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Royalty

Around the world, people have a fascination for those born into privilege. And at the top of the heap are those born into royalty, groomed from a young age to take on the responsibilities, and perks, of leadership. From Queen Cleopatra to King Henry VIII to the current Queen of England, filmmakers, like their audiences, have taken a keen interest in what makes these people tick, always trying to expose something of their private lives and challenges, and perhaps even making them seem as human as the rest of us. Pictured: Queen Bette in 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex'.

The Tudors: Season 2 (2008)

8.1/10
Director: Various
Starring: Anthony Brophy, Bosco Hogan, Hans Matheson, James Frain, Jeremy Northam, Jonatha...

Focusing on the early years of King Henry VIII's reign, 'The Tudors' looks at the colourful personal life and tremendously influential political life... Read more

The Emperor and the Assassin (1999)

7.3/10
Director: Chen Kaige
Starring: Gong Li, Zhang Fengyi, Li Xuejian, Sun Zhou, Lu Xiaohe, Wang Zhiwen

This lavishly produced, epic historical drama is set in the third century B.C. and tells the multi-faceted story of the man who became the first Emper... Read more

Vatel (2000)

6.6/10
Director: Roland Joffe
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Julian Sands, Julian Glover

Sweeping historic epic set in France in 1671 and starring Gerard Depardieu as Francois Vatel, a steward for the near-bankrupt Prince de Conde. While... Read more

Mary, Queen of Scots (2013)

5.5/10
Director: Thomas Imbach
Starring: Clive Russell, Tony Curran, Bruno Todeschini, Edward Hogg, Mehdi Dehbi, Camille...

Less of a sumptuous period piece (although those elements are there), Imbachs look at one of the worlds most intriguing historical, female figurehea... Read more

Edward the Seventh: Part Two, Episodes 7-13 (1975)

Director: John Gorrie
Starring: Annette Crosbie, Timothy West, Helen Ryan, Felicity Kendal, Derek Fowlds, France...

Directed by John Gorrie (The Oscar Wilde Collection) this BAFTA winning drama focuses around the life of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and the dramas... Read more

The Sissi Collection (1990)

Director: Ernst Marischka
Starring: Romy Schneider

The beautiful Romy Schneider stars in three captivating films (plus a prequel) based on the tumultuous life of the beloved Austrian Empress, Sissi. Th... Read more

Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

7/10
Director: Zhang Yimou
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Gong Li, Jay Chou, Liu Ye, Dahong Ni, Junjie Qin, Man Li

Zhang Yimou's characteristically lush historical melodrama, set near the end of theTang Dynasty, with Chow Yun-Fat as the Emperor whose wife (Gong Li)... Read more

By the Sword Divided: Series 1 (1983)

7.6/10
Director: Henry Herbert, Michael Custance, Brian Farnham, Diarmuid Lawrence
Starring: Julian Glover, Andrew MacLachlan, Rob Edwards, Jeremy Clyde, Tim Bentinck, Lucy...

Produced by the BBC, this epic historical drama series is set during the English Civil War and follows the changing loyalties and wrenching conflict w... Read more

The Tudors: Season 3 (2009)

8.1/10
Director: Various
Starring: James Frain, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Annabelle Wallis, Henry Cavill

Twenty seven years into his reign, Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is at the height of his powers. Shortly after the execution of Anne Boleyn he tak... Read more

Edward and Mrs Simpson: The Complete Series (1978)

Director: Waris Hussein
Starring: Edward Fox, Cynthia Harris, Marius Goring, Peggy Ashcroft

On the evening of December 11, 1936, England's King Edward VIII formally broadcast his farewell to a nation. Torn between duty and love, he had decide... Read more