The world loves a biopic and Queen Elizabeth II had an abundance of films, TV shows and documentaries dedicated to her. The English Queen, who passed away at 96, led an eventful life and when you add the mystic of Prince Phillip to it, you have a blockbuster. The stories of her reign have fascinated viewers from all around the globe, so let’s take a look at some of the best films and series that attempted to portray the life and works of the most decorated Royal.
1. The Crown
The most popular series made on Queen Elizabeth II has to be The Crown. This popular historical drama chronicles the life of Elizabeth Windsor with Claire Foy and Olivia Colman delivering smashing performances while essaying the different phases of her life. Also, you can’t forget Matt Smith’s portrayal of Prince Phillip which later was carried on by the brilliant Tobias Menzies. The four seasons of this Netflix series encompasses the Queen’s marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh, the Suez Crisis in 1956 and of course, Prince Charles’ marriage to Lady Diana Spencer. With season 5 slated to release in November, we can’t wait to binge on this riveting drama.
Where to watch: Netflix
2. The Queen
The Helen Mirren starrer 2006 film shows how in the wake of Princess Diana's tragic death, Queen Elizabeth II and her family remained phlegmatic behind the castle walls and refrained from making any statement. Mirren won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Elizabeth II, and Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, was so well received as the then UK Prime Minister that people want him to play the role of Tony Blair on The Crown's Season 5.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
3. Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen (2022)
Even though Queen Elizabeth II spent her whole life in the public eye, there are still fragments of her life that didn’t make it to the public glare. This hour-long documentary surfaces never-seen-before videos of her with her family and also glimpses of her coronation that was released 70 years later on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year. Not just that, the documentary also includes body language experts, through which they have tried to explore her true personality.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
4. The Majestic Life of Queen Elizabeth II
Directed by Alan Byron, this documentary comes with some rare archive footage. From the death of her father King George VI to the marriage of William and Kate, this documentary takes you through the true story of how the young Princess Elizabeth became a great Queen reigning 60 years. It was released a decade ago in 2012, during her 60th year of reign, the Diamond Jubilee.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
5. Our Platinum Queen: 70 Years On The Throne
Directed by Amber Rondel, the documentary stars Queen Elizabeth II, Prince (now King) Charles and Prince Philip. It shows the Queen’s devotion to her people since 1952 and reflects on the extraordinary changes the world has seen during her reign. Through her journey of triumph, loss, scandal, and celebration, it shows how a young Princess became Queen to the people of the world.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video