Inside the Tower of London - Episode Guide

The Beefeaters, the first 400 years and royal connections.

Chris begins his career as a Beefeater with some testing exams, while the Chief Curator reveals the history of Anne Boleyn within the walls.

The 20thC saw the most executions in the Tower's history.

Raven Master Chris must introduce a new bird to the Tower's enclosure, while Constable Nicholas is in charge of the room where Guy Fawkes was interrogated.

Raven chicks are born in the tower for the first time in 30 years - but only one of the newborn birds can stay, and ravenmaster Chris faces the tough decision of choosing one to keep and finding suitable homes for all the others. The tower director prepares to retire after 15 years, and takes a moment to enjoy his final gun salute, while AJ Clarke, only the second woman to join the Yeoman warders, embarks on a fitness regime that soon leaves her in need of a new uniform. Plus, a look at the story of the time the future Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the tower for plotting to overthrow her sister, Queen Mary.

The chief yeoman warder oversees the tower's celebration of the end of the First World War, and special preparations are made for the tower director's retirement party, involving a military band and a unique farewell as he leaves the tower for the last time. Newly hatched raven George is introduced to the rest of the birds, not all of whom take kindly to newcomers, and historian Tracy Borman unearths the story of Roger Casement, who was executed for treason for supporting Irish independence during the First World War.

In February 2020, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visit the Tower to celebrate the Yeoman Warders' anniversary, the first time Prince Charles has visited the Tower in over a decade. Meanwhile, the business of researching the Tower's history goes on for Chief Curator, Tracy Borman, as she digs into the tragic story of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

As the country goes into lockdown in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the Tower is forced to close its gates for the first time since the Second World War. As the weeks turn into months, cameras follow the small team of Yeoman Warders locked within the tower, keeping this great fortress running in isolation.

The tower staff prepares to reopen to paying visitors after lockdown results in the longest closure in 75 years, beginning with a special ceremonial lowering of the drawbridge. The ravenmaster makes sure his birds are ready to interact with members of the public after months in isolation, while the chief curator oversees the launch of a gruesome new attraction commemorating the executions on Tower Hill.

As the UK's lockdown relaxes in July, visitors finally return to the Tower as it reopens it gates to the public, and staff have to adjust to a new normal. The new one-way system is up and running, and new yeoman warders Barry Stringer and Darren Hardy have to get back up to speed with their historical facts.

A special episode airing on Armistice Day 2020, looking back at the vital role the Tower of London played during the First and Second World Wars, and how for First World War centenaries, the Tower transforms into a huge national site of remembrance.

The return of the documentary that goes behind the scenes at one of the nation's most historic and best-loved attractions. The tower's oldest raven goes missing and ravenmaster Chris Skaife must come to terms with the fact it might have gone for ever, while in April a special gun salute is organised to mark the death of Prince Philip.

Two baby ravens have joined the Tower's resident colony. One of them, Edgar, is called after the horror writer Edgar Allan Poe, but his sister still needs a name. It will be chosen by public vote and Ravenmaster Chris is on tenterhooks waiting to find out the result. Cameras also focus on Tower Governor Brigadier Andrew Jackson and Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran. They are rehearsing a new ceremony celebrating the Tower re-opening its gates to visitors after the covid lockdown.

It is June and staff at the Tower are bringing out the big guns to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's coronation in 1953. A massive 62-gun salute is planned on the Wharf, but with his boss, the Chief Yeoman Warder, away, new Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller is in charge for the first time. Three 4,000lb guns and thousands of visitors to contend with mean the pressure's on Rob to get it right.

Raven Master Chris must introduce a new bird to the Tower's enclosure, while Constable Nicholas is in charge of the room where Guy Fawkes was interrogated.

Love is in the air as Yeoman Warder Matt Pryme prepares to marry his sweetheart Jo at the Tower of London. The whole community is getting ready for the big day. While Matt prepares the chapel, Canon Roger Hall chooses his most celebratory vestments.

Historic Royal Palaces interpretation officer Emma Bell has a bold plan to transform the fortress into a spectacular winter wonderland, inspired by the Tower's famous menagerie. Chief curator Tracy Borman uncovers how a grumpy Henry VIII rejected his wife Catherine of Aragon's Christmas gifts, Beefeater Darren Hardy takes the Yeoman Warders carol-singing around their homes in the Casemates cottages, and the Tower community comes together for a special service in the Chapel Royal.

Return of the documentary going behind the scenes at the castle. As autumn arrives, the royal bodyguard of Yeoman Warders come together to commemorate one of the saddest moments in the Tower's history, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, before announcing the formal proclamation of King Charles III.

