The Crown
The Crown (TV series)
The Crown is a historical drama streaming television series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, created and principally written by Peter Morgan, and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television for Netflix. Morgan developed it from his drama film The Queen (2006) and especially his stage play The Audience (2013). The first season covers the period from Elizabeth's marriage to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, to the disintegration of her sister Princess Margaret's engagement to Group Captain Peter Townsend in 1955. The second season covers the period from the Suez Crisis in 1956 to the retirement of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1963 and the birth of Prince Edward in 1964. The third season spans the period between 1964 and 1977, including Harold Wilson's two periods as prime minister, and introduces Camilla Shand. The fourth season spans 1977 to 1990 and includes Margaret Thatcher's tenure as prime minister and Lady Diana Spencer's marriage to Prince Charles. The fifth and sixth seasons, which will close the series, will cover the Queen's reign into the 21st century.
New actors are being cast every two seasons. Claire Foy portrays the Queen in the first two seasons, alongside Matt Smith as Prince Philip and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret. For the third and fourth seasons, Olivia Colman takes over as the Queen, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret. Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, and Lesley Manville will succeed Colman, Menzies, and Bonham Carter, respectively, for the final two seasons. Filming takes place at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, with location shooting throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The first season was released by Netflix on November 4, 2016, the second on December 8, 2017, the third on November 17, 2019, and the fourth on November 15, 2020. The fifth season is anticipated in 2022.
The Crown has been praised for its acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and production values. It received accolades at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards, won Best Actress for Foy in the lead role and Best Actor for John Lithgow as Winston Churchill, and has secured a total of 39 nominations for its first three seasons at the Primetime Emmy Awards, including three for Outstanding Drama Series.[4] The series was nominated for Best Drama TV Series at the 77th Golden Globe Awards.[5]
Premise[edit]
The Crown portrays the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,[6] until the early 21st century.[7] Claire Foy portrays Elizabeth in seasons one and two,[8] and Olivia Colman in seasons three and four.[9] Foy returned for a very brief cameo in a flashback scene in the fourth season. Imelda Staunton will portray the Queen in the fifth and sixth seasons.[7][10]
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.[11] 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.[12][13][14] The third season covers 1964 to 1977, beginning with Harold Wilson's election as prime minister and ending with her Silver Jubilee,[15] also covering Edward Heath's time as prime minister.[16] Camilla Shand is also introduced.[16]
The fourth season is set during Margaret Thatcher's period as prime minister and also focuses on Lady Diana Spencer.[17] Events depicted include Lord Mountbatten's funeral,[18] the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer,[19] along with the births of Princes William and Harry,[20] the Falklands War,[21] Michael Fagan's break-in at Buckingham Palace,[22] the Prince and Princess of Wales's 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand,[23][24] the Princess of Wales’s appearance at the Barnardo's Champion Children Awards, and Thatcher's departure from office.[22]
Cast and characters[edit]
- Claire Foy (seasons 1–2, featured season 4) and Olivia Colman (seasons 3–4) as Queen Elizabeth II[6]
- Matt Smith (seasons 1–2) and Tobias Menzies (seasons 3–4) as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh[6]
- Vanessa Kirby (seasons 1–2) and Helena Bonham Carter (seasons 3–4) as Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon[6]
- Eileen Atkins as Queen Mary (season 1)[25]
- Jeremy Northam as Anthony Eden (seasons 1–2)[26]
- Victoria Hamilton (seasons 1–2) and Marion Bailey (seasons 3–4) as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother[6]
- Ben Miles as Group Captain Peter Townsend (season 1, featured season 2)[27]
- Greg Wise (seasons 1–2) and Charles Dance (season 3, featured season 4) as Louis, Earl Mountbatten of Burma
- Jared Harris as King George VI (season 1, featured season 2)[6]
- John Lithgow as Winston Churchill (season 1, featured seasons 2–3)[6]
- Alex Jennings (seasons 1–2) and Derek Jacobi (featured season 3) as Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor[28]
- Lia Williams (seasons 1–2) and Geraldine Chaplin (season 3) as Wallis, Duchess of Windsor[28]
- Anton Lesser as Harold Macmillan (season 2)[29]
- Matthew Goode (season 2) and Ben Daniels (season 3) as Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon[12]
- Jason Watkins as Harold Wilson (season 3)[30]
- Erin Doherty as Princess Anne (seasons 3–4)
- Jane Lapotaire as Princess Alice of Battenberg (season 3)
- Josh O'Connor as Charles, Prince of Wales (seasons 3–4)
