Whether you’re a fan of the British royal family or not, there’s no denying that The Crown has made for seriously good drama. The highly anticipated Season 4 in particular showcased the rollercoaster relationship between Princess Diana and Prince Charles, leaving viewers hooked. One standout feature the hit Netflix show has is getting its casting eerily perfect, as well as re-enacting some famous scenes in royal history.
It’s always good to compare the show to real life, so let’s take a look at some of the real life royal photos you need to see.
The Queen’s Coronation: Season One
The show portrayed the drama of Elizabeth being thrust into the spotlight when she shouldn’t have been queen, thanks to her uncle and his love for a certain Wallis Simpson. The outfits used in the show are very similar, and even the Archbishop of Canterbury looks the same!
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Image Source/The Culture Concept Circle
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The show did a great job of portraying the splendour and importance of his historic moment, even if it wasn’t exactly what Elizabeth had been hoping for in terms of unexpectedly becoming Queen. We think her expression says it all!
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The Queen’s Coronation: Real Life
Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was a huge moment in the first season, setting up for the main focus of the show. She was only 25 when she succeeded to the throne following her father’s death and her uncle’s abdication.
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Image Source/Radio Times
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She was coronated on 2nd June, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. At 11 years old, Elizabeth watched her own father, King George, coronated in his own ceremony. She probably never imagined she would have her own coronation a little over 10 years later.
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Prince Philip Kneels: Season One
The Netflix show enjoyed making a meal out of the Queen requesting that Philip kneel during her official coronation ceremony. You would think that she had slapped him in the face based on his reaction.
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Image Source/Daily Mail
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Philip seems to struggle to come to terms setting apart his wife from his Queen, and while he initially rebuffs the idea of publicly dirtying his kneecaps, he eventually does what is expected of him, and kneels before Her Majesty. It was a great exchange to watch between both brilliant actors.
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Prince Philip Kneels: Real Life
In reality, it’s unlikely that Philip had any problem with kneeling before the Queen. It’s Royal protocol, after all, and during a public ceremony, why shouldn’t you kneel to the monarch? Their tiny spat made for great viewing, but whether it happened in real life is uncertain.
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Image Source/Marie Claire
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This may have simply been the show painting poor Philip in a bad light. It wasn’t like the Queen was asking him to kneel to her over morning coffee, it was for her official royal coronation ceremony! Surely a man from the royal family would understand such measures without any need for complete. Either way, he did kneel, of course!
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Winston Churchill’s Portrait: Season One
As depicted faithfully in the show, artist Graham Sutherland was tasked with painting the portrait of the then-prime minister. The portrait was to be presented to Churchill on his 80th birthday.
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Image Source/The Armchair Anglophile
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These scenes made for poignant viewing, as we see the Prime Minister clearly uncomfortable with the situation, and the artist perhaps unenthusiastic about making small talk with such an imposing man – let alone trying to paint a faithful portrait.
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Winston Churchill’s Portrait: Real Life
Unfortunately, Churchill famously hated the portrait, thinking it deeply unflattering! After having to endure it publicly presented to him, Churchill sent the portrait to his country home…
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Image Source/The Churchill Project: Hillsdale College
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…where his wife did him a favour and destroyed the portrait so he wouldn’t have to look at it again. The show does actually include a scene in which the portrait is seen to be burning. The representation didn’t actually look half bad, though.
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The Great Smog Of London: Season One
The show depicts the 1952 ‘Great Smog of London’, which occurred during Churchill’s time in office. All the Prime Minister really seems to say about it at first is that it will ‘pass in time’, whilst outside people are suffering and dying.
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Image Source/Radio Times
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The show heightens the drama and emotion by having Churchill’s secretary fall victim to the smog, which is the kick up the behind the Prime Minster needs to see how very wrong he’s been to ignore the situation. He barely scrapes avoiding a sacking by the Queen.
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The Great Smog Of London: Real Life
In December of 1952, severe air pollution hit London. Cold weather – which isn’t anything new to Britain – combined with high winds and pollution in the air caused a heavy fog to fall over the capital.
