All The Royal-Related TV & Film To Binge Ahead Of The Coronation
The Coronation is nearly here, and with the royals taking centre stage as a new reign begins, we’ve put together a list of some of the best films and TV about the Queen, King Charles, the royals and their long history.
From Oscar winners like The King’s Speech, dark comedies like The Favourite and even a bit of Shakespeare, there’s plenty to watch if you’re looking to mark the occasion on 6th May.
The Queen
Starting off with a pretty obvious pick, 2006’s The Queen might have bagged Dame Helen Mirren an Academy Award for her role as the late monarch, but it’s Diana who’s impact hangs over the 100 minute runtime. Made just under a decade after the Princess of Wales’ death, The Queen takes us back to the days following the momentous event and how the royals struggled to address it. You can see why Mirren won an Oscar, depicting the Queen as a mother, grandmother, and as monarch in a recreation of her famed speech to the nation from the Palace. Michael Sheen also stars as newly elected PM Tony Blair, as the modern Britain under Labour and the old Britain of tradition collide.
Watch it on: Netflix
Spencer
Keeping on the subject of Diana, Spencer was overshadowed by The Crown and Emma Corrin’s depiction of the princess, but Kristen Stewart puts in a winning performance. It’s set in late 1991, as Diana’s life with the royals and marriage to the future King Charles comes increasingly under strain. At breaking point, she begins to have an existential crisis, feeling dedicated to William and Harry but alienated and rejected by the royals. Over the course of three days (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day), she ponders her difficult position and future as a royal. It also stars Sally Hawkins, Jack Farthing, Timothy Spall and Sean Harris, and Stewart was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime
The King’s Speech
This Best Picture winner sees Colin Firth step into the shoes of the Queen’s father, George VI, before and after ascending the throne. Having suffered a lifelong stutter, George (known as Bertie before he becomes king) already finds public speaking difficult- but things get considerably more tense when his father George V dies and his brother takes the throne. Edward VIII almost immediately falls into crisis due to his potential marriage to Wallis Simpson, and suddenly Bertie is a step away from the monarchy. He intensifies his speech therapy with his coach Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), and the plot follows him all the way to his speech declaring war on Nazi Germany. The all-star cast features Helen Bonham Carter as Bertie’s wife Elizabeth, Guy Pearce as Edward VIII and Michael Gambon as George V.
Watch it on: Disney+
Mrs Brown
Queen Victoria has been depicted plenty of times on screen, with her long reign providing plenty of material for films and TV. Mrs Brown might be the best of all the films out there. Set in the aftermath of the death of Prince Albert, the defining personal event of her time on the throne, Mrs Brown features Judi Dench as Victoria, coping with grief. She develops a close relationship with John Brown, a trusted Scottish servant of Albert, played by legendary comic Billy Connolly in an acclaimed dramatic turn. Their companionship draws the ire of the public and press, as well as politicians of the time, who feel that John is having too much of a influence on Victoria’s behaviour and decisions. It also stars Geoffery Palmer, Anthony Sher, Gerard Butler and David Westhead.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime
Victoria and Abdul
Judi Dench reprised her role as Victoria in Victoria & Abdul, and much like Mrs Brown focuses on Victoria’s relationship with one of her servants. Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young Indian Muslim clerk from British India, is asked to move to Britain to give a gift to the long reigning queen in 1887. Victoria has been feeling increasingly isolated in her later years, and Abdul sparks her interest due to being different from her courtiers. The monarch becomes fascinated with learning more about the Islamic faith and the language of Urdu, and she begins to treat him like a son. The cast also includes Michael Gambon, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith and Adeel Ahktar.
Watch it on: iPlayer, Netflix
The Madness of King George
If you’ve watched Blackadder the Third or Horrible Histories, you’ll know that King George III famously battled with mental illness, leading to the period known as the Regency, as his son acted as Prince Regent. The Madness of King George is adapted by Alan Bennet from his play of the same name, and depicts George’s struggle as his condition worsens over time. It’s a comedy drama, but depicts the ailing king with real sympathy, played by Nigel Hawthorne, who won a BAFTA. Meanwhile Rupert Everett stars as the Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent), and the film shows their declining relationship. Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Amanda Donohoe and Rupert Graves also star.
Watch it on: Apple TV
The Favourite
The Favourite was released to critical acclaim back in 2018, with Olivia Coleman winning an Oscar for her performance as Queen Anne. Set in the 1700s, it sees Anne in poor health and shunning her duties as queen. She’s much more interested in her quirky hobbies, like tending to and playing with her many rabbits. She has an advisor and confidante, Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), who she also has a relationship with, who often tries to control her way of thinking. But things are upended when Sarah’s cousin Abigail arrives, and Anne takes an interest in her, and the cousins begin to vie to be the queen’s favourite. It also features Nicholas Hoult, Mark Gatiss and Joe Alwyn.