- Michael Maloney as Edward Heath (season 3)
- Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker Bowles (seasons 3–4)
- Andrew Buchan as Andrew Parker Bowles (season 3, recurring season 4)
- Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher (season 4)
- Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess of Wales (season 4)
- Stephen Boxer as Denis Thatcher (season 4)
Featured[edit]
The following actors are credited in the opening titles of single episodes in which they play a significant role:
- Stephen Dillane as Graham Sutherland, a noted artist who paints a portrait of the ageing Churchill (season 1)
- John Heffernan as Lord Altrincham, a writer who penned a scathing criticism of the Queen (season 2)
- Gemma Whelan as Patricia Campbell, a secretary who works with Lord Altrincham and types up his editorial (season 2)
- Paul Sparks as Billy Graham, a prominent American preacher whom Elizabeth consults (season 2)[28]
- Michael C. Hall as John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States who visits the Queen (season 2)
- Jodi Balfour as Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States (season 2)
- Burghart Klaußner as Dr Kurt Hahn, the founder of Gordonstoun, where Philip and Charles went to school (season 2)
- Finn Elliot as school-aged Prince Philip (season 2, guest season 3)[28]
- Julian Baring as school-aged Prince Charles (season 2)[28]
- Clancy Brown as Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States (season 3)
- Mark Lewis Jones as Edward Millward, Prince Charles's Welsh language tutor (season 3)
- Tim McMullan as Robin Woods, Dean of Windsor from 1962 to 1970 (season 3)
- Harry Treadaway as Roddy Llewellyn, Princess Margaret's boyfriend (season 3)
- Tom Brooke as Michael Fagan, a man who enters the Queen's bedroom in 1982 (season 4)
- Richard Roxburgh as Bob Hawke, 23rd Prime Minister of Australia (season 4)
- Tom Burke as Derek 'Dazzle' Jennings, a civil servant and friend of Princess Margaret (season 4)
- Nicholas Farrell as Michael Shea, the Queen's Press Secretary from 1978 to 1987 (season 4)
Episodes[edit]
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 4 November 2016 | |||
| 2 | 10 | 8 December 2017 | |||
| 3 | 10 | 17 November 2019 | |||
| 4 | 10 | 15 November 2020 | |||
Production[edit]
Development[edit]
In November 2014, it was announced that Netflix was to adapt the 2013 stage play The Audience into a television series.[31] Peter Morgan, who wrote the 2006 film The Queen and the play, is the main scriptwriter for The Crown.[32] The directors of the television series who were also involved in the stage production are Stephen Daldry, Philip Martin, Julian Jarrold, and Benjamin Caron.[33] The first ten-part season was the most expensive drama produced by Netflix and Left Bank Pictures to date, costing at least £100 million.[34][35][36] A second season was commissioned,[37][38] with the series intended to span sixty episodes over six seasons.[6] By October 2017, "early production" had begun on an anticipated third and fourth season,[9] and by the following January, Netflix confirmed the series had been renewed for third and fourth seasons.[17]
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.[7] 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 enable them "to cover the same period in greater detail".[10]
Casting[edit]
By November 2014, Claire Foy had entered negotiations to portray Queen Elizabeth II.[8] By May 2015, Vanessa Kirby was in negotiations to portray Princess Margaret.[39] In June 2015, John Lithgow was cast as Winston Churchill, and Matt Smith was cast as Prince Philip; Foy was confirmed as Queen Elizabeth II.[40] Also starring in the first season were Victoria Hamilton, Jared Harris, and Eileen Atkins.[41]
The Left Bank producers noted that Smith was paid more than Foy in the first two seasons, partly because of his Doctor Who fame.[42] This led to discussion about the gender pay gap, including the creation of a petition asking Smith to donate the difference between his and Foy's salary to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund.[43] Left Bank later apologised to Foy and Smith for putting them "at the center of a media storm... through no fault of their own". Left Bank also clarified that they "are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what, and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues". They added that they support "the drive for gender equality in film and TV and [were] eager to talk to the British Time’s Up campaign and [were] already speaking to Era 50:50, a group campaigning for gender equality on screen and stage".[44] Suzanne Mackie, Left Bank's creative director, did note that in future no actor would be paid more than the actress portraying the Queen.[42] Regarding the controversy, Foy was "not [surprised about the interest in the story] in the sense that it was a female-led drama. I'm not surprised that people saw [the story] and went, 'Oh, that's a bit odd'. But I know that Matt feels the same that I do, that it's odd to find yourself at the center [of a story] that you didn't particularly ask for."[45] Smith noted that he supported Foy and was "pleased that it was resolved and [the producers] made amends for it because that's what needed to happen". The Hollywood Reporter noted it was unclear what Smith was referring to as resolved, since Netflix and Left Bank had not commented further.[46] Foy later described reports that she had received backpay to bring her salary up to parity as "not quite correct".[47]
