The Crown is a British-American biographical series created and written by Peter Morgan for Netflix.
Acclaimed by critics for the performances and historical accuracy of the events, the show follows the story of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, from her marriage in 1947 to the early 2000s.
In The Crown, the daughter of King George VI (Jared Harris), Elizabeth II (Claire Foy), always knew she would have no ordinary life. After her father died in 1952, she made the first steps toward the English throne, the most famous monarchy in the world.
Developing a relationship with legendary Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, she takes the crown at just 25. However, with great commitments come great responsibilities, and the pressure of her obligations to the crown affects her personal life ultimately.
As a result, Elizabeth must get her priorities to fulfil her duties as Queen of England in a declining British Empire with a political world in disorder.
If you enjoy an excellent historical drama series with all the usual plot expected from a royal story, you'll definitely appreciate the list of nine alternatives we've put together for you.
From the crucial conflicts in the British social hierarchy to political games involving family scandals and French corruption and the fall of a Russian empire, travel through the surrounding world of European royalty.
Take a look at all the excellent series on our list and enjoy hours of entertainment with plenty of drama, family betrayals, forbidden love affairs and even a little humour.
Let us know your opinion in the comments below, and if you have any suggestions for other shows like The Crown.
OUR LIST OF SHOWS LIKE THE CROWN
Leonardo
A very dramatised portrayal of the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, but one that, if you forget the historical inaccuracies, is really entertaining with some stellar performances.
The Last Czars
'The Last Czars' tells the tragic true story of the Romanov dynasty, the wealthy royal family who ruled over Russia for more than three centuries. The Netflix Original Docu-drama chronicles the downfall of Czar Nicholas II from his coronation in 1896...[Read More]
The Last Post
'The Last Post' is a drama set during the 1960s in the middle eastern country of Aden. As Britain's empirical power fades, a detachment of Royal Military Police struggles to keep control of the colonial outpost and their personal lives.
Bridgerton
It's 1813 and debutant season so Daphne Bridgerton and the ladies of high society are out to find a husband. But with meddling newsletters from the elusive Mrs Whistledown throwing everything into chaos, some will do whatever it takes to avoid being ...[Read More]
Persuasion
Dakota Johnson is Anne Elliot, in the Netflix adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Having broken an engagement eight years earlier, Anne gets another chance at love with the dashing Captain Wentworth in this period drama.
The Dig
In 1939 Edith Pretty hired Basil Brown to excavate what she believed were burial mounds on her land. As the dig begins it soon becomes clear that something far more valuable and important has been undiscovered for centuries. Based on true events, The...[Read More]
Poldark
Poldark is a British historical drama series based on the novels of the same title by Winston Graham and starring Aidan Turner in the lead role.
It is 1783 and Captain Ross Vennor Poldark has returned from the American War of Independence to his home in Cornwall after three years in the army.
Discovering that his father Joshua has died, his estate is in ruins and in considerable debt, things only get worse for him when he finds out that his childhood sweetheart Elizabeth is engaged to his cousin Francis.
Attempting to get on with his life he marries a young woman called Demelza Carne and over five series, Poldark follow all of their lives as they deal with love and loss.
Versailles
With three amazing series to jump straight into, Versailles is a fictional drama set during the construction of the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV.
It's 1667 and with the French nobility beginning to defy and disobey the monarchy, King Louis XIV (George Blagden) decides to move the court from Paris to Versailles as a way to force them into submission.
As Louis renovates his new Palace, the nobles become embroiled in increasingly dangerous intrigues in this totally bingeable series.
How Many Seasons Does The Crown Have?
The Crown was released in November 2016. It quickly gained fame among fans and already features four seasons with a total of 40 episodes.
Each season consists of about a decade of Queen Elizabeth's life and features the political and personal lives of several other historical characters who were part of her reign.
Royalties such as Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana, among others.
Every two seasons, new actors are selected to perform the main characters so the role of Queen Elizabeth was originally Claire Foy for the first two seasons before Olivia Colman took over for the third and fourth.
Netflix has already announced that the fifth season of The Crown will arrive on the streaming platform in November 2022. Now we simply have to wait and not despair!
Is The Crown Factually Accurate?
Although The Crown is about the life of the Queen of England Elizabeth II, the series is considered fictional drama.
Peter Morgan, the creator of the show, said that The Crown is the product of historical research and imagination, including scenes that should not be considered facts.
Following the series' release, several historians expressed concern about the show's unqualified portrayal of several events and circumstances.
And though it was told to the New York Times that the royal family had no comment on The Crown, reliable sources support that the Queen did watch the first season. Unofficially, while she enjoyed it very much, she was concerned that some events were overly dramatised.
We know that some stories may have a foundation of truth but were overdone for the plot of the series. One of the examples is the tragic character from the first season, Venetia Scott, who never really existed.
The Crown also exaggerated the timeline of Charles and Camilla's affair, and although King George VI was actually ill, the time was changed, as he was not yet suffering from the disease in 1947.
Therefore, although The Crown may have some veracity in some stories, many have been twisted or overdramatised to create more emphasis. Some characters and plots are pure fantasy, making this series based on reality but fictional.
Is The Crown Well Worth Watching?
Considered one of Netflix's best series, The Crown is an outstanding television series. It's one of the most expensive productions made by Netflix, and the attention to detail is impressive.
Not only is the plot brilliantly written, but it is also well executed, with flawless performances from all the performers.
All the elements are perfectly executed, meaning that no one stands out above the others, but they work in harmony. This is the show's most remarkable success; the fact that it all flows together smoothly into a convincing, high-quality play that can keep you hooked from the first to the last episode.
Not surprisingly, The Crown has won Golden Globe for Best Drama Series and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series on three occasions with Claire Foy in 2017, Olivia Colman in 2020 and Emma Corrin in 2021.
