The Crown is a British-American television drama series created and written by Peter Morgan for Netflix. It is produced by Sony Pictures television and Left Bank Productions.
Synopsis
The Crown portrays the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, until the early 21st century. Claire Foy portrays Elizabeth in seasons one and two, Olivia Colman in seasons three and four, and Imelda Staunton in Season 5 and 6. The first season depicts events up to 1955, with Winston Churchill resigning as prime minister and the Queen's sister Princess Margaret deciding not to marry Peter Townsend. The second season covers the Suez Crisis in 1956 leading to the retirement of Prime Minister Anthony Eden, the retirement of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963 following the scandal of the Profumo affair, and the birth of Prince Edward in 1964. The third season covers 1964 to 1977, beginning with Harold Wilson's election as prime minister and ending with her Silver Jubilee, also covering Edward Heath's time as prime minister.
The third season also introduces Camilla Shand. The fourth season covers Margaret Thatcher's premiership and features Lady Diana Spencer, and introduce Princes William and Harry. Events depicted include the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, their 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Falklands War, Michael Fagan's break-in at Buckingham Palace, Lord Mountbatten's funeral, the Princess of Wales's appearance at the Barnardo's Champion Children Awards and her 1989 flight on Concorde.
Season 5 occurs in the 1990s and introduces John Major. Events include the fire that severely damaged Windsor Castle, and the divorce of Charles and Diana. Season 6 covers events of 1997 to 2005 including princess Diana's car accident that killed both her and Dodi Al-Fayed, princess Margaret and Queen Mother's death as well as the marriage of Charles and Camilla.
Cast
Seasons 1 & 2
- Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II
- Matt Smith as Prince Philip
- Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret
- Victoria Hamilton as Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
- Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary
- Greg Wise as Lord Louis Mountbatten
- Ben Miles as Peter Townsend
- Jeremy Northam as Anthony Eden
- Alex Jennings as Edward, Duke of Windsor
- Lia Williams as Wallis, Duchess of Windsor
- Jared Harris as King George VI
- John Lithgow as Winston Churchill
- Matthew Goode as Antony Armstrong-Jones
- Anton Lesser as Harold Macmillan
Recurring Cast
- Pip Torrens as Tommy Lascelles
- Will Keen as Michael Adeane
- Harry Hadden-Paton as Martin Charteris
- Daniel Ings as Michael Parker
- Harriet Walter as Clementine Churchill
- Simon Chandler as Clement Attlee
- Patrick Ryecart as Jock Colville
- Kate Phillips as Venetia Scott
Featured Cast
Featured cast are billed with the main cast in the episode in which they appear.
- Stephen Dillane as Graham Sutherland, a noted artist who paints a portrait of the ageing Churchill
- Gemma Whelan as Patricia Campbell, a secretary who works with Altrincham and types up his editorial
- John Heffernan as Lord Altrincham, a writer who penned a scathing criticism of the Queen
- Paul Sparks as Billy Graham, a prominent American preacher with whom Elizabeth consults
- Michael C. Hall as John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States who visits the Queen
- Jodi Balfour as Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States
- Burghart Klaussner as Dr. Kurt Hahn, the founder of Gordonstoun, where Philip and Charles went to school
Seasons 3 & 4
The Royal Family
- Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II
- Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip
- Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles
- Erin Doherty as Princess Anne
- Marion Bailey as The Queen Mother
- Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret
- Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones
- Charles Dance as Lord Louis Mountbatten
- Angus Imrie as Prince Andrew
- Tom Byrne as Prince Edward
Government
Other Characters
- Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess of Wales
- Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker Bowles
- Stephen Boxer as Denis Thatcher
Seasons 5 & 6
- Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
- Claire Foy as young Queen Elizabeth II
- Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip
- Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
- Dominic West as Prince Charles
- Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales
- Jonny Lee Miller as John Major
- Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles
- Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
- Natascha McElhone as Penelope Knatchbull
- Marcia Warren as Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
Recurring
- Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed
- Amir El-Masry as young Mohamed Al-Fayed
- Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed
- Alex Jennings as Edward, Duke of Windsor
- Lia Williams as Wallis, Duchess of Windsor
- Timothy Dalton as Peter Townsend
- Prasanna Puwanarajah as Martin Bashir
- Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair
- Flora Montgomery as Norma Major
- Andrew Havill as Robert Fellowes
- James Murray as Prince Andrew
- Emma Laird Craig as Sarah, Duchess of York
- Sam Woolf as Prince Edward
- Senan West as Prince William
- Will Powell as Prince Harry
- Chayma Abdelkarimi as young Samira Khashoggi
- Humayun Saeed as Hasnat Khan
- Lydia Leonard as Cherie Blair
- Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Monique Ritz
- Theo Fraser Steele as Timothy Laurence
- Jude Akuwudike as Sydney Johnson
Episodes
Season 1
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 
|
“Wolferton Splash” | Peter Morgan | Stephen Daldry |
| A young Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip. As King George VI's health worsens, Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister for the second time. | ||||
| 102 | 
|
“Hyde Park Corner” | Peter Morgan | Stephen Daldry |
| With King George too ill to travel, Elizabeth and Phillip embark on a four-continent Commonwealth tour. Party leaders attempt to undermine Churchill. | ||||
| 103 | 
|
“Windsor” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| With Elizabeth in a new role, Phillip tries to assert some power. Churchill wants to delay the coronation. King George's disgraced brother arrives. | ||||
| 104 | 
|
“Act of God” | Peter Morgan | Julian Jarrold |
| When dense fog cripples London for days and creates a serious health hazard, Churchill's inaction leaves him vulnerable to his political enemies. | ||||
| 105 | 
|
“Smoke and Mirrors” | Peter Morgan | Julian Jarrold |
| Elizabeth rejects protocol by appointing Phillip to coordinate her coronation, but his ideas create conflict. The Duke of Windsor returns to London. | ||||
| 106 | 
|
“Gelignite” | Peter Morgan | Julian Jarrold |
| Margaret and Peter come to Elizabeth with a request. With a royal scandal about to break in the newspapers, the Queen Mother intervenes. | ||||
| 107 | 
|
“Scientia Potentia Est” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| As the Soviets test the H-bomb, both Churchill and Eden have major health crises. Angry about her inadequate education, Elizabeth hires a tutor. | ||||
| 108 | 
|
“Pride & Joy” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| Elizabeth and Phillip go on an exhausting world journey. Margaret takes over some of her sister's official duties and tries to liven things up. | ||||
| 109 | 
|
“Assassins” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| As tensions with Phillip increase, Elizabeth spends time with her old friend Porchey. Churchill's portrait is painted for his 80th birthday. | ||||
| 110 | 
|
“Gloriana” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| Margaret and Peter are reunited, but another obstacle stands in their way. Elizabeth is torn between her duty as Queen and her love for her sister. | ||||
Season 2
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 
|
“Misadventure” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| As Philip leaves for a long tour, Elizabeth makes an upsetting discovery. Prime Minister Eden wants to strike back after Egypt seizes the Suez Canal. | ||||
| 202 | 
|
“A Company of Men” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| Elizabeth feels disconnected from Philip. Eden copes with international pressure and ill health. An interview stirs up harrowing memories for Philip. | ||||
| 203 | 
|
“Lisbon” | Peter Morgan | Philip Martin |
| Palace insiders try to prevent a scandal that could reflect poorly on Philip. Eden faces censure from his cabinet and the press. | ||||
| 204 | 
|
“Beryl” | Amy Jenkins and Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| When Elizabeth and Philip throw a grand party for their 10th anniversary, both Margaret and the new Prime Minister experience romantic tribulations. | ||||
