There is nothing like the pomp and ceremony of a Royal State Visit - a chance for the royal family to use all the traditions at their disposal to champion Britain on the world stage. In the second episode of the series, we delve into the history of this very British tradition to discover the origins of these three-day spectacles of banquets, public processions and multiple gun salutes. We also reveal the secrets of more everyday- and yet vital- royal traditions that have become part of the world around us. From the traditions of how royal makeup can send powerful messages of defiance to the successes and failures of royal statues through the centuries, these are the customs and rituals that have kept the royal family at the core of British Life.

The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II was a powerful display of royal tradition, capturing the deep bond between monarch and people. This programme explores the origins of such traditions from ancient symbols like the Orb and Sceptre to humorous customs like plaque unveilings. It uncovers the secret messages behind royal fashion, the impact of Princess Diana's funeral, and how rituals help the monarchy maintain its role in British identity, both on the world stage and in everyday life.