Channel 5 continues its royal history play with the next installment of Secrets of the Royal Traditions, which zeroes in on weddings—both the pomp and the pressure. The episode, titled “Weddings,” drops Saturday, May 24 at 8:00 PM and leans heavily on the 2011 marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton as a modern-day case study in balancing monarchy and media spectacle.
Part documentary, part cultural analysis, the hour-long special tracks how historic wedding protocols—many dating back centuries—have been adapted or discarded by the Windsors in response to public scrutiny and shifting social norms.
Using William and Kate’s Westminster Abbey ceremony as an anchor, the episode examines the strategic blend of public tradition and personal touches—like their now-famous balcony kiss—that broke from precedent while still reinforcing the Firm’s image.
Other storylines tap into deeper royal lore. That includes the Royal Yacht Britannia’s onetime status as the unofficial honeymoon HQ—alongside the sobering fate of some marriages that began on board. The yacht’s decommissioning under Tony Blair’s government and Queen Elizabeth II’s response also feature.
The episode doesn’t stay confined to nuptials. It touches on auxiliary traditions tied to royal rites of passage, including equestrian sports (from Henry VIII’s hunting to Prince Charles’s polo) and the fading institution of the Debutantes’ Ball.
Secrets of the Royal Traditions has delivered consistent ratings, thanks to its mix of archival footage, academic insight, and tabloid-friendly access points.