The producers recast the continuing roles with older actors every two seasons, as the timeline moves forward.[48] In October 2017, Olivia Colman was cast as Queen Elizabeth II for the third and fourth seasons.[9] By January 2018, Helena Bonham Carter and Paul Bettany were in negotiations to portray Princess Margaret and Prince Philip, respectively, for these seasons.[49][14] However, by the end of the month Bettany was forced to drop out due to the time commitment required.[50] By the end of March 2018, Tobias Menzies was cast as Prince Philip for the third and fourth seasons.[51] In early May 2018, Bonham Carter was confirmed to have been cast, alongside Jason Watkins as Prime Minister Harold Wilson.[30] The next month, Ben Daniels was cast as Tony Armstrong-Jones for the third season,[52] along with Erin Doherty joining the series as Princess Anne.[53] A month later, Josh O'Connor and Marion Bailey were cast as Prince Charles and the Queen Mother, respectively, for the third and fourth seasons.[54] In October 2018, Emerald Fennell was cast as Camilla Shand.[55] In December 2018, Charles Dance was cast as Louis Mountbatten.[56] In April 2019, Emma Corrin was cast as Lady Diana Spencer for the fourth season.[57] Gillian Anderson, who had been rumoured since January 2019 to be in talks to portray Margaret Thatcher in the fourth season, was officially confirmed for the role in September 2019.[58][59][60]
In January 2020, Imelda Staunton was announced as succeeding Colman as the Queen in the fifth season, with her role in the final season reported in July.[7][10] Also in July 2020, Lesley Manville was announced as portraying Princess Margaret,[61][10] and the following month, Jonathan Pryce and Elizabeth Debicki had been cast as Prince Phillip and Diana, Princess of Wales, respectively.[62][63] In October 2020, Dominic West was in talks to play Prince Charles.[64]
Filming[edit]
An estimated 25% of the first season was filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, with the remainder filmed on location, altogether taking 152 days. Sets for private quarters, the interior of a private jet, the cabinet room, and the exterior of 10 Downing Street, were built at Elstree Studios,[38][65] while Lancaster House, Wrotham Park and Wilton House were used to double as Buckingham Palace. Ely Cathedral and Winchester Cathedral stood in for Westminster Abbey, while locations in South Africa doubled as Kenya.[38] Additional locations in the UK included Waddesdon Manor, Eltham Palace, the Royal Naval College,[66] Goldsmiths' Hall, Shoreham Airport, New Slains Castle,[67] Balmoral Castle, Cruden Bay, Lyceum Theatre, Loseley Park, Hatfield House,[65] The Historic Dockyard Chatham,[68] Southwark Cathedral, Ardverikie House, Englefield House, Wellington College, the Great Central Railway (heritage railway) and the Glenfeshie Estate.[69] Filming on the second season began in early October 2016.[48] Each episode of the first two seasons would shoot for about 22 days, with each costing about GB£5 million (US$7 million) to produce.[42] The third season began filming in July 2018,[70] and concluded in February 2019. The fourth season began filming in August 2019 and wrapped in March 2020.[71][72] The fifth season is set to begin filming in June 2021, with season six filming in 2022. The year break in filming between the end of season four and the start of season five was built into the series's production schedule and was not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[73]
The re-enactment of the removal of King George VI's cancerous lung, originally performed by Sir Clement Price Thomas, was researched and planned by Pankaj Chandak, specialist in transplant surgery at Guy's Hospital, London. Chandak and his surgical team then became part of the actual scene filmed for the show.[74] The surgical model of King George VI was donated to the Gordon Museum of Pathology for use as a teaching aid.[75]
Historical accuracy[edit]
The series has been both commended and criticised for its depiction of historical events.[76]
Season 1[edit]
In reality there was no dispute over Michael Adeane being the natural successor to Tommy Lascelles as private secretary. Martin Charteris accordingly took the role in 1972.[77][78]
Churchill's wife Clementine is depicted overseeing the burning of his portrait by Graham Sutherland shortly after his retirement. In reality it was destroyed by their private secretary Grace Hamblin's brother without her involvement.[77][79]
Royal historian Hugo Vickers denied that Margaret had acted as monarch whilst Elizabeth was away on tour, and claimed that her speech at the ambassador's reception never happened. Charteris was on tour with Elizabeth and not in London during these events. The Queen Mother bought the Castle of Mey a year earlier than shown and often looked after Charles and Anne whilst Elizabeth was away.[77][80]
The show has been interpreted as perpetuating the idea that the Queen and Churchill forced Margaret to give up her plan to marry Peter Townsend. In the series, the Queen tells her sister that, if she marries him, she would no longer be a member of the family because of the Royal Marriages Act 1772. However, there is clear evidence that, in reality, efforts had been made to prevent any further delay, which would have allowed Margaret to keep her royal title and her civil list allowance, stay in the country, and continue with her public duties.[81]
