12 Shows You Should Watch After Finishing The Crown
You’ll be a royal expert in time for season three.
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The Crown is about to look a whole lot different after Season two. There will be a whole new cast, including Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, and a whole new decade of messy breakups and political scuffles. While an official date hasn't been announced yet for the next season, it's a safe bet that it won't be out for quite some time. Luckily, there are plenty of other programs about the royal family and the Queen, plus more lush costume dramas, to watch in the meantime. Here are 12 shows and movies that any royal fan will love.
Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute
Possibly one of the most personal films about the royal family ever made, Elizabeth at 90 is a documentary narrated by Prince Charles that features footage from the family’s private collection and additional commentary from Prince Harry, Prince William, and Princess Anne. The film was created by the BBC to honor the Queen for her 90th birthday.
Watch Now iTunes, Amazon Video, and Netflix
The Royal House of Windsor
For the ultimate royal fan, this miniseries tells the story of the family that currently occupies the British throne. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the House of Windsor, the mini-series follows the dynasty from its establishment to now, and features interviews with historians and palace insiders.
The Queen
The Crown isn't creator Peter Morgan's first attempt at imagining the inner workings of the British royal family. The Queen follows Elizabeth as she navigates the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. Helen Mirren won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of the monarch, and the film was later adapted by Morgan into a play called The Audience, starring Mirren in both the West End and Broadway productions. The iconic actress would go on to win the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for the role in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The King’s Speech
Fans who are curious to learn more about Elizabeth's father, King George VI, should make their way to this award-winning film, which not only gave Colin Firth his first Oscar but also won Best Picture in 2010. The movie follows King George VI as he tries to get over his stammer, a process depicted in the first season of The Crown. George forms a strong bond with his speech therapist, Lionel Logue, as they deal with the king’s ascension to the throne following his brother’s sudden abdication. The BBC reported that Queen Elizabeth even watched the film after it was released and gave it her blessing.
The Royals
This six-part documentary series follows the royal family through the years, splitting each episode into different themes focusing on the royal teens, pets, wedding, and scandals. The series mostly focuses on the family's charismatic younger generation.
Diana: 7 Days That Shook the World
This documentary looks at the English response to the death of “The People’s Princess” 20 years ago, including what happened behind closed doors in Buckingham Palace. The film features interviews with various members of Diana’s team as well as reporters who covered the princess's fatal accident and spoke with members of the Royal Family and their team during a week that shook Great Britain to its core.
Watch Now iTunes, Amazon Video, and Netflix
Victoria
Viewers might recognize star Jenna Coleman from her big role in Doctor Who, starring alongside The Crown's own Prince Philip, Matt Smith. This series stars Coleman as Queen Victoria in the early 1800s, as she begins her reign after the death of her uncle King William IV. The show is currently on its second season and will even release a special on Christmas Day this year. The show is then expected to return sometime next year for its third season.
Watch Now iTunes and Amazon Video.
Downton Abbey
This beloved show might have ended back in 2015, but it has since become an Anglophile classic. The sumptuous series follows the Crawley family, a fictional aristocratic family in the early 1900s. Starting with the sinking of the Titanic, the show follows how historical events (and soapy family drama) affects the Earl of Grantham and his family and the domestic servants who work at their estate. Throughout its six seasons, the show was nominated for multiple Emmys, taking home the award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie for its first season. Dame Maggie Smith also won three Emmys for her portrayal of Lady Violet Crawley.
Wolf Hall
Based on the novels of the same name, this critically acclaimed limited series is also tells the story of King Henry VIII’s historic 38 year reign. The show focuses on the king's chief minister Thomas Cromwell, played by Mark Rylance, and his rise to power in the court. Homeland's Damien Lewis plays Henry and Claire Foy also stars in the series as Anne Boleyn.
Versailles
Currently in its third season, Versailles follows France's King Louis XIV and his decision to move of the royal court from Paris to his new palace at Versailles. Having nearly bankrupted his nation—and angered his hotheaded nobles with his insistence on a move to the suburbs—everything gets complicated for the Sun King, and France as a whole, as Louis tries to bring the nobility to heel in his quest for power. English actor George Blagden, best known as Athelstan in Vikings, stars as King Louis XIV.
Watch Now iTunes, Amazon Video, and Netflix
Reign
Based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scotts, this CW series is a soapy and highly fictionalized account of Mary’s early life and her engagement to Prince Francis. The show later follows her rise to the throne and her reign as queen of France and Scotland. Even though it was different than anything that the teen-centric network had done at the time, Reign lasted four seasons before it ended earlier this year.
Watch Now iTunes, Amazon Video, and Netflix
The Tudors
Set in England during King Henry VIII’s 16th century reign, the show follows the young king as he deals with various political conflicts both internationally and within his own court. Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as King Hal, and various other big names make an appearance, including Superman’s Henry Cavill and Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer.
Watch Now iTunes, Amazon Video, Hulu, and Netflix
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