David Dimbleby, the veteran broadcaster who has reported on countless royal occasions, is back with a new three-part series examining the role of the monarchy and its future. The first episode, airing tonight on BBC One at 9pm, asks how politically impartial the monarchy is and how much power its members really have.
The programme looks at letters written by King Charles III, when Prince of Wales, to Tony Blair, and Queen Elizabeth II's approval of the suspension of parliament in 2019. Dimbleby speaks to insiders including David Cameron and critics such as journalist Ash Sarkar, as well as Ian Hislop, who describes the monarchy as 'the ultimate soap'.
One notable omission from the series is any mention of the Duke of York's involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has cast a shadow over the royal family in recent years. The series focuses instead on the constitutional role of the monarchy and its financial arrangements.
Dimbleby, who was once asked if he was pro-monarchy, replied: 'I'm pro television shows about the monarchy.' This series promises to be a comprehensive look at the institution, with predictions for what will happen next.
