Never-before-seen family footage offers a rare glimpse into the Queen’s early years, from childhood to coronation.

A treasure trove of previously unseen archival footage of Queen Elizabeth II has been released ahead of the upcoming BBC documentary Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen. The documentary will explore Her Majesty’s life, starting from her infancy to her 1953 coronation.

The 30-second teaser, which premiered on BBC One, features intimate moments of the Queen as a young princess: skipping aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, grinning with her younger sister Princess Margaret, and posing in a khaki skirt-suit in a garden. The Queen’s voice can be heard in the trailer, quoting Winston Churchill: “The further backward you look, the further forward you can see.”

This documentary, airing on May 29, just ahead of the Jubilee celebrations, will showcase personal footage filmed by the Queen’s family, including herself, Prince Philip, and others. The 75-minute film presents the Queen from her childhood through to her 1953 coronation, offering a rare insight into her life and the monarchy. Among the never-before-seen footage is the Queen’s early years with her uncle, Prince George, who tragically died during the Second World War, as well as her private 1946 engagement to Prince Philip at Balmoral. The documentary will also feature rare moments from King George V’s 1931 sailing trip with The Queen Mother and a 1951 visit by King George VI to Balmoral, his last before his death.

The film also delves into the Queen’s role as a young mother, capturing her moments with Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The BBC was granted “unprecedented access” to the Royal Collection vaults at the British Film Institute, where the footage has been stored for decades. The production team reviewed over 400 reels of film, which included behind-the-scenes glimpses of state events, and listened to more than 300 of the Queen’s speeches spanning an incredible 80 years.

Simon Young, BBC’s commissioning editor for history, remarked, “This documentary offers an extraordinary and deeply personal look at the Royal Family, providing a unique opportunity to share this intimate side of the Queen’s life with the public, especially during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”

Claire Popplewell, creative director for BBC Studio Events Productions, said, “Access to this personal archive was a rare privilege. Allowing the Queen to tell her own story, through self-recorded moments, forms the heart of this film.”

Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen will air on BBC One and be available on BBC iPlayer on May 29, offering an unparalleled insight into the life of one of the most iconic figures in British history.