Series synopsis
The Crown is a British drama television series that premiered on Netflix on November 4, 2016. It ended on December 14, 2023. It was created by Peter Morgan. It stars Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Olivia Colman and Lesley Manville.
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny.
The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
Premise
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny.
The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
Premise: Duty lasts a lifetime.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
- Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II
- Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
- Dominic West as Prince Charles
- Matt Smith as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Jonny Lee Miller as John Major
- Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
Supporting cast
- Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Marcia Warren as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
- Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret
- Jeremy Northam as Anthony Eden
- Anton Lesser as Harold Macmillan
- Ben Daniels as Lord Snowdon
- Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher
- Victoria Hamilton as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
- Jason Watkins as Harold Wilson
- Josh O'Connor as Prince Charles
- Emma Corrin as Lady Diana Spencer
- John Lithgow as Winston Churchill
Guest cast
- Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana
- Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret
- Ben Miles as Peter Townsend
- Salim Daw as Mohamed Al Fayed
- Paul Thornley as Bill Mattheson
- Jo Stone-Fewings as Collins
- Daniel Betts as Ernst von Hannover
- Alice Hewkin as Jacqui Chan
- Daniel Ings as Mike Parker
- Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair
- Chloe Pirrie as Eileen Parker
- Billy Jenkins as Prince Charles
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 60 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 10 | November 4, 2016 | November 4, 2016 |
| Season 2 | 10 | December 8, 2017 | December 8, 2017 |
| Season 3 | 10 | November 17, 2019 | November 17, 2019 |
| Season 4 | 10 | November 15, 2020 | November 15, 2020 |
| Season 5 | 10 | November 9, 2022 | November 9, 2022 |
| Season 6 | 10 | November 16, 2023 | December 14, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wolferton Splash A young Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip. As King George VI’s health worsens, Winston Churchill is elected prime minister for the second time. |
November 4, 2016 |
| 2 |
Hyde Park Corner With King George too ill to travel, Elizabeth and Philip embark on a four-continent Commonwealth tour. Party leaders attempt to undermine Churchill. |
November 4, 2016 |
| 3 |
Windsor With Elizabeth in a new role, Philip tries to assert some power. Churchill wants to delay the coronation. King George’s disgraced brother arrives. |
November 4, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Misadventure 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. |
December 8, 2017 |
| 2 |
A Company of Men Elizabeth feels disconnected from Philip. Eden copes with international pressure and ill health. An interview stirs up harrowing memories for Philip. |
December 8, 2017 |
| 3 |
Lisbon Palace insiders try to prevent a scandal that could reflect poorly on Philip. Eden faces censure from his cabinet and the press. |
December 8, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Olding 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. |
November 17, 2019 |
| 2 |
Margaretology 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. |
November 17, 2019 |
| 3 |
Aberfan 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. |
November 17, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Gold Stick 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. |
November 15, 2020 |
| 2 |
The Balmoral Test Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty. |
November 15, 2020 |
| 3 |
Fairytale After Charles proposes, Diana moves into Buckingham Palace and finds her life filled with princess training, loneliness — and Camilla Parker Bowles. |
November 15, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Queen Victoria Syndrome 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. |
November 9, 2022 |
| 2 |
The System 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. |
November 9, 2022 |
| 3 |
Mou Mou In 1946, an Egyptian street vendor finds inspiration in the abdicated King Edward. Years later, he eagerly tries to integrate into British High Society. |
November 9, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Persona Non Grata Diana holidays in Saint-Tropez with Al-Fayed and bonds with his son Dodi. Charles is crushed when the Queen won't attend Camilla's 50th birthday party. |
November 16, 2023 |
| 2 |
Two Photographs Cameras flash and a media circus swirls as Diana and Dodi spend more time together. In retaliation, Charles stages a fatherly photo op with his sons. |
November 16, 2023 |
| 3 |
Dis-Moi Oui Dodi's father urges him to propose, but marriage is the last thing on Diana's mind. Later, a high-speed car chase with paparazzi ends in disaster. |
November 16, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Netflix |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 4, 2016 |
| Last aired | December 14, 2023 |
| Status | Ended |