Watch it on: Apple TV
Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age
The life of Queen Elizabeth I is told in these two films, both starring Cate Blanchett as the last of the Tudors, and both directed by Shekhar Kapur. Elizabeth focuses on the early years of Elizabeth’s reign, as she ascends the throne following the death of Mary I, her half-sister. Mary (better known as Bloody Mary) had imprisoned the future Queen, who now also has to contend with plots that threaten her leadership. Eliabeth begins to assert herself, and the film ended up being a critical and commercial success. The Golden Age is a sequel to Elizabeth, and shows Elizabeth’s reign in its later years, dealing with Phillip II led Spain and her interactions with Walter Raleigh. Elizabeth stars Christopher Eccleston and Joseph Fiennes, the Golden Age stars Clive Owen, Jordi Molla and Abbie Cornish, and both star Geoffery Rush as Francis Walsingham.
Watch them on: Amazon Prime
Mary Queen of Scots
Another historical/period drama released around the same time as The Favourite, Mary Queen of Scots focuses on the reign of the titular Mary and her cousin Elizabeth I. Mary was Queen of Scotland in the mid 1500s, with Elizabeth coming to the throne part way through her tenure. Having defied pressure to remarry after being widowed at just 18, Mary claims her right as Queen of Scotland, and the film sees her begin to plot to overthrow her cousin as ruler of England. Saoirse Ronan plays Mary, with Margot Robbie opposite her as Elizabeth, and both performances received praise- but the film was criticised for some historical inaccuracies. It’s still a good watch for its focus on a lesser known royal era, and also stars David Tennant, Jack Lowden, and Guy Pearce.
Watch it on: Amazon Prime
The Crown
Well, of course, we’d have to put in The Crown: the Netflix series became something of a phenomenon when it began in 2016, and while it’s often been debated for its accuracy and depictions of its subjects, it’s still a pretty addictive watch. Seasons 1 and 2 depict Queen Elizabeth II right before the beginning of her reign, with her marriage and coronation, as well as the death of her father, with Claire Foy as the Queen and Matt Smith as Prince Phillip. Seasons 3 and 4 see Olivia Coleman and Tobias Menzies take over as the royal couple, depicting the Queen’s reign in the 60s, 70s and 80s, with Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson and Emma Corrin as Princess Margaret, Margaret Thatcher and Diana respectively. The latest season meanwhile tackles the tumultuous 90s, with Imelda Staunton and Johnathan Pryce as Elizabeth and Phillip, and Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Charles and Diana.
Watch it on: Netflix
Wolf Hall
This 2015 drama adapts the hugely acclaimed and successful Wolf Hall novel and its sequel Bring Up The Bodies, both by the late Hilary Mantel. It’s set in the court of Henry VIII but is mainly a semi-fictional biography of Thomas Cromwell, the man who would become one of the most powerful men in England and a key advisor to the king. Mark Rylance is centre stage in a brilliant performance as Cromwell, with Damian Lewis playing Henry VIII. Much like other films on the list it dramatizes certain things for effect, but you’ll see why the Tudor period was such an important one for England and Britain. Claire Foy, Bernard Hilll, Johnathan Pryce, Tom Holland and Mathieu Amalric also star. A sequel series, adapting The Mirror and the Light, is in the works.
Watch it on: iPlayer, Amazon Prime
The Hollow Crown
You can’t make a list of royal dramas without Shakespeare- and The Hollow Crown series adapts his most famous historical plays. Series 1 adapts Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. Richard II sees Ben Wishaw play King Richard II as he’s pushed out of power, alongside Rory Kinnear and Patrick Stewart. Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V follow the life of Prince Hal/Henry V (Tom Hiddleston) as he moves from a roguish rebel who’s friends with the rambunctious Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) to a battle-hardened king, and also features Jeremy Irons as Henry IV. The second series adapts Henry VI Parts 1,2 and 3, as well as Richard III. The Henry VI trilogy tells the story of the difficult life of Henry VI and the beginning of the War of the Roses, with Tom Sturridge as Henry. Finally, Richard III sees Benedict Cumberbatch take the role of Richard, famously depicted as a selfish villain, with the end of the Wars of the Roses and the dawn of the Tudor era.
Watch it on: ITVX, Britbox
looking for more films about the queen and royal family? check out these royal documentaries