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Image Source/Britannica
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While the smog did cause significant disruption to the day to day life of people living in the city, the show is said to have exaggerated a little with the political upheaval and chaos. However, the smog was still severe enough to claim thousands of lives.
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Princess Margaret And Peter Townsend: Season One
Princess Margaret – both in the show and in real life – has a long list of romances, and is quite famous for her relationships. One of these depicted in heartbreaking and dramatic fashion in Season One was with Captain Peter Townsend.
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Image Source/Daily Express
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We see the pair trying desperately hard to keep their affair under wraps, until Margaret is eventually ready to risk it all and choose Peter over the crown. Unfortunately – and very sadly – the Queen has to step in to ask her sister to end it with the Captain.
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Princess Margaret And Peter Townsend: Real Life
In reality, Margaret and Townsend did have a doomed romance. Margaret was only 14 when she first met the Captain, and their romance began when she was 22 years old after her father’s death.
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Image Source/Hello Magazine
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Townsend, who was 16 years older, had already been married – and divorced – before he started a romance with the Princess. In real life, the Queen did become stuck in the middle, being responsible for giving permission for her sister to marry a divorced man. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.
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The Queen Dances With President Nkrumah of Ghana: Season Two
The show portrayed Queen Elizabeth’s iconic (and rather controversial) visit to Ghana, and many viewers may have wondered whether she actually did dance with the President. Well, she actually did.
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Image Source/Quartz
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A joyful moment for the Queen soon turned into a symbolic moment in British and Commonwealth history. The show’s star, Claire Foy, gave a thrilling and beautiful performance wearing the Queen’s iconic outfit and did appear to be thoroughly enjoying herself.
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The Queen Dances With President Nkrumah of Ghana: Real Life
Their dance occurred in 1961, during the Queen’s visit to the African country of Ghana, and the dance was viewed as an uplifting and joyous moment against the backdrop of bombings in the capital, which had left the Queen even more determined to make a successful visit.
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Image Source/Reddit
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And the show recreated her outfit perfectly! However, unlike what the show might be suggesting, it didn’t only take one beautiful dance to solve all their problems. There was undoubtedly a lot more happening behind the scenes, and many more conversations needing to be had, before a dance could fix everything.
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Princess Margaret And Anthony Armstrong Jones: Season Two
Princess Margaret’s storyline during the first few seasons was one of the most exciting, and not least because it included charming photographer Tony.
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Image Source/Tell-Tale TV
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This intimate scene showed Tony’s private photography session with the Princess, which later grew into romance and marriage. Viewers can’t really blame Margaret for falling for the talented photographer, and after Margaret’s heartbreak with Captain Townsend, she deserved a little happiness.
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Princess Margaret And Anthony Armstrong Jones: Real Life
Naturally, there isn’t going to be any photos of any real life intimate photography session (ironically) between the two, but she did fall in love and marry photographer Tony in the end.
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Image Source/Brides
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While their relationship was initially considered glamorous, it wasn’t to be, as they announced their divorce after 20 years of marriage (and the later stages of their relationship can be seen in the later seasons of The Crown). While initially the passionate pair formed a great fit, their relationship was doomed.
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JFK and Jackie Kennedy Visit the Queen: Season Two
This episode delighted in showing even more tension within the palace when the President and his wife, Jackie, come to visit the Queen. What should seemingly be a successful visit on the surface, it quickly went downhill.
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Image Source/IMDb
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It turns out that Jackie might have been gossiping about the Queen and the royal family, and the last person you’d want to hear of it – the Queen herself – finds out. Eventually, the two women sit down to talk it out, and manage to salvage their relationship somewhat.
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JFK and Jackie Kennedy Visit the Queen: Real Life
In 1961, JFK and his wife, Jackie, actually did visit the Queen. But was it as disastrous as the show made it out to be? The episode shows disparaging remarks from the President’s wife, including calling the Queen “unremarkable” and the palace itself “second-rate”. Charming.
