简介：FiveleadingBritishactressesplaytheQueenatpivotaltimesinherlife,asthisground-breakingseriesexaminesBritain'ssocialhistorythroughkeyeventsinherreign.　　When,afterthesuddendeathofherfather,theQueenwascatapultedontothethronein1952,shehadnoinklingthatthegreatestscandalshewasabouttofacewouldcomefromwithinherownhousehold.　　HersisterPrincessMargarethadfalleninlovewithadivorcedroyalservant,GroupCaptainPeterTownsend,equerrytoherlatefather,KingGeorgeVI.　　Thisfirstepisodeintheseriestellsthestoryofhow,undertheQueen'snose,theaffairdeveloped,explodingintopublicviewatthetimeofthecoronation.WhenPrincessMargaretbrushedflufffromherlover'slapel,itwasagesturesointimateitwascleartoallwhowitnesseditthatthetwowerecloselyinvolved.　　Thereweremanyvoicesopposedwithinthepalace.Alan'Tommy'Lascelles,theQueen'sprivatesecretary,saidTownsend'sbehaviourwasa'disgracetohisoffice.'TownsendwasbanishedandexiledabroadtotheembassyinBrussels.　　Butoutsidethepalace,thingswerechanging.ThenewPrimeMinister,AnthonyEden,whoreplacedWinstonChurchillin1955,washimselfdivorced.Adraftannouncementwasdrawnupconfirmingthemarriagewouldtakeplace.MargaretwouldevenkeepherroyalprivilegesshouldshemarryTownsend.　　Theprogrammefeaturesapreviouslyunseenhand-writtenlettersentbyPrincessMargarettoPrimeMinisterAnthonyEdenon15August1955,whichshowsthatMargaretgenuinelybelievedthedecisiontomarryTownsendwouldbehersalone:'AttheendofOctober...IverymuchhopetobeinapositiontotellyouandtheotherCommonwealthPrimeMinisterswhatIintendtodo.'　　WouldtheQueenlookbackwards-towardthepre-warworldwhenaroyalmarriagetoadivorceehadresultedinthescandaloftheabdication-orforwardtothemodernworldbysupportinghersister,andallowinghertofollowherheart?…