Channel 4 has ordered a clutch of factual commissions focusing on Queen Elizabeth II's financial affairs, beauty queens in India and school reunions, writes Penny Hughes

Secrets of the Palace, which airs

Channel 4 has ordered a clutch of factual commissions focusing on Queen Elizabeth II's financial affairs, beauty queens in India and school reunions, writes Penny Hughes

Secrets of the Palace, which airs in May in the run-up to the Golden Jubilee, asks how far the Crown has modernised, where the Queen's wealth comes from and what it is spent on.

Made by Dual Purpose Productions, the 90-minute film is directed by Callum Macrae, produced by Mark Harrison and executive produced by Belinda Giles. C4 head of news, current affairs and business David Lloyd commissioned the piece.

The Making of Miss India, produced by Leeds-based indie Chameleon Television, is a 60-minute film that considers why the country is so successful at generating beauty queens. Minkie Spiro is directing with Alan Jewhurst as executive producer. Ordered by commissioning editor, multicultural Yasmin Anwar, it is part of C4's Indian Tales season this August.

Meanwhile, three 50-minute films from RDF, School Reunion (working title), will track a group of thirtysomethings who reunite after 15 years.