The United Kingdom celebrated its longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, over the weekend. The Silver Jubilee celebrations marked the 70-years of the Queen’s reign. The second-longest rule of any British monarch is that of the Queen’s great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who held the crown for over 63 years till her death.
The British royal family continues to hold the world’s attention. There exist several television shows that chronicle, parody and speculate on the lives of the royals, both living and dead. Here are some of the shows to add to your watch list.
The Crown
Following the life of Queen Elizabeth II, The Crown has been a show that has not backed down from dealing with controversial topics. From Prince Philips’ coldness towards Prince Charles to the failing marriage between Charles and Princess Diana, the show continues to cover the royal family’s turmoil. Prince Harry has admitted that the show gives a “rough idea” of the pressures that the royal household faces, confirming that he has seen the show. While the Queen has not been vocal about the show, sources close to the royal family claim that she has seen several episodes and has grown to dislike certain plotlines.
While the accuracy of certain things depicted in The Crown has been questioned by critics, it continues to be a captivating peek into the royal family.
The Crown tries to reenact historic events in the life of the Queen with utmost accuracy Instagram
The White Queen and its sequels (The White Princess and The Spanish Princess)
This show goes further back into the history of the British royals. The White Queen is based on the historical novel series The Cousins’ War by Philippa Gregory. The story focuses on Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville, three women who were involved in the struggle for the British throne during the Wars of the Roses. Even though the show pivots around real people and events, it has been criticised for inaccuracies.
After airing one season, the show came to an end. However, it led to its sequels The White Princess and The Spanish Princess. The White Princess continues from where The White Queen ends with Henry VII and Elizabeth of York getting married. The Spanish Princess focuses on the life of Catherine of Aragon, the princess from Spain who became the first wife of the notorious King Henry VIII.
The Tudors
The four-season show amassed a huge fan following between 2007 and 2010. The Tudors was an incredible and attractive narrative surrounding the life of the Tudor King Henry VIII. A look into the infamous rule of the king who sent heads rolling and broke away from the Catholic church continues to be an interesting watch. The show takes artistic liberty, like introducing completely fictional characters, to make it a brilliant watch. Inaccuracies aside, the show is a sensual period drama, much like Downton Abbey, that leaves us craving for more.
Wolf Hall
Another show that focuses on one of the most dramatic times in the royal family’s history is Wolf Hall. The six-part show is based on the novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel. The fictional biography chronicles the life and rise to power of Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell was a British lawyer and statesman who became the chief minister of King Henry VIII.
Wolf Hall follows Cromwell’s struggle to help his king break the opposition while ensuring that he is not next on the chopping block.
The Windsors
A lighter take on the lives of the royal family, The Windsors is a parody influenced by real events. The show draws influence from the portrayal of the royal family members by the tabloids and dials up their antics. Making Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the embodiment of the evil stepmother and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, the embodiment of the perfect princess, the show is a commentary on the perceived dynamics between the royals.
The Windsors does not claim to be an accurate portrayal of the British royals. Every episode finds the characters in ludicrous scenarios. The three seasons of the show gained such popularity that in 2021 The Windsors: Endgame, a play based on the sitcom, opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.
The Prince
Taking the royal family into the animated world, HBO Max’s The Prince is an adult animated sitcom. The 2021 show, with only one season, follows the life of the seven-year-old Prince George, who is the eldest son of Prince Charles and Catherine. With the prince, who is third in line for the crown, at the forefront, the show is a hilarious exploration of the lives of his relatives, including the Queen. Adopting the comedic approach of shows like Family Guy, The Prince has received mixed responses from critics. HBO Max has not renewed further seasons of the show, making it a one-season hit that is a short and easy watch.
The Royal House of Windsor
The Royal House of Windsor is a deep dive into the history of the British royal family. The docu-series chronicles the power struggle and politics of the royal family in the past 100 years. It deals with historic events, starting with World War I. Instead of offering speculated stories, the show offers factual inputs from experts. This 2017 series is for anyone who wants to know how the family of the current monarch gained and maintained control of the crown through global turmoil.
SM: Not over the weekend festivities celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee? Check out these shows that take a look at the past and present of the British royals.
