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The Crown

The Crown

The wildly popular Netflix Original series <em>The Crown</em> follows the young Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s through to modern times. The first two series starred Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth and Matt Smith as Prince Philip, while the third and fourth series spanned the years 1964–1990 with Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies at the helm. The fifth series, which lands on Netflix on 9 November, covers the royals in the 1990s. Here we explore the real history behind the show...

20th Century gallery**The Crown S4 news: Netflix releases first images of Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher**

The Crown S4 cast: which real historical figures feature in season four of Netflix’s royal drama – and what did they really look like?

Princess Diana's death: when grief gripped a nation. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The death of King George VI: what happened?

The 8 most famous royal weddings in British history. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sex, lies and spies: the real history of the Profumo Affair

Love before duty: the story of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

From The Crown to Queen Elizabeth’s corgis: 24 history questions about the royal family for your home pub quiz

Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret: why did their marriage break down?

The death of Sir Winston Churchill and the top-secret plans for his funeral

The Queen's "rebel sister": 13 facts about Princess Margaret

Retaining the royals: why has the British monarchy survived – and thrived?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The vilification of Wallis Simpson: how Edward VIII's mistress was savaged by society. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Lord Mountbatten: Did Prince Philip’s uncle attempt to lead a coup against Harold Wilson’s government?

The Mountbattens: success and scandal. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Princess Margaret: from glamorous royal to a slide into tragedy. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

“No match for reality”: the missing history in The Crown series three. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

‘Royal Family’: the fly-on-the-wall documentary the Palace doesn’t want you to see. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Charles, The Prince of Wales’s 1969 investiture at Caernarfon Castle, 50 years on

Why has the British monarchy survived?

Who was Sir Anthony Blunt and the Cambridge Five? Plus 4 others who spied for the Soviets

Prince Philip as consort: a life of duty and devotion. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Britain in the early 80s. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Britain decides: the first European referendum. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

“Cheap men and expensive bottles”: Princess Margaret’s love affairs

How the Falklands War fired up Britain. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

From ‘moon-germs’ to motion sickness: health and safety on NASA’s 1969 lunar landing mission. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The race to the moon. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Poldark, Peaky Blinders and 6 other historical TV shows that have tourists flocking to Britain

Back down to Earth: the legacy of the 1969 moon landing. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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