Monarchy: The Royal Family At Work: The State Visit, Parts One & Two

In the year of her 80th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II granted the filmmakers of MONARCHY: THE ROYAL FAMILY AT WORK an exclusive look inside the modern British monarchy. In this intimate series, viewers join Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of Britain's most famous family as they travel abroad, work at the palace and meet people from all walks of life.

The programs follow the queen as she visits the first permanent British settlement in the U.S. and spends time with President Bush at the White House. The cameras roll as she visits the newly democratic Republic of Estonia - where no British monarch has set foot before.

Back in England, the series goes inside Buckingham Palace for exclusive interviews with members of the royal family, preparations for elaborate formal occasions and a behind-the-scenes look at the royal kitchens, royal wine cellar and royal car fleet, and the jobs of footmen, ladies in waiting, the yeomen guard and the crown jeweler.

MONARCHY: THE ROYAL FAMILY AT WORK offers a glimpse behind the velvet curtain to reveal what life is really like as a member of the family firm.

"The State Visit" Parts One & Two air on Tuesday, June 19 at 8 p.m. & 9 p.m. - How do American hosts entertain a monarch who has visited nearly every country on earth and dined with 10 U.S. presidents over the course of her 55-year reign? “The State Visit” follows the elaborate preparations as four localities get ready for a visit from the queen.

At the site of the United States’ first permanent British settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, the chief archeologist brushes up on royal etiquette. In Williamsburg, Virginia, nervous hotel staff makes sure they prepare Her Majesty’s room to an exacting standard of perfection.

The White House hosts the first and only white-tie dinner of the administration and plans for every contingency, including canine misbehavior.

In the royal household, they’ve invited celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz for a formal photo shoot with the queen, although Leibovitz’s request to seat Her Majesty on a horse inside the state apartments proves a bit too much.

In exclusive interviews, Leibovitz shares her desire to capture the essence of monarchy; First Lady Laura Bush personally leads a private tour of the White House; and the queen’s press secretary reveals the challenges of keeping up with her boss. Behind the scenes and at her side from beginning to end, “The State Visit” shows what it takes to plan and execute an official visit from the queen.

Up Next:

"Headquarters" airs Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 8 p.m.

"Head Of State" airs Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 9 p.m.

"The Queen And Us" airs Monday, July 2, 2012 at 10 p.m.

"Inside The Firm" airs Monday, July 9, 2012 at 10 p.m.