Sleep Dearie Sleep

Sleep Dearie Sleep

Episode Summary

Cast and Characters

Sleep Dearie Sleep
Season	6
Episode	10
Time period	January-April 2005
Credits
Released	December 14, 2023
Written by	Stephen Daldry
Directed by	Peter Morgan
Episodes
Previous	“Hope Street”

“	Well... I'll leave you to it. Say one for me?	”
— Philip

“Sleep Dearie Sleep” is the tenth episode of Season 6 and the series finale. The episode was released on December 14, 2023.

Synopsis

The Queen gives Charles the green light to wed Camilla. Tasked with planning her own funeral ahead of her 80th birthday, she faces an existential crisis.

Episode Notes

Historical Events

• Prince Harry's costume faux pas during the natives and colonials costume party
• Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles

Historical Notes

• In one scene where Philip called the costume shop saying that Harry's costume is a German Afrika Korps uniform is inaccurate, since the uniforms don't have swastikas. However, the logo of the Afrika Korps was depicted with a palm tree and a swastika.

Trivia

• The episode finale sees Claire Foy return once again as young Elizabeth, alongside Olivia Colman reprising her role as the "middle" Elizabeth, marking the only time all three actresses appeared in a single scene together.
• The "Three Elizabeths" scene can be compared to the science fiction series Doctor Who, in which the lead character was portrayed by different actors, with different "incarnations" occasionally appearing together; the changing of actors was a plot element in the 2010 episode "The Eleventh Hour", which guest-starred Olivia Colman and featured Matt Smith as the newest performer of the title role.
• The scene where Prince Philip yelled at the photographer is a callback to Mystery Man, where the younger Philip yelled at Cecil Beaton.
• There may be a subtle symbolism in the Queen's discussion with William and Harry, in the shot framing the two princes sitting on opposite sides of the Queen, indicating the different paths they will both take later on in life.
• The final scene of Philip and the Queen together in St. George's Chapel may be reminiscent of the two's deaths, with Philip leaving the Queen by herself in the final scene, and the Queen leaving after him in the end, which may resemble the subsequent deaths of the two (Philip in 2021, the Queen in 2022).
• There may be a symbolic significance representing the Queen's death in the final scene of the series, with her foreseeing her own funeral might actually be interpreted as her ghost looking upon her actual funeral in 2022, with her walking towards the door in the end representing her "stepping into the light".