Top 10 Queen Elizabeth II Moments on The Crown
#10: The Queen Mourns “Aberfan”
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This season three episode centers around a tragedy that struck the Welsh village of Aberfan and claimed the lives of 144, the majority of which were children. However, the Queen didn’t immediately visit. Her silence drew criticism, and the real-life Queen - who had been following bad advice - apparently considered this her greatest regret. Later, she reveals her struggles with outward displays of emotion and confesses she had to fake it in Aberfan. Olivia Colman gives a heartbreaking performance as a Queen who so desperately wants to feel for her people but doesn’t know how. Still, nothing’s quite as powerful or poignant as that final scene where she listens to music and a tear rolls down her cheek.
#9: Breaking Protocol to Become a Dancing Queen “Dear Mrs Kennedy”
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A visit from the Kennedys awakens some insecurities in our young monarch. Of course, it doesn’t help when she learns that the First Lady allegedly trash-talked her behind her back. In her desire to prove that she isn’t the out-of-touch person Jackie O thinks she is, the Queen channels her frustration into diplomatic relations. The Royal couple visits the newly independent Ghana, where the Queen intends to win back their allyship and steer them away from Communism. In a drastic gesture, the Queen throws all Royal protocol out the window and asks the Ghanian leader, Nkrumah, to dance. It’s a smart move because he gets his photo op, and she gets her win. And who doesn’t love a dancing queen?
#8: The Wedding “Wolferton Splash”
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The first episode of “The Crown” dove straight into Elizabeth and Philip’s love story. We see the latter give up his foreign titles to be with his beloved up to the duo’s lavish nuptials. Researchers were brought in to help make the wedding scene as authentically accurate as possible. Designers even spent seven weeks and approximately $37,000 on recreating Norman Hartnell’s wedding dress design. And what’s a royal wedding without a visit to that famous balcony? We loved seeing the young couple embark on this great journey together, unaware of just how much their lives were about to change. It’s even more moving knowing that they spent almost 74 years by each other’s sides.
#7: Taking on Thatcher “48:1”
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If you know your British history, you’ll know that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was considered a controversial figure. Supposedly even the Queen, who typically remains apolitical, had a turbulent relationship with the Iron Lady. In this episode, the Queen abandons her usual neutral stance when Thatcher refuses to join other Commonwealth leaders in enforcing economic sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid regime. In an almost comical sequence, we see the document passed back and forth between the leaders amidst their ongoing battle. Eventually, the Queen has a lightbulb moment, and thanks to some cleverly chosen wording, their stalemate ends. The Iron Lady thinks this is her victory, but we all know who really wears the crown.
#6: The Queen Berates Charles “Tywysog Cymru”
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The never-ending battle between duty and family runs throughout this series. Charles learns this the hard way when he decides to go off-script during his Investiture speech as the Prince of Wales. Needless to say, his mom isn’t happy and reprimands him with some shockingly harsh words. Although, in hindsight, we wonder if she was just preparing him for the harsh realities of life on the throne. Perhaps she didn’t want him to repeat her mistakes. This wasn’t the only time the Queen instructed her son to pull himself together. When Prince Charles shares his marital woes, she bluntly clarifies her feelings about the pair’s problems. It’s actually kinda savage, but we’re here for it.
#5: Don’t Mess with This Queen “Scientia Potentia Est”
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This episode’s title translates as knowledge is power. Indeed, we see several men assume the Queen’s young and naïve enough to leave in the dark. Little do they know that she’s been receiving private tuition to arm herself with the most essential tool in a Queen’s belt — education. With the help of her professor, not only does she become more well-informed, but she finds the confidence to stand up to the men who tried to blindside her, and these politicians quickly learn that they messed with the wrong queen. Until now, the young monarch struggled to find her voice in this demanding role. Seeing her reinstate her position and reclaim her power is incredibly gratifying.
#4: The Queen Calls Out Her Critic “Marionettes”
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Once upon a time, if you wanted to criticize someone, you couldn’t just hide behind 140 characters. There was also no delete button if you changed your mind after publication. The Queen comes under fire after giving a tone-deaf speech at the Jaguar factory. The outspoken Lord Altrincham brutally castigates the monarch for parroting the out-of-touch sentiments of her speech writers. Hurt and angered by his words and the subsequent public outcry, she decides to confront him herself. She sarcastically calls out his choice of language and harsh words and throws some very unroyal disrespect at his failed career. However, she also shows that she’s open to change and willing to listen and learn.
#3: Elizabeth Discreetly Outs the Mole “Olding”
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Season three opened in 1964 after the Labour Party won the general election and Harold Wilson became Prime Minister. Some feared that No. 10’s new resident might be a KGB spy. However, in a shocking revelation, we discover that the real culprit was right under the Queen’s nose. Later, at an art gallery event, she delivers a very pointed speech about how things, or people, aren’t always how they first seem. She takes a moment to ensure that her art curator, Anthony Blunt knows that her barbed words are meant for him. This is another example where the monarch calls someone out with all the grace and dignity of a Queen.
#2: The Queen Meets a Commoner “Fagan”
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Yes, it’s true that in 1982 a man called Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace twice. However, in reality, he didn’t perch down on the end of the Queen’s bed for a good old-fashioned chinwag. Still, the dramatization of the encounter is rather consequential. As we mentioned earlier, Britain was divided under Thatcher’s government, and “The Crown’s” Fagan represented the voices of many working-class citizens at the time. Even if it wasn’t entirely accurate, seeing the Queen take her time to listen to the problems of her people— even the ones who break into her bedroom— really shows her humanity. Once again, we’re left feeling that she really is a Queen of the people. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. The Queen Refuses Her Uncle’s Apology, “Vergangenheit” Some Things Can’t Be Forgiven or Forgotten The Queen Isn’t Prince Philip’s Sweetie, “Bubbikins” That Prestigious Title Is Saved for Princess Anne Aging Gracefully, “Olding” This Queen Is Well-Aware of the Facts of Life The Queen & First Lady’s Heart-to-Heart, “Dear Mrs Kennedy” A Lesson to Both That Looks Can Be Deceiving Elizabeth & Philip’s Flirty Morning, “Matrimonium” Despite It All, There Was a Lot of Love Here
#1: Introducing Queen Elizabeth “Hyde Park Corner”
In season one, episode two, Elizabeth departs the U.K. as a Princess and returns as Queen. After the grieving period, she puts her husband in charge of the Coronation committee. He uses the opportunity to modernize the institution, leading to a fiery yet relatable marital spat. It turns out that royal protocol isn’t always big on compromise. Nevertheless, the showrunners did a phenomenal job replicating the Coronation; you could easily believe you were watching the actual event. However, there’s a pivotal moment earlier in the season where the princess-turned-queen is asked to choose her regnal name. Unlike her father and uncle, she decides to stick with her birth name. This begins the enduring conflict between self and duty that follows her throughout the series.
