Queen & Country

In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated 50 years on the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as 50 years as head of the Commonwealth. She is the third-longest reigning monarch in English history, and the longest-serving head of state anywhere in the world, apart from King Bhumibol of Thailand. This series is a definitive history of Elizabeth's reign, written and presented by the celebrated British author, William Shawcross. The four episodes use a mixture of personal recollections, archive film and specially-shot contemporary footage to tell the story of Elizabeth. Although attitudes towards the Queen may have shifted and the influence of the Crown may have lessened, throughout her half century reign, Elizabeth has remained, in Conan Doyle's phrase, "the one fixed point in a changing age". (Source: PBS)