Royal rivalries embroiled in lead up to war

At the outbreak of the First World War, three cousins reigned over Europe's greatest powers: Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and King George V of England. This documentary looks at the role played by three monarchs, and their relationships with each other, in the outbreak of war, arguing that it's far greater than historians have historically believed.

This episode looks at the realignment of the European powers and the emergence of the alliance system in the years following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. It examines the key role played by royalty in smoothing the path to the Anglo-Russian entente of 1907, and at the part played by the Kaiser's erratic, unstable personality in the growing isolation of Germany in the years leading up to 1914.

Historical documentary Royal Cousins at War unveils the behind-closed-doors story of the final weeks before the outbreak of World War I. At the outbreak of the First World War three cousins reigned over Europe's greatest powers - Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and King George V of England. This two-part series looks at the role played by the three monarchs, and their relationships with each other in the outbreak of war, arguing that it is far greater than historians have traditionally believed.