Season 2[edit]
After season two was released, Peggy Noonan of The Wall Street Journal commented on its historical inaccuracy and argued for "more truth in art and entertainment".[82]
There is no evidence to suggest that Elizabeth gave a speech at the Jaguar factory, nor would she have met Lord Altrincham to discuss his article.[77][83] Vickers wrote that Elizabeth did condemn the Duke of Windsor after she read the Marburg Files, but claimed that the series gave a false implication that the Duke was banished from the royal family upon publication. He remained in contact with his family, and his public appearances continued.[84] Baron Nahum continued to be featured in the season, but in reality had died by then.
The depiction of the relationship with Jackie Kennedy has drawn criticism. Reports indicate that she had described Philip as "nice but nervous" and overall there was no bond between them.[85] The implication that Elizabeth visited Ghana to compete with Jackie's popularity was ridiculed by critics.[86] Reviews noted that that episode ignored more significant events, such as Kennedy's sister-in-law Lee and her husband Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł's initial exclusion from the banquet invitation list because both were divorcees; they were eventually invited,[87] although Margaret and Princess Marina did not attend, despite the Kennedys apparently wanting to meet them.[88]
Gordonstoun School responded to its negative portrayal, claiming that Charles's personal feedback to the school had been overwhelmingly positive.[89] Vickers said that the same episode inaccurately depicted Philip's sister's death in a plane crash as having arisen from his own misbehaviour at Gordonstoun: "It is beyond me how serious film-makers would wish to turn such a dreadful tragedy into a series of invented scenes bearing no relation to the truth".[89]
Phil Owen of The Wrap saw dry comedy in Northam's portrayal of Prime Minister Eden, stating: "I'm assuming that creator Peter Morgan meant for it to be comedy. There's really no other explanation for why Jeremy Northam played Prime Minister Anthony Eden like he's having a nervous breakdown in every scene."[90]
Season 3[edit]
Elizabeth did not visit Churchill following his final stroke. Vickers claims that by then he was senile and incapable of holding a conversation.[91]
Blunt's exposure as a Soviet spy has drawn criticism. Vickers noted that the episode did not mention that he was publicly exposed in 1979 and stripped of his knighthood, whilst also noting that he never resided at Buckingham Palace and ridiculing a scene in which he discusses his exposure with Philip in an attempt to blackmail the royal family.[77][92]
The depiction of the relationship with President Johnson has been criticised. It has been suggested that he did not refuse to attend Churchill's funeral, in response to Wilson's refusal to support the Vietnam War, but that he was genuinely unable due to poor health. His disappointment with Wilson's views on Vietnam had developed much later.[77][93] Historians also denied the episode's implication that no US president had ever been to Balmoral. Eisenhower had visited Balmoral whilst president in 1959.[94] Critics noted that the episode did not mention that Johnson is the only president since Truman never to have met the monarch.[77][95] The implication that Johnson did not know who Margaret was before her visit to America was also criticised.[77] Margaret did attend a White House dinner, but the details are mostly fictional (such as her carousing with Johnson and kissing him, dirty limericks, and helping secure a US bailout, which in fact had already been negotiated).[96][97]
The relationship with Princess Alice has also drawn criticism for Philip's depiction as being estranged from his mother and objecting to her visiting London. In fact he visited her regularly and often transported her by plane, and her depicted interview with a journalist from The Guardian never happened. Vickers also stated that the same episode ignored that Philip encouraged her to move to London permanently.[91]
Charles did visit the Duke of Windsor in Paris in 1972,[98] however the depiction of letters concerning his affections for Camilla was criticised; Charles and Camilla had met but were not intimately close during the Duke's lifetime.[76][91] Elizabeth did visit the Duke ten days before his death, but this had been long-planned and not requested at short notice.[91] Simpson was not by the Duke's side at the time of his death.[77][99]
The timeframe of Woods's posting as Dean of Windsor around the time of the Apollo 11 spaceflight and lunar landing in July 1969 is inaccurate. He took the role in 1962.[100][101] Also, Prince William of Gloucester had died five years before the Queen's Silver Jubilee.[77]
It has been suggested that there wasn't any plot by the palace to prevent Charles and Camilla's marriage, with Camilla's love for Parker Bowles being genuine and Charles unable to decide.[77][102] It has also been suggested that Anne's relations with Parker Bowles did not overlap with Charles and Camilla's introduction. Reviews of the episode noted that it ignored more significant events, citing Anne's 1973 wedding to Captain Phillips and her attempted kidnapping in 1974.[76]
Season 4[edit]
