With the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, here’s a look back on how the portrayal of the British Royal Family in cinema has changed over time. The history of this family dates back to the 16th century. Despite their past, only a few royals have managed to capture the imagination of writers and directors.
The royal family has been the subject of several documentaries, including The Royal House of Windsor, a docuseries beginning with the accession of King George V all the way to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Another documentary was released after her Platinum Jubilee, called Elizabeth.
The Queen (2007, directed by Stephen Frears) with Helen Mirren starring in the titular role of Queen Elizabeth II, follows the monarch dealing with events following the passing of Diana, Princess of Wales. Written by Peter Morgan, this film is particularly different because it shows so well the relationship British monarchs share with their Prime Ministers. Elizabeth comes to an epiphany about the change that has taken place in the world since her accession. This portrayal won Mirren several accolades, including an Academy award for best actress. Extrapolated from this film is one of the most poignant portrayals of the family, The Crown (2016-present). It too was created by Morgan. It has received critical acclaim for most aspects and is a no-holds-barred, honest, and humble portrayal of the monarchy. Season 5 of the series is expected in November 2022, starring Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II.
Diana, Princess of Wales became the face of the royal family when she married into it. She was a symbol of modernity, and she won the hearts of the people. She inspired a great many films, one of them being Diana (2013, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel). Starring Naomi Watts, we see Diana after her separation from Charles, the struggles she faces with her love life, and the distance from her children. It is unlike other representations of the royal family, and in many ways, the film does not put the Crown on a pedestal. Channel 4 aired a television documentary called Diana: In Her Own Words in 2017, including footage from her sessions with a voice coach and a famous interview in which she discussed her personal life and marriage to Charles.
The latest film, Spencer (2022, directed by Pablo Larraín), which starred Kristen Stewart as Diana, is a historic fiction film. It showed her contemplating her divorce from Charles and gave a peek into her relationship with her children. It is especially different because by no means does it glorify the royal family, and it is a bone-chilling representation of the psychological distress Diana was in.
John Lithgow’s Winston Churchill stated with the accession of King George VI, “Famous have been the reigns of our queens. Some of the greatest periods in our history have unfolded under their sceptres.” An example of that is one of the most iconic films about this family, Elizabeth (1998, directed by Shekhar Kapur). Starring Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush among others, it follows Queen Elizabeth I, who inherits a debt-ridden throne from her ailing sister, Mary. Set in the 16th century, she has a court of treacherous nobles, and we see her rise above these challenges with grandeur. A sequel to Kapur’s Elizabeth was released in 2007, Elizabeth: The Golden Age following other people vying for the throne, and an attempted assassination. These films are an elegant combination of production design, costume design, and well-crafted dialogue.
In 2008, we go back to the House of Tudor, which once held the throne in England with The Other Boleyn Girl (directed by Justin Chadwick). Also written by Peter Morgan, it is an extravagant, sometimes dramatic film. It is your typical, dramatic, portrayal of royalty, with a heavy air of superiority. It is especially fascinating for its costume design.
In 2010, we come to The King’s Speech (directed by Tom Hooper). This was one of the first major films not to focus on one of the women. It saw George VI overcome his stammer. After his brother, Edward VIII abdicated the throne, it was unfairly pushed upon his younger brother. Edward was a popular monarch, and George acceded at a particularly difficult time for the monarchy. This film somehow isolates itself from the turbulent political climate of that time and makes it a beautiful journey of finding confidence.
Spanning from 1998 to now, we see their portrayal become more transparent, more imaginative and less and less about the costume design. With beautiful writing, direction, editing and everything else, the British Royal Family has inspired a collection of films that is truly gorgeous. Arguably, one of the most prominent players in their portrayal is Peter Morgan, who created some of the most unforgettable versions of their story, without it ever feeling repetitive or type cast.
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