It's spring, and the Tower is now just weeks away from one the most important events in its 1000-year history – the crowning of a new monarch. Staff have been working hard to prepare for the new era, but one thing is yet to change – the Beefeaters' iconic uniforms. These world-famous uniforms still bear the royal monogram of the late Queen Elizabeth II, known as a cypher, and they must be updated to represent King Charles III.
In charge of this epic endeavour is Yeoman Gaoler Rob Fuller, who has drafted in master tailors Kashket and Partners for the job. But with hundreds of garments to create from scratch, getting them ready for a national press launch just ahead of the coronation will be a huge challenge.
And it's not all out with the old and in with the new. Chief Yeoman Warder Pete McGowran visits the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Hampton Court Palace, a priceless archive containing historic garments from Queen Elizabeth I's dress to gowns worn by Princess Diana. The latest addition to the collection will be Pete's old uniform, securing a place for the Yeoman Warders in this amazing historic archive of clothes.
As the new reign is ushered in, Yeoman Sergeant Jimmy James says a final goodbye to the monarch he served all his life: the late Queen. He meets Keeper of the Tower Armouries Emma Mawdsley, to look at a very special archive of photos cataloguing all of Queen Elizabeth II's visits to the Tower. Jimmy was lucky enough to have met the Queen – one of the highlights of his time at the fortress.
Meanwhile in the Tower's iconic moat, big changes are afoot. Last year saw this space transformed into a magnificent floral meadow garden in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Now Rhiannon Goddard, plans to turn this into a permanent fixture, but she's faced with the Herculean task of getting the hard frozen soil blooming again. She calls in help from London's last herd of working shire horses stationed at Hampton Court Palace. A much softer way of preparing the ground than using tractors, these gentle giants should make light work of tilling the earth - if they can adjust to the busy London traffic noises.
And Historic Royal Palaces Chief Curator Tracy Borman investigates perhaps the most influential woman in the life of Henry VIII – his beloved mother Elizabeth of York. She finds evidence of just how close the pair were, with Henry growing up alongside Elizabeth and even taking writing lessons from her. But her untimely death at the Tower just after giving birth to her seventh child scarred Henry – perhaps influencing him for life.