Royal historian Hugo Vickers argues that this season is "yet more subtly divisive than earlier seasons", with "pretty much every character" shown as "dislikeable", and that "every member of the royal family...comes out of it badly, except the Princess of Wales".[103] Royal commentator Emily Andrews said that "sources close to Prince Charles" have labelled some of the scenes "trolling on a Hollywood budget".[104]
Many incidents shown are fictional, or only loosely based on events, and timings are sometimes altered. The opening scene when Charles first meets Diana is fictionalised, although they did meet during a date with her sister. Mountbatten didn't write to Charles shortly before he died, although he had written advising him in the past.[103] Fagan has said that his conversation with the Queen in the palace bedroom was "short, polite and non-controversial", and that he never spoke about Mrs Thatcher, nor was he wrestled to the ground by the police.[105] The Thatchers did not enjoy their visits to Balmoral, but there is no evidence that the Prime Minister dressed inappropriately.[106] Vickers suggests that almost all the details are inaccurate concerning how visitors are treated at Balmoral, and he also notes that the Thatchers' first visit is depicted out of sequence with Mountbatten's funeral. Diana's visit happened a whole year later, and the Queen was not present. He adds that Diana was already familiar with royal ways and would not have needed the intense tuition portrayed.[103] Mark Thatcher going missing during the Dakar Rally did not coincide with the Falklands invasion. The newsreel clips of Ireland shown alongside Mountbatten's assassination included events that had happened years earlier, and others that had not yet occurred,[105] and the assassination happened before Diana came onto the scene.[103] Throughout the season, the Private Secretary to the Sovereign is portrayed as Sir Martin Charteris, yet in reality he retired in 1977.[107]
The scene where the Queen guesses who the Prime Minister might appoint to cabinet is entirely fictional, nor would the PM have ever left a royal audience early or criticised the Queen for her privilege.[105] Vickers says that, in reality, it was the Queen's press secretary who took it upon himself to pass his own views about the Prime Minister to the media, and he was forced to leave the palace as a consequence. He also says that Charles had no personal contact with Camilla during the first five years of his marriage; their relationship developed after 1986, by which time the marriage had broken down.[103] Thatcher begging the Queen to dissolve Parliament so that she can stay on as PM also never happened.[106] It is true, however, that she used to do her own ironing at Downing Street.[105] It is unlikely that Philip ever mocked her for being a scientist, given his own interest in the sciences.[105]
The frenzy around Charles and Diana's Australian tour is accurately depicted, including Charles's feelings of being overshadowed by Diana, which have been confirmed by multiple sources. Diana's former press secretary has confirmed their fractious relationship when away from the media.[106] But their schedule was never revised to accommodate the royal baby, and the sheep station was arranged for them in advance by the former Australian Prime Minister, specifically so that the couple could be with baby William each night.[103]
The plot involving the family's relationship with the Bowes-Lyon sisters is largely inaccurate. Princess Margaret played no part in discovering their existence, nor did she confront her mother about this. The institutionalisation of the sisters had nothing to do with the Crown. John "Jock" Bowes-Lyon died six years before Edward VIII's abdication, and they were placed in the Royal Earlswood Hospital by their mother Fenella in 1941. The Queen Mother believed her nieces to be dead until 1982 and, upon discovering that they were alive, sent money for toys and sweets on their birthdays and at Christmas. According to the Bowes-Lyon family, there was never any attempt at a coverup.[108] The relationship between Princess Margaret and Father Derek "Dazzle" Jennings is heavily fictionalised. Jennings did not have any involvement with the Bowes-Lyon sisters, and he remained Margaret's friend and spiritual advisor, with Margaret visiting his sickbed before he died in 1995.[109] Margaret's interest in Catholicism is underplayed; she did not convert, but Jennings reportedly was convinced that she would, going so far as to arrange a dinner between Margaret and Cardinal Hume in 1988.[110]
Release[edit]
The series's first two episodes were released in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2016.[111] The first season was released worldwide in its entirety on November 4, 2016.[112][113] The second season was released on December 8, 2017.[114] The third season was released on November 17, 2019.[115] The fourth season was released on November 15, 2020.[116] The fifth season is set be released in 2022.[73]
The first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2017[117] and worldwide on November 7, 2017.[118] The second season was released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2018[119] and worldwide on November 13, 2018.[120]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88% (72 reviews) | 81 (29 reviews) |
| 2 | 89% (83 reviews) | 87 (27 reviews) |
| 3 | 90% (100 reviews) | 84 (30 reviews) |
| 4 | 97% (86 reviews) | 85 (26 reviews) |
