Born to Royalty

Clearly a rush job—the new Prince George Alexander Louis here is not yet referred to by name—the BBC-aired documentary Born to Royalty, narrated by Hugh Bonneville, nevertheless offers an interesting look at the history of babies born to the British monarchy. Mainly profiling the House of Windsor, the film centers on Prince William, both his and the Duchess of Cambridge's baby (the first new heir in 31 years) and William's own birth to Diana and Prince Charles, which sparked a major media frenzy. Going back in history (narration overlaid on archival footage of King George V notes that “stern parenting and harsh discipline created miserable princes and stuttering kings”) to examine the monarchy's shift from earlier childrearing habits towards more modern practices, the program offers tidbits on Queen Elizabeth II's childhood (her dad George VI referred to his wife and daughters with the close-knit moniker of “us four”), Prince Charles's birth (born in a Buckingham Palace bathroom…converted into an operating room, of course) and connection with his Nanny Mabel (his mother's new duties as Queen interfered somewhat with family life), and Di's role as a hands-on mom, which helped to bring William up in a relative normalcy that will no doubt influence his own experiences as a father. Featuring comments from former royal correspondent Jennie Bond, royal commentator Professor Alastair Bruce, the Queen's cousin Margaret Rhodes, and others, this slice-of-noble-life is recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)