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Arts & Culture

Secrets Of Westminster

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
Courtesy of Anna Kibblewhite (Pioneer Productions)
Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

Airs Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV

Explore hidden worlds of London’s House of Commons, House of Lords and Westminster Abbey

From the outside, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are the classic London emblems of historic British democracy. Today, this building stands as a monument to a fair and open political system, but was this always the case?

On "Secrets Of Westminster," go inside its gothic walls and discover the hidden worlds of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, where back-stabbing, intrigue and traditions are the order of the day.

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Around the corner is one of the world’s most famous churches, Westminster Abbey, steeped in Anglo-Saxon myth and legend, royal extortion and … dead people.

More than 3,000 great men and women have been buried or memorialized here throughout the ages. It has hosted the coronation of every king and queen of England since 1066, as well as 16 royal weddings.

Today, the building is still a church dedicated to regular worship, although it is a “Royal Peculiar,” subject only to the sovereign and not to any clergyman.

Watch On Your Schedule:

This full program is available to stream on demand with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

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Join The Conversation:

Westminster Abbey is on Facebook, and you can follow @wabbey on Twitter. UK Parliament is on Facebook, and you can follow @UKParliament on Twitter.

Produced by Pioneer Productions