The Crown has been praised as a drama by the press, being described by The Telegraph as "TV's best soap opera" and given a 5/5 rating, although some reviewers, such as in The Times, raised concerns that some of the episodes are based on false premises.[121][122]
For the first season, Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported 88% approval based on 72 reviews with an average rating of 8.55/10. Its critical consensus reads, "Powerful performances and lavish cinematography make The Crown a top-notch production worthy of its grand subject".[123] Metacritic gives the season a score of 81 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[124] For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported 89% approval from 83 reviews, with an average of 8.35/10: "The Crown continues its reign with a self-assured sophomore season that indulges in high drama and sumptuous costumes".[125] Metacritic holds a score of 87 out of 100, based on 27 critics, with "universal acclaim".[126] For the third season, Rotten Tomatoes reported 90% approval based on 100 reviews, with an average of 8.54/10: "Olivia Colman shines, but as The Crown marches on in reliably luxurious fashion through time it finds space for the characters around her, providing ample opportunity for the appealing ensemble to gleam, too."[127] Metacritic gives a score of 84 out of 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[128] For the fourth season, Rotten Tomatoes reports 97% approval from 86 reviews, with an average of 8.7/10. Its critical consensus reads: "Whatever historical liberties [the season] takes...are easily forgiven thanks to the sheer power of its performances – particularly Gillian Anderson's imposing take on The Iron Lady and newcomer Emma Corrin's embodiment of a young Princess Diana".[129] On Metacritic, the season holds a score of 85 out of 100 based on 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[130]
However, the series has also received backlash from British critics and the royal family. British reviewers have criticised the fourth season for being "inaccurate" and "anti-monarchy".[131][132][133] Simon Jenkins writing in The Guardian described it as "fake history", "reality hijacked as propaganda, and a cowardly abuse of artistic licence" which fabricated history to suit its own preconceived narrative, and argued that “Morgan could have made his point truthfully”.[134] Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith criticised the inaccuracies and negative portrayal of the royal family, stating, “Because The Crown is such a lavish and expensive production, so beautifully acted and cleverly written, and so much attention has been paid to visual details about historical events, viewers are tricked into believing that what they are seeing actually happened”, concluding that “while the earlier seasons were period pieces, this is recent history, so it seems more cruel in its false depictions”.[135]
Awards and nominations[edit]
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| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | American Film Institute Awards | Top 10 TV Programs of the Year | The Crown | Won | [136] |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Drama Series | Nominated | [137] | ||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | John Lithgow | Won | |||
| Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Jared Harris | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Main Title – TV Show/Digital Streaming Series | Hans Zimmer | Nominated | [138] | |
| 2017 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited One Hour Series for Non-Commercial Television | Yan Miles (for "Assassins") | Nominated | [139] |
| American Film Institute Awards | Top 10 TV Programs of the Year | The Crown | Won | [140] | |
| Art Directors Guild Awards | One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Television Series | Martin Childs | Nominated | [141] | |
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Drama Series | The Crown | Nominated | [142] | |
| Best Actress | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | John Lithgow | Nominated | |||
| Jared Harris | Nominated | ||||
| Best Supporting Actress | Vanessa Kirby | Nominated | |||
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Costume Design | Michele Clapton | Won | [143] [144] | |
| Best Director: Fiction | Stephen Daldry | Nominated | |||
| Best Photography and Lightning: Fiction | Adriano Goldman | Nominated | |||
| Best Production Design | Martin Childs | Nominated | |||
| Best Special, Visual and Graphic Effects | Úna Ní Dhonghaíle and Molinare | Won | |||
| Best Title and Graphic Identity | Patrick Clair and Raoul Marks | Nominated | |||
| Best Writer: Drama | Peter Morgan | Nominated | |||
| Broadcasting Press Guild Awards | Best Online First/Streaming | The Crown | Won | [145] [146] | |
| Best Actor | Matt Smith | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Best Writer | Peter Morgan | Nominated | |||
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | Outstanding Period Television Series | Michele Clapton | Won | [147] | |
| Dorian Awards | TV Drama of the Year | The Crown | Nominated | ||
