“Queen of the World,” the Landmark Documentary on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, tells the story of how the Commonwealth and its growth have been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty’s life.  The documentary will debut MONDAY, OCT. 1 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO, which has U.S. rights to the film.

Produced by Oxford Films, QUEEN OF THE WORLD will offer unique insights into Her Majesty The Queen as a figure on the global stage in her role as head of the Commonwealth, an association of free and independent nations that were once part of the British Empire, and the baton she is passing to the younger members of the Royal Family as they continue to build upon her legacy. Today, there are 2.4 billion Commonwealth citizens, which is almost one-third of the world’s population.

Filmed over more than a year with privileged access to The Queen, her family, her staff and her residences, the documentary tells the story of how the Commonwealth and its growth have been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty’s life.

QUEEN OF THE WORLD features behind-the-scenes moments with The Queen and other members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Princess Anne; Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; and the Countess of Wessex.

As the family and world leaders discuss the importance of the Commonwealth to The Queen, the film documents the ways she passes her knowledge and experience to the younger generations.

Drawing on footage from The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s private film archives and treasures of the Royal Collection, QUEEN OF THE WORLD will offer a unique perspective on The Queen’s early years as Head of the Commonwealth, when she had the symbols of the then-eight Commonwealth countries embroidered on her Coronation gown. That number had grown to 53 countries by the time the Duchess of Sussex had flowers representing the nations of the Commonwealth embroidered on her wedding veil in 2018.

The documentary begins in 2017 with Her Majesty The Queen recording her annual Christmas message to the Commonwealth before what will be a momentous year for both the Royal Family and for her “family of nations.”

QUEEN OF THE WORLD spotlights some of the programs that The Queen hosts every year to give opportunities to people from around the Commonwealth. At Buckingham Palace, a team of young professionals from the Caribbean join a program inspired by The Queen’s desire to give a helping hand to rising stars in the hospitality industry in countries where tourism is vital to the local economy. The group is given advice before its first royal introduction, to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. It’s a lively encounter as Prince Harry, The Queen’s new Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, tells them, “You guys have spent way more time in Buckingham Palace than I ever have – and you’ve only been here two weeks!”

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is reunited with her wedding gown and veil for the first time since her wedding day, as Royal Collection specialists prepare the dress for a new public exhibition. She reflects on her wedding day, on the importance of the Commonwealth and on the symbolic significance of the floral Commonwealth emblems sewn into her silk veil.

With access to private home movies, QUEEN OF THE WORLD shows the role that the Royal Yacht Britannia played in The Queen’s early tours of the Commonwealth, when it served not just as a floating palace and traveling embassy, but also as a home away from home. Princess Anne watches footage of her and her brother, Prince Charles, as young children on their first trip on the Royal Yacht after six months apart from their parents during the great post-Coronation Commonwealth tour, in which The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh traveled 40,000 miles around the globe.

The film also follows a special event at Buckingham Palace during London Fashion Week. The Countess of Wessex explains the significance of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, in which designers and artisans from each of the 53 Commonwealth countries create and display new looks. The designs are shown at Buckingham Palace at an exhibition attended by the Countess and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Beatrice and many key figures from the global fashion industry.

As the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to head for the Pacific on their first major Commonwealth tour together, a new chapter in this remarkable global story is about to unfold.

Oxford Films also produced the documentary “Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy,” which debuted on HBO in 2017.