Monarchy – The Royal Family At Work provides an exceptional insight into the work of The Queen and other members of the Royal Family over the course of a year. From major State visits and Royal tours to smaller meetings and audiences, the series gives viewers a remarkable picture of how the Monarchy operates at home and abroad.

The series opens with the Palace preparing for The Queen’s imminent State visit to the United States to mark the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown landings in Virginia.

The Queen has made several State – and several private – visits to the United States during her reign.

She first visited Washington as a Princess. Now, as Head of State, she is about to meet her 10th US President, George W Bush.

Preparations for the tour include a reception for British-based Americans, a fabulous private dinner for prominent American ex-pats at Buckingham Palace and a photo session with the world-famous American photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

Over in the US, the White House is also getting ready as President Bush and his wife, Laura, prepare to stage the first – and only – white-tie banquet of the Presidency.

The visit will underline the “special relationship” between Britain and America and serve as a reminder of shared values and endeavours – past and present. But the President also wants to keep the atmosphere personal and intimate.

“Behind an important title is a very kind and compassionate woman,” he says in an exclusive interview. Recalling his previous meetings with The Queen, he adds: “She’s got a neat twinkle in her eye. She’s very savvy and she makes you feel at ease.”

Once the epic tour begins, viewers will be with the Royal party from beginning to end as the scale, the demands and the true extent of a State visit are revealed. There are moments of great solemnity – and lighter moments, too – as the working Monarchy is seen at first hand.