| 205 | 
|
“Marionettes” | Peter Morgan | Philippa Lowthorpe |
| After Elizabeth makes a tone-deaf speech at a Jaguar factory, she and the monarchy come under public attack by an outspoken lord. | ||||
| 206 | 
|
“Vergangenheit” | Peter Morgan | Philippa Lowthorpe |
| A secret World War II document opens Elizabeth's eyes to grim realities about a family member. The Duke of Windsor campaigns to re-enter public life. | ||||
| 207 | 
|
“Matrimonium” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| A letter from Peter Townsend spurs Margaret to make a bold proposal. Elizabeth has good news that causes complications for Margaret. | ||||
| 208 | 
|
“Dear Mrs. Kennedy” | Peter Morgan | Stephen Daldry |
| Inspired by Jackie Kennedy and against her government's wishes, Elizabeth takes an unconventional approach to resolving an issue in Ghana. | ||||
| 209 | 
|
“Paterfamilias” | Tom Edge and Peter Morgan | Stephen Daldry |
| Philip insists that Prince Charles attend his alma mater in Scotland and reminisces about the life-changing difficulties he experienced there. | ||||
| 210 | 
|
“Mystery Man” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| A salacious government scandal hits close to home for Elizabeth and Philip. Elizabeth retreats to Scotland for the rest of a difficult pregnancy. | ||||
Season 3
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 
|
“Olding” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| The royal family mourns the passing of Winston Churchill. The United Kingdom ushers in a new prime minister, the Labour Party's Harold Wilson whom Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth hear might be a Soviet spy. | ||||
| 302 | 
|
“Margaretology” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| While Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon visit the USA, the queen, at the bidding of Harold Wilson, asks them to make a side trip to Washington, D.C. to ask President Johnson for financial assistance for the United Kingdom. | ||||
| 303 | 
|
“Aberfan” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| A horrible disaster in the Welsh town of Aberfan leaves scores of children dead, but when the Queen takes a week to decide to visit the town to offer solace to its people, she must confront her reasons for postponing the trip. | ||||
| 304 | 
|
“Bubbikins” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| Left without a home by a political coup in Athens, Philip's eccentric mother, Princess Alice of Greece, is invited to live in Buckingham Palace by the Queen. | ||||
| 305 | 
|
“Coup” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| While the Queen travels abroad to learn about horse training, unhappiness among the British elite with the devaluation of the pound involves Lord Mountbatten in a plan to oust Harold Wilson. | ||||
| 306 | 
|
“Tywysog Cymru” | James Graham & Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| Prince Charles is sent to Aberystwyth to learn Welsh from an ardent nationalist in preparation for the ceremony for his investiture as Prince of Wales. | ||||
| 307 | 
|
“Moondust” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| The 1969 moon landing occasions a mid-life crisis in Prince Philip, who thinks of the adventures he has missed as the Queen's consort. | ||||
| 308 | 
|
“Dangling Man” | David Hancock & Peter Morgan | Samuel Donovan |
| While Princess Anne dates her elder brother's polo rival Andrew Parker Bowles, Prince Charles falls deeply in love with Camilla Shand causing the Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten to interfere. | ||||
| 309 | 
|
“Imbroglio” | Peter Morgan | Samuel Donovan |
| Charles visits the exiled Duke of Windsor in his Paris chateau, only to find him very ill. But will the Queen make peace with her uncle before he dies? | ||||
| 310 | 
|
“Cri de Coeur” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| As her marriage falls apart, Princess Margaret finds solace in the arms of a much younger landscape gardener. The Queen and the nation celebrate Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. | ||||
Season 4
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 
|
“Gold Stick” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| As Elizabeth welcomes Britain's first woman prime minister and Charles meets a young Diana Spencer, an IRA attack brings tragedy to the royal family. | ||||
