大象传媒

The Gold State Coach designed by Sir William Chambers (1723-1796), made by Samuel Butler, with carvings by Joseph Wilton (1722-1803), painted decoration by G.B. Cipriani (1727-1785). The Gold State Coach has been used for every Coronation since 1762 and, in the present reign, has also appeared at the Silver and Golden Jubilees.

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From: England. Made for the Coronation of George III (1738-1820)

Date: 1762

Material: Carved and gilded walnut, ash and oak; and iron

Size: 4050 x 7200 x 2600 mm

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The Abraham Tapestries, probably designed and woven in Antwerp. A series of ten tapestries depicting the principal events of the life of the Prophet Abraham, as told in the Old Testament. The tapestries were used at the Coronations of all subsequent Tudor and Stuart monarchs.

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From: The Netherlands. Acquired by Henry VIII

Date: 1540-41

Material: Silk and gilt-wrapped thread

Size: 5620 x 8820 mm 听

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Silver table made for Charles II (1630-85). Charles II commissioned silver furniture to rival the glories the court of Louis XIV (1638-1715) at Versailles.

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From: England. Made for Charles II (1630-85)

Date: c.1670

Material: Chased and embossed silver on an oak frame

Size: 870 x 1060 x 700 mm 听

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An Exact Prospect of Hampton Court, an etching by Sutton Nicholls (fl.1680-1740). William III (1650-1702) and Mary II (1662-1694) commissioned Sir Christopher Wren (1623-1723) to design a magnificent new eastern fa莽ade for Hampton Court Palace. This print is a plate from 'Prospects of the Most Considerable Buildings About London', published in 1725.

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From: England

Date: c. 1700

Material: Etching

Size: 520 x 613 mm 听

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Imperial State Crown, made by Rundell Bridge & Rundell. This is the crown worn by the Sovereign on leaving Westminster Abbey after the Corononation and, on such occasions as the State Opening of Parliament.

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From: England. Made for King George VI

Date: 1937

Material: Gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones

Size: 315 mm high 听

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Five centuries after they were created, some extraordinary tapestries have been brought from the Sistine Chapel to London. The Raphael tapestries, from the series, "The Acts of the Aposles", are on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, to mark the Pope's visit. Lisa Jardine reflects on the significance of these works - each one slighter bigger than a double decker bus.

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Kirsty Young's castaway is the royal photographer Arthur Edwards. He is a Fleet Street legend and, for more than thirty years, has captured the most memorable moments of the House of Windsor - from the first tentative pictures of a teenage Lady Diana Spencer to the balcony kiss at the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

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Melvyn Bragg and guests John Guy, Clare Jackson and Helen Hackett discuss the death of Queen Elizabeth I and its immediate impact, as a foreign monarch became King in the face of plots and plague.

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Melvyn Bragg and guests discusses the Tudor State. In 1485 Henry Tudor slew Richard III and routed his army at The Battle of Bosworth Field. It was a decisive victory which founded a bold new dynasty. But were the Tudors as instrumental in reshaping the British state as historians have liked to make out, and did their reign throughout the 16th century really lay the political foundations of our own age?

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Sheila Dillon looks at the history of state banquets and asks what role royal hospitality has to play in a more democratic age. She visits the Queen's reception for the British hospitality industry, where she meets a nunmber of distinguished guests including Gordon Ramsay and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

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