PRIVATE LIVES: European Monarchs

This episode of Private Lives looks at the lives of Kings and Queens, Queen Victoria, King Edward II and King George IV.

From the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt to the Emperors of mighty Rome, they were extraordinary people living extraordinary lives, some were thought to be Gods. But look a little closer and you'll see that the lifestyles of many were not at all God-like. Far from it, in fact.

For the worst traits of ordinary men were very much in evidence in the palaces of the mighty. The great and the good were able to resist anything, except temptation. If news of some of their excesses broke tomorrow, there would be scandals the like of which has rarely been seen before.

There were no television crews or salacious newspaper headlines to muck things up. Everybody had a vested interest in keeping any delicate or unsavoury matters very much under wraps. No one wanted a scandal, but everyone liked to gossip, and gossip they did. Some record of the darker side of the ancient rulers still exists. And much of it is juicy. Very juicy indeed.

'Private Lives' boldly goes where no camera has gone before. The series shines an unforgiving light into some of the darker recesses of the ancient world to reveal that the antics of modern day rock stars, footballers, television celebrities and film stars are hardly new.

Sex scandals? Plots and intrigues? Power struggles? Blackmail? Incest? Rape? There were enough to fill the red-top tabloids a hundred times over.

'Private Lives' gets down to the nitty-gritty, allowing the modern media to have its day and provide a glimpse behind the ancient palaces and mighty castles to show a world all us will recognise - a world of human frailty.