The Coburg dukes seemed doomed to insignificance. In the 19th century, through clever marriage policies, they succeeded in their meteoric rise to become the most important dynasty of their time. They founded the royal houses of Belgium and Bulgaria, ruled in England and Portugal and married into the palaces of the whole of Europe.
ZDF royal house expert Julia Melchior explores the European family network of the Coburgs in her new film. Bulgaria's ex-king Simeon receives her at his residence in Sofia. In Belgium, the royal family opens its palace doors, and in Great Britain, she sets off in search of the Coburg roots of the British royal family. Rich in anecdotes and with powerful images, the film uses selected biographies to tell the story of what is probably the most European family on the continent.
First broadcast: Tuesday, 13 June 2017 at 20:15 on ZDF