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Image Source/Hello Magazine
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In reality, Jackie’s critique might not have been as harsh as the show would have us believe, but apparently she did have a few things to say following her visit. She was apparently unimpressed by the palace and thought the Queen rather plain in dress and hair. It isn’t clear whether the Queen actually found out about this in real life, however…
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The Queen’s ‘Bland’ Speech: Season Two
Queen Elizabeth isn’t a stranger to giving a speech or two, but apparently that doesn’t mean that she’s naturally good at it. In Season 2, we see a very harsh critique over her speech delivery, which could easily have faced terrible backlash from the royal family.
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Image Source/Radio Times
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Instead, the Queen swallowed her pride and actually invited the critic to Buckingham Palace to speak with her directly about what she can do better. A dramatic moment, to be sure, and you might think it was all for the Netflix show. The reality is a little more uncertain.
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The Queen’s ‘Bland’ Speech: Real Life
Lord Altrincham, the cruel critic from the show, did exist in real life, and yes he did slate the Queen on her speech-giving abilities. The British writer actually called the Queen “a priggish schoolgirl”. Awkward!
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Image Source/Town & Country Magazine
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An article was published which did heavily criticise the Queen. It’s unknown whether the Queen actually did meet with Altrincham in private to discuss any tips he might have, but was is known is that the Queen changed the way she gave her speeches by broadcasting her first ever televised Christmas message. It could just be a coincidence, but it looks as though she really did take his words on board.
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The Apollo 11 Astronauts Visit Buckingham Palace: Season Three
The Netflix show depicted a midlife crisis in the form of Prince Philip and the visiting Apollo astronauts, who Philip wanted to quiz regarding ‘the big questions’ and how they felt being up in space.
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Image Source/Radio Times
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While the astronauts visited Buckingham Palace to meet with the Queen and royal family, the show put more focus on Philip’s interaction and his speaking with them alone. And you have to hand it to the Prince, his questions were very interesting ones, and many viewers would have been disappointed by the astronauts’ answers right along with him.
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The Apollo 11 Astronauts Visit Buckingham Palace: Real Life
Apollo astronauts Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin did, in fact, visit Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen and Prince Philip. And Armstrong did have a cold on the day of the visit…
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Image Source/Biography
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… which, unfortunately, was more awkward in real life that it was depicted in the show, as Armstrong accidently coughed on the Queen! Luckily, the Queen laughed it off instead of declaring ‘off with his head!’ but we’re sure that this remained a mortifying moment for Armstrong!
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Prince Charles Learns Welsh: Season Three
There’s no doubt about it, Welsh is very hard. Which means you have to feel for the Prince in this season as he tries to learn Welsh and fit into the community whilst being shunned by almost everybody. It does make for fun viewing, though.
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Image Source/Hello! magazine
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But if you’re going to be the Prince of Wales, then it would make sense that you should spend some time getting to know the place, wouldn’t it? The show handled this sequence perfectly in actually showing that Charles has a heart and a soul, and even makes you want to rise to his defence at “Mummy’s” harsh words.
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Prince Charles Learns Welsh: Real Life
So did the Prince actually spend a semester in Wales? Yes he did. In 1969, the young Prince at 20 years old was sent to Aberystwyth College, and did meet some resentment there against his presence. His speech was designed to help the Welsh people get more on board with the British monarchy, and bring them together.
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Image Source/Oprah Magazine
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The show revealed his speech as one which was heartfelt and went against the pre-written advice. You could be forgiven for thinking that his whole speech was dramatized just for the show, but actually Charles gave pretty much the same in real life. Respect.
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Queen Elizabeth’s Response To The Aberfan Disaster: Season Three
This was a particularly emotional portrayal in the show, based on the real-life disaster that happened in Aberfan, Wales, where a coillery overspilled and caused a slurry to pour onto the village, including onto a school.
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Image Source/The Guardian
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The show correctly depicted the Queen’s delayed reaction to the disaster, in which initial visits were made by Prince Philip and the Prime Minister, with the Queen nowhere in site. The show did include scenes of Elizabeth asking Philip how he felt when he visited the village.
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Queen Elizabeth’s Response To The Aberfan Disaster: Real Life
The Queen actually did visit Aberfan following her initial delay, 8 days after the disaster. Queen Elizabeth herself has admitted that her delay in reacting is her biggest regret as Queen.
