Buckingham Palace with Alexander Armstrong: Episode 4 (Channel 5 Saturday 19 August 2023)

Buckingham Palace with Alexander Armstrong: Episode 4 airs Saturday 19 August 2023 on Channel 5

What can we expect from this episode

The fourth episode takes place during the triumphant and tragic final days of the Victorian era at Buckingham Palace, and the arrival of the Edwardian era brings new life to the Palace under the reign of a new King.

Queen Victoria, then 62 years old, ascended to the throne in 1881. Seven hundred rooms spread across six stories, Buckingham Palace was essentially the same in 1850 as it is now. Victoria was barely living there, despite its grandeur, as she tried to avoid facing the painful memories of her husband Albert’s death. Buckingham Palace was bustling with activity even without the Queen. Hundreds of workers are still residing at the Palace, and Alexander Armstrong finds a copy of the census.

But a major turning point occurred in 1887, with Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Buckingham Palace was the ideal location for Victoria’s grand Jubilee celebration. The menu for the lavish state banquet hosted that day is revealed to JJ Chalmers.

The Queen’s meeting with a young servant, aged 24, would go down in history as one of the most significant moments of the Jubilee. In his investigation, Alexander learns about Abdul Karim, whose scandalous closeness to the recently widowed Queen caused a stir at the Royal Court.

Raksha Dave investigates the eccentric hoarding habits of the elderly Queen, and JJ learns about the complaints of headaches following the installation of electric lighting in the Palace.

Greed. Madness. Love. Tragedy… Over the centuries, Buckingham Palace has witnessed it all. Now, Alexander Armstrong reveals the surprising stories hidden behind the walls of Britain’s most iconic royal residence.

With the help of JJ Chalmers and Raksha Dave, we uncover the scandals of the exclusive balls thrown by its first royal owners, King George III and Queen Charlotte – and reveal how a party-loving prince almost caused the palace to be razed to the ground.

We discover the dirty secrets of Queen Victoria’s rat-infested living quarters – and hear how heartbreak drove her to abandon the palace. We take cover from the Nazi bombs and relive the moment the palace came within 60 seconds of total destruction and we’ll discover exactly how the original royal residents went to the loo.

Throughout, an ever-changing CGI floorplan shows how the iconic building has been transformed across the centuries as a long line of monarchs have each made their mark.

Season 1 Episode 4

When can we see the episode

Buckingham Palace with Alexander Armstrong: Episode 4 airs Saturday 19 August 2023 at 21:15 on Channel 5

Featured image credit: Channel 5