It's March 2022 and the Tower is continuing work on its most ambitious installation ever — the transformation of the moat into a huge floral display to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Known as Superbloom, the installation has been three years in the planning and is the most complex operation the Tower has ever undertaken. As the team digs down into the moat, there's a rare opportunity for archaeologists to search for ancient treasures that have been discarded in the moat decades and centuries ago. This isn't the first time there's been a search for buried treasure in the Tower — yeoman sergeant Clive Towell discovers how diarist Samuel Pepys went digging in the Tower's cellars after a corrupt constable of the Tower was rumoured to have hidden gold in the Tower's grounds in the 1650s. Yeoman warder Lawrence Watts gives new recruit Tam Reilly a tour of the Tower of the places the tourists rarely see, including Sir Thomas More's cell behind a hidden door in the Queen's House, and the toilet built for Adolf Hitler when it was thought he could be imprisoned at the Tower after WWII. Historic Royal Palaces chief curator Tracy Borman uncovers a Catholic plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, masterminded by Italian banker Roberto Ridolfi with one of the stupidest noblemen in history, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. The queen had Norfolk arrested and he eventually met a grisly end as he was executed on Tower Hill. Horticultural expert Prof Nigel Dunnett has designed the planting scheme for Superbloom. He and his team have to scatter 20 million seeds across the moat's 14,000 square metres to grow and flower in time for the Platinum Jubilee weekend in June. As if that wasn't hard enough, there's a new challenge — discouraging the Tower's greedy pigeons, who see Nigel's seed-sowing efforts as a giant buffet.

It's April 2022 at the Tower, and there are just five weeks to go until Superbloom, the Tower's transformation of its historic moat into a vast floral installation to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, is due to open to the public. But one of the UK's driest springs has wreaked havoc on the 20 million flower seeds sown in the moat for the display — the ones that have germinated are weeks behind and large areas are still completely bare. Prof Nigel Dunnet, the horticultural expert in charge of Superbloom's planting scheme, has been watering for weeks to try to avert disaster, but it's clear more drastic measures need to be taken. Historic Royal Palaces head of public engagement projects Rhiannon Goddard has no choice but to put down an expensive and high-maintenance option — special preseeded turf that already contains growing plants — to give Superbloom the best chance of flowering in time for the Jubilee. But despite everyone's best efforts, Superbloom isn't ready for its official opening. So chief yeoman warder Pete McGowran reassures the world's press that it'll be worth waiting for. Ravenmaster Chris Skaife is keeping a close eye on the Tower's ravens, who are taking advantage of their popularity to steal visitors' lunches. Yeoman warder AJ Clark walks her new dachshund puppy: he's named Reggie after Reggie Kray, an infamous East End gangster who spent time in the Tower. Chief yeoman warder Pete and the Tower's resident governor Brigadier Andrew Jackson award the Beefeaters a special medal in honour of the Platinum Jubilee at an exclusive ceremony on Tower Green. And Historic Royal Palaces chief curator Tracy Borman follows the tragic story of Lady Katherine Grey, sister of Lady Jane Grey, condemned to the Tower and a life of unhappiness by Elizabeth I. A couple of weeks after the official opening, Superbloom can finally be seen in its full glory. A breathtaking sea of millions of flowers transforms the Tower's historic moat to the delight of visitors and Beefeaters.

Deputy governor Debbie Whittingham and yeoman gaoler Rob Fuller have spotted an impressive visitor berthed across the river from the Tower - it's a Japanese warship, which is on a world tour and is stopping off in the capital. Meanwhile, Historic Royal Palaces chief curator Tracy Borman investigates the bridges that connect the Tower to the south side of the Thames, including London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

Cameras focus on the events of June 2022, the start of the Platinum Jubilee weekend and the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years on the throne. In the Tower's gift shop, sales assistant and royal superfan Allen Jones has been doing a roaring trade in Jubilee memorabilia. Meanwhile, senior official General the Lord Nicholas Houghton is preparing to retire. He reflects on his time living in such an extraordinary building.

On Thursday 8 September, news arrives that would change the nation's history. The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is announced after 70 years on the throne. It's a time of deep sadness for the Tower staff and for the yeoman warders, some of whom have met the Queen in their role as royal bodyguards. As a royal palace, with special links to the Royal Household, the Tower enters a two-week official period of mourning.

The Tower has recently mourned the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and proclaimed King Charles III. Having seen 42 monarchs come and go, the fortress needs to make some important changes to mark the new King's reign - the Yeoman Warder's uniforms need to be updated and the Queen's House, where the Constable lives, must now be changed to the King's house.

In the first episode: it's March 2023 and the Tower is preparing for one of the most important events in its 1000-year history – the crowning of a new monarch. Since the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II last year, the fortress has been serving King Charles III and slowly transitioning into a new era, but with the coronation date now on the horizon, it's a race to get everything ready for the big day.

Top of the agenda is changing all the royal cyphers – or personal monograms of the monarch - around the Tower. They're everywhere from buttons on the staff uniforms to sentry boxes, and one of the biggest updates needed is on the Beefeaters' ceremonial partisans. These ancient weapons would have been employed to defend the king or queen during Tudor times, although nowadays they're carried by the Yeoman Warders in the much more friendly ceremonial parades and gun salutes at the Tower. But updating a 70-year-old bit of kit isn't easy - for Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran, it's a race against the clock to get the partisans ready in time.

Assistant Curator Alfred Hawkins needs to oversee the replacement of the Tower's biggest cypher. Sitting atop the iconic Jewel House and signalling the ownership of the priceless crown jewels by the monarch, this marks the start of the King's new reign.

