public animosity.

No monarch has reigned longer in British history than Elizabeth II, who has been an authority for 70 years. A ruler without power, yet a factor of power. And even today, she is an icon at the center of the world's public. On the occasion of the celebrations for the 70th jubilee of the throne at the beginning of June 2022, the documentary "The Queen - The Fateful Years of a Queen" highlights six decisive phases in the Queen's life and recounts the moving moments and trying trials of the royal family and the United Kingdom over the decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the first politicians to congratulate Donald Trump on his election as president of the United States in 2016, but over time the relationship between the two heads of state has had its ups and downs. Are they friends or enemies? Has their mutual admiration turned into mutual distrust?

The complex relationship between royal brothers Edward VIII and George VI, who were both at the heart of the infamous abdication crisis of 1936, is the subject of this excellent documentary. From British Pathé TV's Royalty Collection.