| 402 | 
|
“The Balmoral Test” | Peter Morgan | Paul Whittington |
| Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty. | ||||
| 403 | 
|
“Fairytale” | Peter Morgan | Benjamin Caron |
| After Charles proposes, Diana moves into Buckingham Palace and finds her life filled with princess training, loneliness — and Camilla Parker Bowles. | ||||
| 404 | 
|
“Favourites” | Peter Morgan | Paul Whittington |
| While Margaret Thatcher struggles with the disappearance of her favourite child, Elizabeth reexamines her relationships with her four children. | ||||
| 405 | 
|
“Fagan” | Jonathan D. Wilson & Peter Morgan | Paul Whittington |
| As Thatcher's policies create rising unemployment, a desperate man breaks into the palace, where he finds Elizabeth's bedroom and awakens her for a talk. | ||||
| 406 | 
|
“Terra Nullius” | Peter Morgan | Julian Jarrold |
| On a tour of Australia, Diana struggles to balance motherhood with her royal duties while both she and Charles cope with their marriage difficulties. | ||||
| 407 | 
|
“The Hereditary Principle” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| Grappling with mental health issues, Margaret seeks help and discovers an appalling secret about estranged relatives of the royal family. | ||||
| 408 | 
|
“48:1” | Peter Morgan | Julian Jarrold |
| As many nations condemn apartheid in South Africa, tension mounts between Thatcher and Elizabeth over their clashing opinions on applying sanctions. | ||||
| 409 | 
|
“Avalanche” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| Charles is caught in a deadly avalanche, prompting both him and Diana to reevaluate their commitment to their troubled marriage. | ||||
| 410 | 
|
“War” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| Amid a growing challenge to her power, Thatcher fights for her position. Charles grows more determined to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels. | ||||
Season 5
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 
|
“Queen Victoria Syndrome” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| A much-needed update to the Royal Yacht draws scrutiny to the Queen's reign. Hounded by the press, Charles and Diana have a second honeymoon in Italy. | ||||
| 502 | 
|
“The System” | Peter Morgan | Jessica Hobbs |
| Prince Philip offers his support to a grieving family member. Keen to snatch a scoop, a tabloid journalist approaches Diana about a tell-all book. | ||||
| 503 | 
|
“Mou Mou” | Peter Morgan | Alex Gabassi |
| In 1946, an Egyptian street vendor finds inspiration in the abdicated King Edward. Years later, he eagerly tries to integrate into British High Society. | ||||
| 504 | 
|
“Annus Horribilis” | Peter Morgan | May el-Toukhy |
| Between a fire at Windsor Castle and tensions in her children's marriages, the Queen commemorates and reassesses her 40 years on the throne. | ||||
| 505 | 
|
“The Way Ahead” | Peter Morgan | May el-Toukhy |
| Faced with the fallout of an intercepted call with Camilla and the consequent kickback to his marriage, Prince Charles must navigate a scandal. | ||||
| 506 | 
|
“Ipatiev House” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| Eager to lead a newly democratic Russia, President Yeltsin tries to win the Queen's support while she navigates new rifts in her marriage with Philip. | ||||
| 507 | 
|
“No Woman's Land” | Peter Morgan | Erik Richter Strand |
| As BBC's Martin Bashir goes to great lengths to secure an interview with Diana, the lonely princess finds purpose and warmth in a London hospital. | ||||
| 508 | 
|
“Gunpowder” | Peter Morgan | Erik Richter Strand |
| The Queen spends quality time with Prince William. On Guy Fawkes Night, fireworks make for a perfect distraction from Diana's BBC interview. | ||||
| 509 | 
|
“Couple 31” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| The Princess of Wales contends with the repercussions of her statements. The Queen asks the Prime Minister for his help in a delicate family matter. | ||||
| 510 | 
|
“Decommissioned” | Peter Morgan | Alex Gabassi |
| After heightened public scrutiny, Charles forges a new alliance in Hong Kong. Mohamed Al-Fayed offers his support to a newly-divorced Diana. | ||||
Season 6
| # | Image | Title | Writer(s) | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 | 
|
“Persona Non Grata” | Peter Morgan | Alex Gabassi |
