The Last Royals
Film Summary
52:00 mins
Civilizations & History
/ People & Places
Worldwide
Brief Summary
A few centuries ago, hereditary monarchs ruled the world, representing the dominant and most ancient form of government. Today, they exist in only 28 countries. Does the institution of monarchy have any relevance in the modern, democratic world of the 21st Century? Profiling the lives of monarchies in England, Uganda, Nepal and Tonga, among other places, The New Royals provides a fascinating insight into the day-to-day lives of some of the world's most diverse royal families. Using current and historical footage, we explore the challenges presently facing these families and discuss those they may encounter in the future. The film begins in Great Britain with the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. Despite her 50 years of stability and respectability, recently there has been public dissatisfaction with the behaviour of other royals, leaving some to wonder about the long-term prospects of the British monarchy. We then visit the African kingdom of Buganda, in present-day Uganda. The King - the Kabaka - was originally run out of the country in 1966 by Idi Amin and died in exile. Nearly 30 years later, the tide of public opinion turned, the monarchy was restored by popular demand and the Kabaka's Cambridge-educated son, Mutebi II was crowned. The Kabaka has no political power, but his ability to inspire is remarkable. We also visit the Kingdom of Nepal for the first ever interview given by the Nepalese King since the horrific palace massacre of 2001, in which most of his family were killed. Our cameras are inside the palace as the new king struggles to maintain tradition, while battling with Maoist insurgencies and demonstrations in the streets.
Year Filmed: 2005
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