Documentaries to watch about the life of King Charles, airing before coronation
The coronation of King Charles III takes place on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey in London.
During the ceremony, Charles will be crowned King alongside his wife, Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Before the big day, there are a few new documentaries to watch to bring you up to speed on Charles’ life. (Of course, if you want a fictionalized, dramatized version of royal life, it’s hard to beat “The Crown,” which is streaming on Netflix.)
We’ll update this list as more specials are announced.
April 28: ‘Charles: In His Own Words’ (National Geographic / Hulu / Disney+)
(*Programming note: This documentary premieres on the National Geographic channel at 10 p.m. on April 28, then streams on Hulu April 29 and on Disney+ May 5)
“Charles: In His Own Words” is a history of one of the most scrutinized public figures in the world — man some have called “the Rebel Prince” — through a collection of rare archival material. The documentary explores his relationships with his current wife, Camilla, Queen Consort; and with his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.
From National Geographic, the documentary offers a rare view into the real Charles, “back to the beginning, revealing the formative events that have influenced the man, former Prince and the King he was destined to be.” The film is from the creator of “Diana: In Her Own Words,” Peabody and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Tom Jennings. (Note: The two-hour film “Diana: In Her Own Words” airs Friday, April 28, at 8 p.m., just before the King Charles doc.)
May 2: ‘King Charles: The Boy Who Walked Alone’ (Paramount+)
This new streaming documentary looks at the life of King Charles with interviews from former girlfriends, schoolmates, royal watchers and staff, with many speaking for the first time disclosing new details about the King.
The doc is described as “partly a coming-of-age tale, bringing to life an intimate portrait of England’s future king. New insights include a memory from King Charles’ former boarding schoolmate Johnny Stonborough, who recalls how ‘Charles was the boy who walked alone,’ in response to ongoing bullying and isolation.”
There are also new details about his relationship with the late Princess Diana and how that may have impacted his relationship with his youngest son, Prince Harry.
Among those interviewed: India Hicks, King Charles’ goddaughter; Mervyn Wycherley, former head chef to the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer; former classmate Johnny Stonborough; squadron leader Graham Laurien, who flew King Charles more than 760 times; and former girlfriends Janet Jenkins and Jane Ward.
Some programming descriptions are provided by networks.