| While Princess Diana and the boys depart for their vacation in St. Tropez, thanks to Mohamed Al Fayed, Prince Charles is pushing his most recent scheme to validate his relationship with Camilla in the public eye. | ||||
| 602 | 
|
“Two Photographs” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| As Diana and Dodi's romance blossoms, they return to the south of France and spend a lovely voyage getting to know one another away from prying eyes. | ||||
| 603 | 
|
“Dis-Moi Oui” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| Diana has another vacation with Dodi on the Fayed boat, but after returning to London, Diana starts to think about getting back together with William and Harry because Dodi is exhausted from a harsh lawsuit filed by his ex-fiance. | ||||
| 604 | 
|
“Aftermath” | Peter Morgan | Christian Schwochow |
| Following the tragic vehicle accident involving Diana and Dodi, Charles and Fayed each take a separate flight to Paris in order to oversee the arrangements. | ||||
| 605 | 
|
“Willsmania” | Peter Morgan | May el-Toukhy |
| Hounded by press and adoring girls, 15-year-old William struggles to find stability after Diana's death. Charles enlists his own parents to help his son. | ||||
| 606 | 
|
“Ruritania” | Peter Morgan | Erik Richter Strand |
| Eager to improve the monarchy's public image, the Queen seeks out savvy statesman Tony Blair--but the Prime Minister's advice defies royal protocol. | ||||
| 607 | 
|
“Alma Mater” | Peter Morgan | May el-Toukhy |
| Now at university, William sets his eyes on Kate Middleton. With meddling parents and other prospects in the mix, how will their connection bloom? | ||||
| 608 | 
|
“Ritz” | Peter Morgan | Alex Gabassi |
| After a series of strokes, a declining Margaret recalls a wild night with her sister at the Ritz in 1945, and later celebrates her 70th birthday there. | ||||
| 609 | 
|
“Hope Street” | Peter Morgan | Erik Richter Strand |
| Reeling from loss and wary of her Golden Jubilee, the Queen bonds with William, who finds his footing between normality and life in the royal limelight. | ||||
| 610 | 
|
“Sleep Dearie Sleep” | Peter Morgan | Stephen Daldry |
| 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. | ||||
Format
The series is intended to relay 10 years in 10 episodes per season. Six seasons have aired bringing the series to an completion.
Production
In November 2014, it was announced that Netflix was to adapt the 2013 stage play The Audience into a television series. Peter Morgan, who wrote the 2006 film The Queen and the play, is the main scriptwriter for The Crown. The directors of the television series who were also involved in the stage production are Stephen Daldry, Philip Martin, Julian Jarrold, and Benjamin Caron. The first ten-part season was the most expensive drama produced by Netflix and Left Bank Pictures to date, costing at least £100 million. A second season was commissioned, with the series intended to span sixty episodes over six seasons. By October 2017, "early production" had begun on an anticipated third and fourth season, and by the following January, Netflix confirmed the series had been renewed for a third and fourth season.
In January 2020, Morgan announced that the series had been renewed for a fifth and final season. Speaking to ending the series with five seasons, after it had been intended to last six, Morgan said while crafting the stories for season five, "it has become clear to me that this is the perfect time and place to stop"; Netflix and Sony supported Morgan's decision. However, in July 2020, Netflix announced that the series would receive a sixth season as originally intended. Morgan said that when the storylines were being discussed for season five, "it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons". He added that the final two seasons would still cover up to the early 21st century, enabling them "to cover the same period in greater detail".
Trivia
- Head of Netflix confirms that there are six seasons planned for The Crown.[1]
- Morgan originally envisioned three seasons chronicling the young, the middle-aged and the elder Queen Elizabeth.[2]
- This is Netflix's most expensive drama to date, and the first series to be made in the UK.
Gallery
Promotional Posters
Trailers
The Crown- Season 6 - Part 2 Trailer - Netflix
The Crown- Season 6 - Part 1 Trailer - Netflix
The Crown - Season 5 Official Trailer - Netflix
The Crown Season 4 Official Trailer Netflix
Season 3 Netflix Trailer
Season 2 Trailer
The Crown Official Trailer HD Netflix
External link
- The Crown on Netflix