Watch—Queen Elizabeth II: In their Own Words

In September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II reached another milestone in her life and reign: she surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

On September 1, 2015, PBS premiered “In their Own Words: Queen Elizabeth II,” a film following the colorful and profound life of Queen, from the childhood—a time when nobody else was expecting her to become Queen someday—to her uncle King Edward VIII’s shocking abdication, her father’s coronation as King George VI, the troubles and fear of World War Two, her own sudden ascension to the throne, and her eventful reign of that spanned over six decades and counting.

The Queen’s reign definitely marked another Elizabeth Era, a reign that made the monarchy closer to the people. She shepherded Britain as it moved pass the post-war reconstruction, decolonization, and the many political conflicts that erupted, as well as the emotionally challenging days following Princess Diana’s death.

This film features interviews with former Prime Minister Sir John Major, actor Sir Ben Kingsley, biographer Sally Bedell Smith, Oscar-winning screenwriter David Seidler (The King’s Speech), director Stephen Frears (The Queen), historian John Julius Cooper, Kamalesh Sharma (Secretary General of the Commonwealth), and the Queen’s cousins Margaret Rhodes and Lady Elizabeth Anson, as they give tribute to Her Majesty. Image credit: Zimbio

Watch the film here: