7 Must-See Documentaries That Celebrate the Life of Queen Elizabeth II

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II is a monumental event for the United Kingdom and the world at large. Born in 1926, she was a cultural touchstone through decades of change and uncertainty and a steadying force at the center of her own family's dramas. She reigned for a record-breaking seven decades and celebrated the first ever Platinum Jubilee for a British monarch in June of 2022.

Her reign lasted so long that four out of five U.K. residents have never known another sovereign, and there have been few rulers in history who are as globally known and beloved. She has, after all, been one of the foremost figures in British public life for nearly a century, from her designation as heir presumptive when her uncle King Edward VII abdicated the through to her death on September 8. And while these are but a few of the films and specials that document her remarkable life, they offer a sensitive and in-depth look at the woman behind the crown.