Over at the raven enclosure, Ravenmaster Chris Skaife's precious flock are under serious threat. A nationwide outbreak of deadly avian flu means he's had to make a tough decision and put his seven feathered charges under lockdown. Although the enclosure has been enlarged for them, Chris also comes up with some imaginative ways to keep them entertained.

The Coronation may be the biggest event of the year but the first date in the Tower's calendar is Easter. In the café, Sous Chef Denis Idahosa has rustled up some delicious seasonal treats, while Curator and Public Historian Charles Farris and Yeoman Warder Barney Chandler investigate the fascinating history of Easter gift giving at the fortress – it didn't include chocolate eggs...! The Yeoman Warders put their best foot forward in a traditional Easter Parade - it's the last time they will be wearing their state ceremonial dress bearing the late Queen's initials, and it's a fitting way to say a final goodbye.

And Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman turns detective to reveal the truth behind an incredible treasure: a beautiful gold sovereign ring found by a metal detectorist in Kent. It's engraved with a mysterious bull symbol and a single initial and Tracy believes it could possibly belong to the family of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's notorious second wife. Tracy's hunt takes her all the way to Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey, the ancestral home of one of Henry VIII's courtiers. Visited by King Henry and Anne Boleyn and their huge entourage on the way to France, Tracy reveals that the ring might have been owned by Anne's father Thomas, or brother George, before their dramatic downfall left one of them with their head on the block.
 

It's spring, and the Tower is now just weeks away from one the most important events in its 1000-year history – the crowning of a new monarch. Staff have been working hard to prepare for the new era, but one thing is yet to change – the Beefeaters' iconic uniforms. These world-famous uniforms still bear the royal monogram of the late Queen Elizabeth II, known as a cypher, and they must be updated to represent King Charles III.

In charge of this epic endeavour is Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller, who has drafted in master tailors Kashket and Partners for the job. But with hundreds of garments to create from scratch, getting them ready for a national press launch just ahead of the coronation will be a huge challenge.

And it's not all out with the old and in with the new. Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran visits the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Hampton Court Palace, a priceless archive containing historic garments from Queen Elizabeth I's dress to gowns worn by Princess Diana. The latest addition to the collection will be Pete's old uniform, securing a place for the Yeoman Warders in this amazing historic archive of clothes.

As the new reign is ushered in, Yeoman Sergeant Jimmy James says a final goodbye to the monarch he served all his life: the late Queen. He meets Keeper of the Tower Armouries Emma Mawdsley, to look at a very special archive of photos cataloguing all of Queen Elizabeth II's visits to the Tower. Jimmy was lucky enough to have met the Queen – one of the highlights of his time at the fortress.

Meanwhile in the Tower's iconic moat, big changes are afoot. Last year saw this space transformed into a magnificent floral meadow garden in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Now Rhiannon Goddard, plans to turn this into a permanent fixture, but she's faced with the Herculean task of getting the hard frozen soil blooming again. She calls in help from London's last herd of working shire horses stationed at Hampton Court Palace. A much softer way of preparing the ground than using tractors, these gentle giants should make light work of tilling the earth - if they can adjust to the busy London traffic noises.

And Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman investigates perhaps the most influential woman in the life of Henry VIII – his beloved mother Elizabeth of York. She finds evidence of just how close the pair were, with Henry growing up alongside Elizabeth and even taking writing lessons from her. But her untimely death at the Tower just after giving birth to her seventh child scarred Henry – perhaps influencing him for life.

It's May 2023 and the Tower is preparing for the crowning of a new monarch. Among those featured is AJ, the first female Yeoman Warder to take part in a royal coronation. Plus, curator Charles Farris examines one of the most famous events in Tudor history - the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn.

It's May 2023, the week after the coronation of King Charles III. Celebrations at the Tower are still in full swing, and highlight of the week is a spectacular concert, held at the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula, where Handel's coronation anthems will be performed.

It's July 2023 and, after 14 years of loyal service, Pete McGowran has announced his retirement. He reflects on treasured memories, including when he gave Queen Elizabeth II a private tour of the Chapel. Over on the Tower's defensive wall, a crumbling turret on top of the Cradle Tower is in urgent need of repair.

It's mid-summer at the Tower of London, and the Beefeaters are preparing to say goodbye to their Chief Yeoman Warder, Pete McGowran. There is still plenty for Pete to do in his last few days at the fortress, including paying a visit to Ravenmaster Chris Skaife to learn the name of the recently arrived baby raven.

BAFTA award-winning actor Jason Watkins explores a fascinating family connection to this iconic landmark. Jason believes he may be related to Sir John Brydges, the Tudor 
Lieutenant who oversaw the imprisonment and execution of England's shortest-reigning Queen, Lady Jane Grey, and family legends hint at ties to author Jane Austen. Accompanied by renowned historian Tracy Borman, Jason embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, traveling from the Tower of London to Austen's home and the picturesque Sudeley Castle, revealing a captivating lineage spanning over 500 years. 

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. 

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 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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.