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Image Source/Elle
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While it’s easy to see behind the scenes the Queen’s emotion regarding Aberfan, her actual appearance in the village was something which was greatly needed (and appreciated). She went on to visit Aberfan many more times after the disaster in the following years.
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Trooping The Colour: Season Four
Continuing the introduction to Olivia Colman taking over as Queen Elizabeth for a new series, season four saw a stony-faced and serious Colman taking on the duty of Trooping The Colour and replicating the Queen’s salute.
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Image Source/Cosmopolitan
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Trooping The Colour is an ongoing tradition which takes place every year, but this particular re-enactment was of the 1979 ceremony. Colman appears to be the spitting image of Queen Elizabeth when she took part in the royal 1979 ceremony.
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Trooping The Colour: Real Life
This photo shows just how close Olivia Colman’s portrayal really is! During this famous ceremony, the regiments of the armies from Britain and the Commonwealth come together to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
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Image Source/Tatler
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The Queen herself appears during the ceremony alongside her troops, with the rest of the royal family usually in attendance, too. The tradition of this ceremony dates as far back as the 17th Century, so it’s a pretty big deal! The parade always moves from the palace and along The Mall.
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Trooping The Colour Balcony Wave: Season Four
Accompanying the actual ceremony on horseback from Buckingham Palace is the famous wave from the balcony that stars the royal family! A detail which the Netflix show didn’t forget.
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Image Source/Rachael Dickzen
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In the show, Queen Elizabeth is seen waving from the balcony with Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Lord Mountbatten, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and other royals joining for the occasion. For fans of the royal family, any sort of balcony wave is always a delight to see.
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Trooping The Colour Balcony Wave: Real Life
So did the show get it right? Was everyone where they were supposed to be? Did the Queen actually smile? Yes, the Queen really did smile during the 1979 balcony wave, accompanied by Prince Philip at her side.
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Image Source/Cosmopolitan
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The rest of the royal family was indeed gathered on the balcony with her, and in this snap we can see why the tradition of royal family youngsters being there is one that has been continued even into recent years. Is it ever a good royal balcony picture if there isn’t one of the children pulling a face or two?
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Lord Mountbatten’s Funeral: Season Four
Love him or hate him, Lord Mountbatten’s assassination and funeral in The Crown was a shocking and sad affair, made all the more difficult if you’re a fan of the great actor Charles Dance. Mountbatten was an often controversial member of the royal family.
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Image Source/The Guardian
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His funeral took place in 1979, and the show faithfully depicted the sombre affair with the Queen and Prince Philip – Mountbatten’s nephew – in attendance. The show revealed that Mountbatten had left 500 pages of instructions for his funeral plans to be carried out.
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Lord Mountbatten’s Funeral: Real Life
It turns out that the real Mountbatten actually did leave 500 pages of instruction regarding his own funeral. Apparently the Lord had planned his funeral in great detail before his death. Mountbatten was assassinated in Ireland by the IRA.
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Image Source/Town & Country Magazine
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The show compassionately depicts a recreation of the assassination by including Mountbatten on a family fishing trip. While the show reveals an explosion on the boat which implies Mountbatten was killed instantly, in real life he was rescued from the water alive until he later died from his injuries.
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Margaret Thatcher Enters 10 Downing Street: Season Four
One huge turning point for Season Four (and, indeed, in British history) was the female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. It may have been surprising to hear that Gillian Anderson had been cast for this role, but the show proved her talent (and the effects of make-up and a good wig) without a doubt.
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Image Source/Cosmopolitan
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You may have even forgot that you were watching Gillian Anderson whilst binging the show, so much different was her voice and appearance. The iconic door of 10 Downing Street has been the backdrop for many a Prime Minister photo.
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Margaret Thatcher Enters 10 Downing Street: Real Life
With hair perhaps a little less tall, Thatcher did enter 10 Downing Street with a doorway wave, accompanied by her husband. Her time as Prime Minister would see a lot of controversy, scenes of which were dramatised for us in the Netflix show.
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Image Source/History Extra
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Thatcher eventually resigned after what she deemed as ‘betrayal’, and the show closely depicts the growing frustrations (but eventually respect in an emotional final scene) between the Prime Minister and the Queen. While the show depicts Maggie crying a heck of a lot, in reality it was apparently the Queen who shed a tear over their conflict.
