The Palace & The Press

The Palace & The Press is a captivating documentary series from BBC Select that delves into the complex symbiosis between Britain's royal family and the country's press. This series uncovers the historical threads of this fragile relationship and unravels its evolution from the early 20th century to the present day, providing unique insights into the royal family’s public image management and their relationship with the media.

The show explores the backstories, scandals, triumphs, and tragedies of the royal family and puts them under the lens of media scrutiny, offering a critical look at the thin line between news, gossip, and intrusive voyeurism. The Palace & The Press examines how and why the press continuously feeds the public's fascination with the monarchy, highlighting the intricate dance of power between the monarchy and media and ensuing hot debates over privacy and public interest.

One of the series' key strands is the deep-dive examination into the media's role in shaping public opinion and the royal family's influence on their own media portrayal. Central to this investigation is the balance act the press must perform, juggling their responsibility to report empirically accurate news with their business need to serve the public's insatiable curiosity for royal minutiae.

Within each episode, notable journalists, royal aides, and insiders share their firsthand experiences and insights, spliced with gripping archival footage. These diverse voices provide perspectives on key moments of royal history, such as Princess Diana's relationship with the press, the media’s role in the abdication crisis of the 1930s, and the reinventing of the monarchy’s image in the early 21st century through younger royals like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Each of these situations is portrayed against a backdrop of the wider social and cultural context of the time, aiding viewers to understand the changing dynamics.

Throughout, the series navigates sensitive subjects like tabloid tactics, the paparazzi’s relentless pursuit of the royals, and the assertion of press freedom rights — illustrating how these played a role in the complex interplay between the palace and the press. It looks into the dramatic clash of interest between the royals' need for a private life and the press's relentless drive to reveal, resulting in a discourse on the boundaries of journalistic ethics.

The Palace & The Press also explores the monarchy's adaptive strategies, their significant efforts to control their narratives, and shape their public personas. From orchestrated photo opportunities to utilizing their own social media platforms, the series illustrates how Buckingham Palace has managed to remain relevant and adored amidst the demands of a 24/7 news cycle.

In some episodes, the show ventures beyond the UK's borders, investigating the global appeal of the British monarchy. It details how international media has reported on the royals and how this global coverage impacts the Crown's standing on the world stage.

Balancing sober academic scrutiny with entertaining narratives, The Palace & The Press offers a rare glimpse into the tumultuous relationship between the press and the royal family. It's an exploration of how the business of news, the fascination with royalty, and the resulting tension has colored how we understand, perceive, and engage with the monarchy.

This program will appeal to royal enthusiasts, history buffs, students of media studies, and anyone interested in the power dynamics behind media narratives. With nuance and insight, it presents a comprehensive overview of the British monarchy's relationship with the media, highlighting the impact of this relationship on the global stage.

In The Palace & The Press, prepare to delve into the intricate world of the monarchy and the media, gaining unprecedented understanding of their parallel narratives that have been entwined for more than a century. This series is more than just a study of monarchy or media—it's an exploration of the blurred lines between privacy and publicity in the age of relentless press attention.