Which royal family is portrayed in The Crown?
Quick answer
The Crown portrays the British royal family, known as the House of Windsor, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Created by Peter Morgan for Netflix, it ran for six seasons (2016–2023) and covers events from her 1947 wedding to the early 2000s.
The series is a drama based on real events, but many private conversations are imagined. Historians and the royal family’s supporters have criticized some storylines as inaccurate, and Netflix added a note describing it as a “fictional dramatization.”
Three casts for three eras
The main roles were recast every two seasons as the characters aged:
| Seasons | Queen Elizabeth II | Prince Philip |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Claire Foy | Matt Smith |
| 3–4 | Olivia Colman | Tobias Menzies |
| 5–6 | Imelda Staunton | Jonathan Pryce |
Other key characters include Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Princess Diana (played by Emma Corrin and Elizabeth Debicki) and several prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Tony Blair.
Why “Windsor”?
The royal family took the name Windsor, after Windsor Castle, in 1917, during World War I. Its previous name, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, sounded too German at a time of war with Germany.
Real events in the series
- The coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953
- The Suez Crisis (1956)
- The Aberfan disaster (1966)
- The marriage of Charles and Diana (1981) and their separation
- Diana’s death in 1997
The real Queen
Elizabeth II reigned for 70 years, from 1952 until her death on September 8, 2022, the longest reign of any British monarch. Her son became King Charles III.
Awards
The Crown won 21 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2021, and Golden Globes for Claire Foy, Olivia Colman and others.
For another long-running British drama, see Doctor Who. Britain’s parliament has ancient roots; see the oldest parliament in the world.
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