Britain's Real Monarch

Britain's Real Monarch

Cast and Crew Information

Cast

Presenter
Tony Robinson
Britain's Real Monarch

In investigating the life of Richard III, Tony Robinson was shown evidence to suggest that the royal line was tainted by the illegitimacy of Edward IV. As such, every monarch since has actually had no legitimate claim to the throne.

So who did? And, perhaps more to the point, who does? Who, by the right of succession, should we have sitting on the throne today? To find out, Tony Robinson goes in search of Britain's Real Monarch.

He uncovers a turbulent story of civil war, aristocratic feuds, religious conflict, disgrace, bankruptcy, executions and a £5.5 million bet.

And in the end, he discovers Britain's real monarch, someone as far removed from the splendour of Buckingham Palace as Robinson could ever have thought possible. Having found the rightful heir to the British throne, it's then time to break the news to him...

On TV

First Shown

Date Time Channel
Saturday 28 November 2009 8.45PM Channel 4

Last Shown

Date Time Channel
Saturday 28 November 2009 8.45PM Channel 4

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Comments

  1. Fantastic angle and very interesting viewing, although my patriotism was outraged at lack of acknowledgements for the Stuarts. It took until the closing comments to highlight the implications for Scotland, which I had sussed a lot earlier. Would love to know how the researchers got the alternative line from Queen Elizabeth I to Victoria - 200 years is a big jump. Also, how do we know that the Plantagenents would have ruled with no insurrections, murders or sudden deaths leading to extinction of the line? Still, as an historian I thoroughly enjoyed this line of investigation and can rate Tony up there with our very own Neil Oliver.
    Posted by scottie dog on 24/12/2009 00:13:28
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  2. Hi, Can/will this show be repeated anytime soon on TV?
    Posted by amanda on 01/12/2009 15:00:11
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  3. I found this programme fascinating and want to tell a friend in Australia about it, but cannot remember the name of the town where Michael I lives, nor hisd real family name. Can you remind me please? Thank you, John Griffith
    Posted by John Griffith on 30/11/2009 09:02:46
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  4. hi this was a fab programme for us as we found out that our family tree if we go way back on the plantanagents line and can goes back as far as william the conqueror.if anyone is connected somehow please contact us
    Posted by ian on 29/11/2009 12:37:49
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  5. Of course, the programme assumes there were no cuckolds in the Hastings family. More to the point there is still an element of the "election" of a monarch, or its regulation by Parliament, or the significance of establishing "legitimacy", claiming the right to be monarch. I found all the "shoulds" ("should be the king" over and over again) pedantic and missing the most interesting point. Although the royal family was presented as usurper, the upshot is that it is accepted as "legitimate". Even though he couldn't explain why, the little boy who said he wasn't a prince had a better grasp of this than the adults around him.
    Posted by Margaret87 on 29/11/2009 11:35:24
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  6. The title of this program is wrong (BRITAINS real morach) it should have been called englands real morach as the stuarts were not illegitimate the real morach of scotland today is Francis Wittelsbach of bavaria,germany. it really got on my nerves that it was called britains real morach there was no britain until the act of union in 1707 by james VII & II`s daughter & illegitimate air to the throne anne. i think channel 4 should do another real morach but this time do it on scotlands monarch.
    Posted by keiran blake on 29/11/2009 10:41:54
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  7. Have just watched this program on 4OD as I failed to record it or watch it earlier, so I was very pleased that it was available here.
    Posted by HW on 29/11/2009 02:11:25
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  8. I found this very interesting, following on from what I seem to remember from a previous programme on Edward and Richard III. Although there may be a theoretical succession Henry VII never claimed that he was a legitimate heir. In his statement after the taking power he said that it was by right of conquest. This is exactly the same way that William I gained power, so should we really go back to harold and see how the family line follows from his. This would probably cut out the Plantaganents altogether.
    Posted by Chilli Burger on 29/11/2009 01:28:05
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  9. The point of listing the programmes on Channel4.com before they're on 4oD is so people can find out what when they're on TV and what they're about. This programme will be available to watch on 4oD once it's been on TV.
    Posted by Richard DH on 28/11/2009 12:00:49
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  10. is this the new tv times or is it a place where i can watch programmes. i can see what is slowly happening. wont be able to watch anything on here soon. dissapointing.
    Posted by dave on 17/11/2009 07:47:41
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  11. I've seen the ad for this show on TV but wanted to check when it is scheduled to be shown......where is that info??
    Posted by brilster on 31/08/2009 21:10:30
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  12. hi could you please tell me when this is doing to be avaiable to watch
    Posted by mark on 30/08/2009 23:39:22
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  13. I agree plaese don't list the program if it is not available. You have a gret choice of programs here but doing this really lets your site down.
    Posted by Terence Maxwell on 12/08/2009 17:34:40
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  14. What is the point of listing programs that are not available to view, very annoying indeed.
    Posted by LJ on 26/07/2009 18:37:26
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  15. I tried to view the clips and all I got was an advert this is not what I expect from 4 od
    Posted by Jill Armstrong on 25/07/2009 09:25:58
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Last on:

Saturday 28 November

8.45PM, Channel 4

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