The Crown on Netflix

[TheHiphopopotamus]

Had a look but couldn't see another thread.

Anyone else watched any? Just seen the first episode and can't make my mind up. I'm ambivalent towards the monarchy but the production seems sumptuous. It's nice seeing all the 40's/50's fashions though.

Porchy played a significant role in the Queen's life, he was her horse racing manager/bloodstock advisor for many years. The role is now undertaken by his son in law John Warren who is, I can vouch, a total arsehole! He's known as "rat-face" by many in the industry!

He was also friends with her from childhood to up until he died in 2001 so I can understand why he's being depicted in this.

Yes I read that somewhere about Princess Alice. She wore a nuns habit to the coronation. I think they might have conflated the two things for artistic licence though, as most of the family scenes are at the wedding and it was quite interesting that she was in a nuns habit, so rather than shoehorn her into the coronation scenes, they used her in the wedding. I'm trying to persuade my DH to watch it, so I might end up watching it again too. I will probably watch it again anyway actually

I agree. Plus it provided the opportunity for the nasty bit of snark about Alice from the QM-to-be to Queen Mary. One of the good things about the production is how they manage to convey a lot about character in just a few exchanges.

Yes that was good.It conveyed a lot about their relationship and the characters just from that conversation at the wedding. The QM is coming across not well at all. But apparently she wasn't very nice. It's just we remember the smiley old lady

diddl - a bit late but thanks for the link to the castle!

My mum and great aunt (I'm in my 50's so you can roughly put their vintage in context) are/were royalists, but always disliked the Queen Mother. I think they found her gaudy!

Another interesting thing about the QM and the Queen are the references to the Queen feeling that her education was lacking and having some resentment about that. I have read several accounts that both Elizabeth and Margaret felt that their education had been inadequate. The king had left it to their mother and she thought that the traditional schooling for upper class girls of the time would be sufficient for Elizabeth and Margaret even after it became clear that Elizabeth would be Queen one day. I've read that Margaret resented it even more perhaps because she had a more naturally intellectual proclivity than Elizabeth.

That's so sad that that's what really happened. Goes to show what happens if you don't value a girls place in society as much as a boy's. I wonder if it was a deliberate ploy after it was apparent that she would become Queen. If you have an uneducated Queen, she would have to rely on her male advisers more. Maybe, despite evidence to the contrary of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I they didn't think a woman was capable of being Head of State.

Interesting point, especially considering that both Victoria and Elizabeth I did have very good educations.

Just watched episode 1 and dying to get on with the next one but it is far too late.

Glad to hear there will be more than one season and how happy I am that they were all released at the same time. I hate having to wait weekly for episodes. Such an antiquated system.

Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were very much peers of the Mitfords, and there were connections all round - several of the Mitfords were very vocal about their lack of education in correlation to their sex in later life.

They were "too posh" for state and couldn't afford formal schooling for all of them. Hodgepodge of governesses teaching lady stuff!

It was very much the done thing for their class.

Jessica Mitford alleged she got herself into a grammar and her mother refused to let her go.

In this day and age it's mind boggling

I think it's been interesting that Philip challenged the Royal way of life the way he did as we'd always been led to believe that Diana was the first person to do that.

And I didn't realise that Philip arranged the coronation and recognised the need to involve the public by televising it and thereby restore faith and interest in the Monarchy. The Queen has always said how important he has been in his support and guidance but I don't think I ever really considered what that actually meant.

I can see the man who started the DoE scheme and someone with a strong sense of social responsibility. I feel that he's been massively underappreciated and ridiculed for his faux pas, both by the establishment and the media. I'm glad that we're having the opportunity to realise these things while he's still alive.

Yes I agree. It seems like the courtiers and advisers ran the palace and were undermining change and the Queen at every turn. I suppose a bit like Carson in Downton. If you've chosen a life of service in posh households, someone coming in and telling you you're ridiculous and outdated is a massive threat to your way of life. He did come across as petulant in some episodes, but he must have felt massively frustrated sitting around not being able to do anything and being thwarted at every turn. Especially as he's had most of his family wiped out by revolutions against monarchies in Greece and Russia.

I wondered about the Princess Margaret/Captain Townsend thing-was it really said that they would have to go into exile?

I understand losing the HRH & privileges, but exile?

They seemed to have the support of the public.

The being mindful of the Churches teachings-ha! he remarried & she subsequently divorced.

And choosing duty-did she do much-all I remember her for is Mustique & Roddy Llewellyn!

Although of course I appreaciate that at the time she was doing Royal stuff I may have been too young to be watching/reading news.

Look how it turned out-3 out of 4 divorced, the future King divorced & married to a divorcee, Anne divorced & remarried in Church!

southeastdweller My OH is one of 3 brothers. One, completely bald by his mid 20s, one thinning but not bald now in his 50s, my OH thick head of hair (receeding at the edges).

Of course, I'm assuming that FIL is the father to all 3 of them...

Yeah actually one of my mother's irritating friends tried to palm one of her 3 dull sons off on me years ago. One had a full head of hair the other 2 bald like their dad. I can't imagine her managing to persuade 2 people to impregnate her either...

I don't really like any of the characters!

The portrait of Churchill

It was fabulous.

What an ungrateful arrogant bugger!

Ah diddl

But it made him look weak and frail and old

Which of course he was

Couldn't bear to admit it

I know!

He'd supposedly had two strokes & he walked with a stick!

WTF did he think that he was kidding.

I don't see that though, just a fab portrait.

Portrait

What a ridiculous and dumb departure for Belinda, a character who deserved better. The actress who played her was great, too.

I wonder whether Margaret looked at all the divorces and smiled ruefully?
I'm loving all the Churchill and political history stuff. I think part of the reason it's so compelling is that it's not a puff piece about the Royals. Just a study of some flawed individuals in a very extraordinary situation. Funny I think the sycophants and the toadying courtiers and the old Guard surrounding the Royal Family would have seen the end of their beloved institution. It's the creaking forced modernisation that has kept them going for so long.

Belinda?

Oops, sorry - posted on the wrong thread