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Prince Charles and Diana’s Engagement: Season Four
What should have seemingly been a wonderful occasion for a young Prince and soon-to-be Princess, Charles and Diana’s engagement photoshoot (and video) is famous, and not in the least because of Charles stood rather awkwardly.
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Image Source/Elle
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The show did rather well at replicating the awkwardness, but still nothing beats the original video! Diana shows off her iconic sapphire engagement ring, which would later be worn by Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, wife to Diana and Charles’s son, Prince William.
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Prince Charles and Diana’s Engagement: Real Life
After 6 months of dating, Prince Charles decided to pop the question to Diana (and the show recreated their outfits perfectly) in 1981. Their engagement photoshoot took place in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
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Image Source/Popsugar.uk
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Because where else would be so perfect? Despite the slight awkwardness, there’s no doubt they do look happy, and Diana does look thrilled, if not a little shy. It’s nice to see Charles standing close and linked with Diana rather than overly formal.
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Diana and Charles Visit Australia: Season Four
The show revealed many outings that Diana and Charles had together as a famous royal couple, and one of these was their tour of Australia – a very hot, very long and very fraught tour at that. The tour should have been an opportunity for them to showcase a happy marriage, but it was quite the opposite.
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Image Source/MimicNews
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The show revealed intimate scenes of the couple very much struggling with their relationship, as well as new mother Diana’s struggles with being away from her son, William. While they tried to put on a front for the cameras, even infront of others it was clear there was a huge chasm between them.
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Diana and Charles Visit Australia: Real Life
In 1983, the young couple did take to Australia and New Zealand on a famous tour. While the show revealed dramatic scenes, the reality had been a little different in that the real Diana apparently understood the need for her to leave William behind, and it might not have been as big an argument as it was in the show.
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Image Source/Town & Country Magazine
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But Diana did turn back on the hike up Ayers Rock, as shown in the show, while understandably being jet-lagged and sick. With the heat and the climb in such an outfit, it’s enough to make anyone turn back! Diana was also seen to be visibly upset at points of the tour, with Charles genuinely being rather jealous over the attention his wife was getting.
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Princess Diana’s Dance With Wayne Sleep: Season Four
Many Netflix viewers who didn’t know this actually happened may have been shocked at the idea of Princess Diana getting on stage and performing with dance legend Wayne Sleep. But, she actually did, as a gift and surprise to Prince Charles.
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Image Source/The New York Times
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And yes, she danced to Uptown Girl! Diana was a huge fan of dance, which the Netflix show did focus on by giving us many scenes of Diana in a dance studio (and even roller skating around Buckingham Palace, every girl’s dream).
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Princess Diana’s Dance With Wayne Sleep: Real Life
In reality, it may have been Sleep who was more nervous than the Princess, as he was worried he might “drop the future Queen of England”! Diana was passionate about dance, so wasted no opportunity in taking to the stage.
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Image Source/The Guardian
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It’s unclear whether in reality Prince Charles took offence to it as much as was implied in the show, but hopefully not. While it could be seen as strange for a Princess to take to the stage in such a way and claim that sort of attention, it seemed completely natural for someone like Diana who had genuine grace.
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Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress: Season Four
Many dresses go down in history, and most of these will be famous wedding dresses. Princess Diana’s was no exception. This was one thing that the Netflix show simply had to get right!
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Image Source/Cosmopolitan
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And luckily they did, with a very faithful representation of the iconic gown. Unfortunately, many viewers took to social media to complain that the appearance of the dress was way too short, being on screen for less than a minute. It would have been great to see the wedding in full!
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Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress: Real Life
Diana wore her wedding gown to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981. The dress was made from antique lace and silk, complete with 25-foot train. Unfortunately, the massive train posed many problems, including not easily being able to fit in the coach.
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Image Source/The Independent
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Fortunately, the few crumples in the dress which emerged as a result didn’t detract from the beautiful gown which would go down in history. The gown was created by designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel, from whom permission had to be given for the show to recreate the design of the dress (and luckily they gave it).
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