Historian Tracy Borman uncovers a mother-daughter relationship that's been ignored for centuries, with the help of Bafta-winning actor Jason Watkins. In 1536, in one of the most infamous events in English history, Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn was beheaded. Her small daughter Elizabeth, who was not yet three years old, was left motherless. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Henry declared his daughter illegitimate. So how is it that Elizabeth, despite these tragic beginnings, went on to become England's most successful monarch? And what impact did her disgraced mother's legacy continue to have over her very long life.

The Tower of London is one of the most famous buildings in the world. But many people don't realise that it's more than just a single castle. From the Bloody Tower to Traitors' Gate, it's a vast and sprawling complex of towers, chapels and royal apartments. But who built all the different parts of this palace, when did they build them, how and why? In this special episode of Inside the Tower of London, BAFTA award-winning actor Jason Watkins and historian Tracy Borman explore how the Tower was transformed from a single keep to an epic fortress spanning 12 acres. With the help of cutting-edge 3D graphics, we recreate what the Tower would have looked like through the ages and chart its evolution over a thousand years. 

In summer, The Tower of London is alive with activity. Beefeater-led tours are a daily duty, and new recruit Barney Barnett faces the challenge of memorising an 8000-word script on 1000 years of history. Will he pass his probation? Tower Governor Brigadier Andrew Jackson plans a unique event in the Tower's summer calendar - the Tudor Pull, a 25-mile river journey with 18 rowing boats carrying ceremonial objects. Historic Royal Palaces' Chief Curator Tracy Borman investigates the bond between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, while conservation work continues in the White Tower. 

It's May 2024, and the Tower of London commemorates King Charles III's Coronation with a special gun salute. Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller oversees the event, but unpredictable weather poses a challenge. A new Yeoman Warder requires a 12-week process to craft his Tudor livery, warder Lawrence Watts restores fraying medal ribbons, and keeper Emma Mawdsley dismantles Henry VIII's gilded armour for loan. Curator Tracy Borman investigates Countess Nithsdale's daring prison escape, while archivist Tam Reilly uncovers WWII damage. 

It's Summer 1483, and one of the most infamous crimes in English history is about to take place. Two young princes are brought to the Tower of London under the protection of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester. A few weeks later they vanish without a trace. The mystery of what happened to the Princes in the Tower has obsessed us for centuries. Why did these boys, aged just nine and 12, disappear? Could they have been murdered, and if so, by whom? This special episode, with unique access to the Tower of London, takes a fresh look at this notorious cold case as new ground-breaking evidence comes to light. Historian Tracy Borman, and BAFTA winning actor - and keen history enthusiast - Jason Watkins, are on a mission to uncover the truth about what really happened to the two missing princes. 

It's the morning of one of the biggest Tower events in years – the Constable's Dues. It's a 700 year old tradition, but this year the spectacle is bigger than ever, with over 80 coordinated Royal Marine commandos, high speed boats racing along the River Thames, a Royal Navy helicopter fly past, and a Royal Marine marching band.

But early morning rehearsals, led by Deputy Governor Debbie Whittingham and Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller, are not going to plan. Tower Constable – and former Marine Officer – General Sir Gordon Messenger has invited some of the most senior members of the Armed Forces to watch the Dues take place – and the pressure couldn't be higher for everything to run like clockwork.

But it isn't just the Marines on show today. Yeoman Gaoler Clive Towell has a special role to perform – challenging the Marine commandos at the Tower gate, a traditional security protocol to decide who can enter the fortress, all while wielding his 500 year old Gaoler's axe. It's a tricky balancing act, but Chief Yeoman Warder Rob Fuller is on hand to show him the ropes, having spent three years mastering the art of ceremonial axe carrying when he was Gaoler.

With minutes to go, crowds and VIPs line the Tower wharf and the action-packed Constable's Dues kicks off. It's a spectacle rarely seen at the royal fortress, and a thrill for the day's visitors. To cap his first Constable's Dues in office, Constable Gordon Messenger cracks open his barrel of port to toast with his Tower and Royal Marine colleagues.

Over at the raven enclosure, brand new Ravenmaster Barney Chandler has his first big test as a team of vets from London Zoo arrive to check up on the health of the birds. After they suggest a little refresh to the raven cages, Barney has difficulty winning the stubborn ravens around to his changes…

Meanwhile, the nearly thousand year old fortress is proving it still has stories to tell, as a team of conservators investigate some mysterious carvings in a former prison cell. They employ cutting edge laser scanning techniques on the ancient graffiti to help decipher what it says – and end up revealing an incredibly rare first hand account from a prisoner who was locked up in Tudor times.

But that's not the only prisoner memento etched into the Tower walls, Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman hunts down a carving by another Tower prisoner who found himself embroiled in one of the most notorious plots in British history – the Gunpowder Plot. Tracy investigates how the Tower played a crucial role in bringing down the plotters, and how they met their gruesome ends.

It's 2024 and the Tower of London is undergoing some changes. Following King Charles's coronation, the new Chief Yeoman Warder and Yeoman Gaoler step into their roles as the fortress prepares for the significant event of Constable's Dues, featuring over 80 Royal Marines. As they gear up for the high-speed spectacle on the Thames, they only have one practice run the night before. Meanwhile, much loved Ravenmaster Chris bids farewell as he steps down from one of the most unusual jobs in the world and the Chief Curator explores the complex history of Jane Boleyn.