| TV Performance of the Year – Actress | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | Peter Morgan, Stephen Daldry, Andy Harries, Philip Martin, Suzanne Mackie, Matthew Byam-Shaw, Robert Fox, Tanya Seghatchian and Andrew Eaton | Nominated | [148] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Claire Foy (for "Assassins") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | John Lithgow (for "Assassins") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Stephen Daldry (for "Hyde Park Corner") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Peter Morgan (for "Assassins") | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Nina Gold and Robert Sterne | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour) | Adriano Goldman (for "Smoke and Mirrors") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series, or Movie | Michele Clapton, Alex Fordham, Emma O'Loughlin and Kate O'Farrell (for "Wolferton Splash") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series | Ivana Primorac, Amy Riley (for "Hyde Park Corner") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Main Title Design | Patrick Clair, Raoul Marks, Javier Leon Carrillo and Jeff Han | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series | Rupert Gregson-Williams (for "Hyde Park Corner") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period Program (One Hour or More) | Martin Childs, Mark Raggett and Celia Bobak (for "Smoke and Mirrors") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role | Ben Turner, Tom Debenham, Standish Millennas, Kim Phelan, Oliver Cubbage, Lionel Heath, Charlie Bennet, Stephen Smith and Carmine Agnone (for "Windsor") | Nominated | |||
| Glamour Awards | Best UK TV Actress | Vanessa Kirby | Won | [149] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | The Crown | Won | [150] | |
| Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Claire Foy | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | John Lithgow | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series | Rupert Gregson-Williams | Nominated | [151] | |
| Irish Film and Television Awards | Best Editing | Úna Ní Dhonghaíle | Nominated | [152] | |
| Location Managers Guild Awards | Outstanding Locations in Period Television | Pat Karam and Robert Bentley | Won | [153] | |
| Satellite Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | The Crown | Won | [154] | |
| Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Jared Harris | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Claire Foy, Clive Francis, Harry Hadden-Paton, Victoria Hamilton, Jared Harris, Daniel Ings, Billy Jenkins, Vanessa Kirby, John Lithgow, Lizzy McInnerny, Ben Miles, Jeremy Northam, Nicholas Rowe, Matt Smith, Pip Torrens and Harriet Walter | Nominated | [155] | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series | John Lithgow | Won | |||
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Claire Foy | Won | |||
| TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [156] | |
| Outstanding New Program | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Drama | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series for Non-Commercial Television | Adriano Goldman (for "Smoke and Mirrors") | Won | [157] |
| Art Directors Guild Awards | One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Television Series | Martin Childs (for "A Company of Men", "Beryl", "Dear Mrs. Kennedy") | Nominated | [158] | |
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Drama Series | The Crown | Nominated | [159] | |
| Best Actress | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Vanessa Kirby | Won | |||
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Writer: Fiction | Peter Morgan | Nominated | [160] | |
| Best Editing: Fiction | Pia di Ciaula | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | Jane Petrie | Nominated | |||
| Best Production Design | Martin Childs and Alison Harvey | Nominated | |||
| Best Photography: Fiction | Adriano Goldman | Won | |||
| Best Special, Visual & Graphic Effects | Asa Shoul and Christopher Reynolds | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound: Fiction | Sound Team | Won | |||
| Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour | Chris Ashworth, Lee Walpole, Stuart Hilliker, Martin Jensen, Rory de Carteret and Philip Clements (for "Misadventure") | Nominated | [161] | |
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | Excellence in Period Television Series | Jane Petrie | Won | [162] | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Drama Series | The Crown | Nominated | [163] | |
| Best Actress in a Drama Series | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | Peter Morgan, Stephen Daldry, Andy Harries, Philip Martin, Suzanne Mackie, Matthew Byam-Shaw, Robert Fox, Andy Stebbing and Martin Harrison | Nominated | [4] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Claire Foy (for "Dear Mrs. Kennedy") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Matt Smith (for "Mystery Man") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Vanessa Kirby (for "Beryl") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Stephen Daldry (for "Paterfamilias") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Peter Morgan (for "Mystery Man") | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Matthew Goode (for "Matrimonium") | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Nina Gold and Robert Sterne | Won | |||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour) | Adriano Goldman (for "Beryl") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series | Ivana Primorac (for "Dear Mrs. Kennedy") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Period Costumes | Jane Petrie, Emily Newby, Basia Kuznar and Gaby Spanswick (for "Dear Mrs. Kennedy") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) | Martin Childs, Mark Raggett and Alison Harvey (for "Beryl") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role | Ben Turner, Standish Millennas, Alison Griffiths, Matthew Bristowe, Iacopo Di Luigi, Garrett Honn, Charlie Bennett, Jenny Gauci and Carmine Agnone (for "Misadventure") | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [164] | |
| Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Claire Foy | Nominated | |||
| Location Managers Guild Awards | Outstanding Locations in Period Television | Pat Karam and Robert Bentley | Nominated | [165] | |
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [166] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Claire Foy, Victoria Hamilton, Vanessa Kirby, Anton Lesser and Matt Smith | Nominated | [167] [168] | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Claire Foy | Won | |||
| 2019 | Satellite Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [169] |
| Best Actor in a Drama / Genre Series | Tobias Menzies | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Drama / Genre Series | Olivia Colman | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Art Directors Guild Awards | One-Hour Period or Fantasy Single-Camera Series | Martin Childs (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | [170] |
| BAFTA Television Awards | Best Drama Series | The Crown | Nominated | [171] | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Josh O'Connor | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Helena Bonham Carter | Nominated | |||
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Best Production Design | Martin Childs and Alison Harvey | Nominated | ||
| Best Photography: Fiction | Adriano Goldman | Nominated | |||
| Best Special, Visual & Graphic Effects | Ben Turner, Chris Reynolds and Asa Should | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound: Fiction | Sound Team | Nominated | |||
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | Excellence in Period Television | Amy Roberts (for "Cri De Coeur") | Nominated | [172] | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Drama Series | The Crown | Nominated | [173] | |
| Best Actor in a Drama Series | Tobias Menzies | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Drama Series | Olivia Colman | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Helena Bonham Carter | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | Peter Morgan, Suzanne Mackie, Stephen Daldry, Andy Harries, Benjamin Caron, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert Fox, Michael Casey, Andy Stebbing, Martin Harrison and Oona O. Beirn | Nominated | [174] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Olivia Colman (for "Cri de Coeur") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Helena Bonham Carter (for "Cri de Coeur") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Peter Morgan (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Benjamin Caron (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | |||
| Jessica Hobbs (for "Cri de Coeur") | Nominated | ||||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Nina Gold and Robert Sterne | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour) | Adriano Goldman (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Period Costumes | Amy Roberts, Sidonie Roberts and Sarah Moore (for "Cri de Coeur") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling | Cate Hall, Louise Coles, Sarah Nuth, Suzanne David, Emilie Yong and Catriona Johnstone (for "Cri de Coeur") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) | Martin Phipps (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More) | Martin Childs, Mark Raggett and Alison Harvey (for "Aberfan") | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour) | Lee Walpole, Andy Kennedy, Saoirse Christopherson, Juraj Mravec, Tom Williams, Steve Little, Tom Stewart, Anna Wright and Catherine Thomas (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | |||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [175] | |
| Best Actor – Television Series Drama | Tobias Menzies | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Olivia Colman | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Helena Bonham Carter | Nominated | |||
| Location Managers Guild Awards | Outstanding Locations in Period Television | Pat Karam, Pedro “Tate” Aråez | Nominated | [176] | |
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [177] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Marion Bailey, Helena Bonham Carter, Olivia Colman, Charles Dance, Ben Daniels, Erin Doherty, Charles Edwards, Tobias Menzies, Josh O'Connor, Sam Phillips, David Rintoul and Jason Watkins | Won | [178] | |
| Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Helena Bonham Carter | Nominated | |||
| Olivia Colman | Nominated | ||||
| TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | The Crown | Nominated | [179] | |
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode | Ben Turner, Reece Ewing, David Fleet and Jonathan Wood (for "Aberfan") | Nominated | [180] | |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Drama Series | James Graham, David Hancock and Peter Morgan | Nominated | [181] | |
| Episodic Drama | Peter Morgan (for "Moondust") | Nominated |
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