The Crown

    Just as I did when I wrote about the first two seasons of The Crown, I start this post with a declaration.  As the characters in this show are based on real, living people; I want it clear all comments I make are about the characters, not the people themselves.

    Some time has passed since the end of season two.  The characters are changing, which means the cast must change along with it.  Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman) is facing new times as her children get older and society changes around her.  What doesn’t change is the family she has been battling from the start.

Heavy is the Head.../Artwork by Kate Dorsey

    Prince Philip (Tobias Menzies) is as cantankerous as ever.  He always has something to complain about, to the point he hardly lets Elizabeth get a word in.  Why Elizabeth doesn’t crack and tell him to shut up, I have no idea.  Philip always thinks he is right, and does not have a hard time saying so. 

    It is only when Philip meets the Apollo 11 astronauts that his certainty in his rightness is shaken.  He has admired these three men greatly, and believes they will have profound things to say because of their moon landing accomplishment.  What Philip finds are three regular men who happened to do something history making.  It is a revelation that shakes him so badly, Philip must turn to the local clergy, the Dean of Windsor Robin Woods (Tim McMullan), to find his feet again.

    Princess Margaret (Helena Bonham Carter) is also a point of concern for Elizabeth.  Margaret wants more responsibilities as a princess, but her behavior is unpredictable.  Even though she is able to help with one diplomatic matter (and for a moment understands the tenuous position her sister is often in), Elizabeth is wary to rely on her more.  Philip certainly is, and convinces Elizabeth to leave things as they are. 

    Once this decision is made, Margaret’s life goes further down a dark path.  Her husband, Tony Armstrong-Jones (Ben Daniels), is unfaithful.  As a result, Margaret takes a lover of her own, Roddy Llewellyn (Harry Treadaway).  This affair gets into the papers, and after both her relationships deteriorate, Margaret tries to take her own life.

    While Elizabeth and Margaret’s mother, The Queen Mother (Marion Bailey), is unsympathetic to Margaret’s suicide attempt, Elizabeth is devasted.  She cannot bear the thought of no longer having her sister around.

    If Elizabeth didn’t already have Philip and Margaret to drive her crazy, she would get there from Philip’s uncle, Louis Mountbatten (Charles Dance), and her mother alone. 

    After being released from his long-held career in the military, Mountbatten decides to take up the cause of overthrowing the government.  He believes he can convince Elizabeth this is the thing to do because of political circumstances, but is surprised to find Elizabeth much more aware of the consequences of this act than he ever expected.

    Mountbatten is not done trying to exert his will, however.  He, along with The Queen Mother, also separate a young Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) from the woman he loves, Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennell).  Mountbatten then expounds on the wonderful attributes of Tony right after Margaret announces Tony has been unfaithful.  He, The Queen Mother, and Philip all participate in this with zero regard for how hurt Margaret is.

    Prince Charles is the next person of concern, although he is not really creating his own problems like the others.  Instead, the problems are being put on him. 

    As so many people do when they are in college, Charles is trying to figure out who he is.  Just when he thinks he has found his place and footing in the world; he gets yanked away by expectations and duties placed upon him by the Crown.  Charles keeps confronting his mother about what is being done to his life, but it is unknown to him the people around Elizabeth are the ones actually pulling the strings.  When Charles wanted to stay at his English university and star in a play, it was others who convinced Elizabeth Charles should study in Wales to further good relations between the two nations.  Philip helped this decision along by scoffing at Charles’ acting desires.

    Separating Charles from Camilla was pretty much all Mountbatten and The Queen Mother’s doing.  In fact, Elizabeth wanted the relationship to run its course.  But they, and some skewed information from Princess Anne (Erin Doherty), convince Elizabeth the two should be separated.  Mountbatten and The Queen Mother have Camilla married off, and Charles is sent to the Caribbean for service, causing Charles great heartache.

    Anne is probably the person Elizabeth has the least concern for.  In many ways she also does not pay her second child much attention.  In fact, Anne is pretty much ignored as a whole, simply because she is not the heir.  A fact she points out to Charles.

    This lack of attention is how Anne is able to do so many things unnoticed.  One of the biggest being sleeping with Camilla’s boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles (Andrew Buchan).  With Anne and Andrew sleeping together while Charles and Camilla are together, but having Andrew and Camilla still in a relationship, a very interesting love line is created.  One that does not end well.

    Aside from her family, Elizabeth must also deal with the politics of her country.  There are different Prime Ministers to get to know.  No-win situations to face.  And a traitor in her midst.  It is a wonder Elizabeth is able to put up with all this without completely losing her mind.

    Or maybe we haven’t gotten to that part, yet.  I haven’t seen season four.