5 Of Our Favourite Royal TV Dramas
By
3 days ago
One must watch and learn
We love indulging in a right royal drama – especially historic ones. Whether it’s to gain insight into Britain’s rich and compelling history or to provide simple escapism, here’s our pick of the very best royal TV shows, plus where to stream them.
Best Royal TV Dramas
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana (c) Netflix
The Crown
If any of your friends have reeled off an intriguing fact or anecdote about the British royal family recently, it was probably lifted from Netflix’s sprawling royal drama The Crown. Tracing the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II – from her times as a young monarch navigating her wealth of duties to her time as a mother to complicated adult children – the series ran for six seasons, bringing us from 1947 right up to 2005, and even starring a young Kate Middleton. Within that, everything is covered: Elizabeth and Phillip’s tumultuous relationship; the Suez Crisis; the relationship between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend; the romance, marriage and downfall of Charles and Diana, and the rise of Camilla; an array of Prime Ministers and political crises; the changing world and increased scrutiny; and plenty more. It’s one of Netflix’s most famous dramas, and it’s still available to stream on the platform. Romance, royal escapades and real-life inspired drama across 60 episodes – what’s not to love?
Victoria
If you’re looking to delve more into the history of the British monarchy, ITV’s three seasons of Victoria are a must-watch (available on ITVX and Netflix). The mesmerising Jenna Coleman stars as the long-reigning Queen (surpassed only by the late Queen Elizabeth II) and Tom Hughes as her beloved husband Prince Albert, and the series follows Victoria’s fascinating life from her premature coronation and captivating marriage to the political and personal challenges she faced throughout her reign.
BBC Pictures
A Very British Scandal
If you loved Claire Foy’s performance in The Crown (and you are interested in the royal family’s historic scandals), add this three-part drama to your watchlist (available to rent on Prime Video). Created by Doctor Who‘s Russell T Davies, A Very British Scandal dramatises the high-profile divorce between the Duke and Duchess of Argyll in 1963, played by Paul Bettany and Claire Foy respectively. Renowned for being one of the most notorious and brutal legal cases of all time, it saw accusations of forgery, theft and violence, plus the discovery of salacious photographs that would haunt the Duchess for the rest of her life. Set in post-war Britain, A Very British Scandal also fleshes out the social and political context surrounded the divorce proceedings, particularly institutional misogyny, making it perfect for royal fans looking for some history on the fringes.
Thomas Cromwell (MARK RYLANCE) in Wolf Hall: The Mirror And The Light. (BBC/Playground Entertainment/Nick Briggs)
Wolf Hall
Hilary Mantel’s mammoth Wolf Hall trilogy of novels delves into another royal scandal – this time an incredibly historic one. We’re in the court of King Henry VIII, and Thomas Cromwell is rising to power against a backdrop of political and religious turmoil: the King wants to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he can wed Anne Boleyn. Expect complex relationships, political power plays and a star-studded cast in the BBC’s breathtaking adaptation (available to stream on iPlayer), featuring Mark Rylance, Kate Phillips, Damian Lewis, Henry Melling, Timothy Spall and plenty more.
MORE: Best Shows To Watch On BBC iPlayer Right Now
Ruth Wilson & Michael Sheen in A Very Royal Scandal. (© Christopher Raphael/Blueprint/Sony Pictures Television)
A Very Royal Scandal
Looking for a modern royal scandal to sink your teeth into? The disgraced Prince Andrew is fertile ground, and one of the best TV dramas delving into the mess is A Very Royal Scandal (from the same team behind the above A Very British Scandal). Available to stream on Prime Video, you might have missed it amid the hubbub of Scoop, Netflix’s version of the action starring Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper and Rufus Sewell. With three episodes to binge, A Very Royal Scandal is a dramatic retelling of Emily Maitlis’ personal and professional journey running up to her notorious 2019 interview with Prince Andrew, brough to life by Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen respectively.
