May 26, 2022
As the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee anniversary approaches, we wanted to provide a list of top royal-themed movies and TV shows to get you in the mood for all the majestic shenanigans. Whether you’re streaming from Netflix, Disney Plus or Prime, we have the bandwidth to give you that seamless, buffer-free watch from whichever room you’re watching it in. Let us know on social what your favourite royal movies and TV shows are, and if there's any we’ve missed at #YFJubilee.
1. The Princess Diaries
The Princess Diaries is an absolute classic and there's no way we could get through the top royal-themed movies without including it. The Princess Diaries follows a high school student who finds herself in the position that every young girl fantasises about – becoming a princess. This comedic feel-good movie features our favourites, Julie Andrews and a 17-year-old Anne Hathaway.
The Princess Diaries (2001) Trailer | Anne Hathaway | Mandy Moore | Disney - YouTube
2. The King’s Speech
The King’s Speech is a top-rated royal-themed movie based on the true story of George VI and his rapid ascension to the throne after George V’s death and his brothers’ shocking abdication. Finding himself King, George, played by our beloved Colin Firth, attempts to master his lifelong speech impediment by visiting an Australian speech therapist with unconventional methods.
The King's Speech (2010) Official Trailer #1 - Geoffrey Rush Movie HD - YouTube
3. Elizabeth
The 1998 Oscar winning movie featuring Cate Blanchett follows the reign of Elizabeth I and the upheavals she faces since her ascension to the throne. From inheriting a debt-infused country, constant marriage pressures and an onset of treasonous plots, Elizabeth’s reign is not short of drama.
Elizabeth (1998) Trailer - YouTube
4. The Other Boleyn Girl
Another Tudor drama, but this time focusing on the less heard of tale between the two Boleyn sisters and King Henry VIII. We often only hear about the romance that ensued between the King and Anne Boleyn, but this movie featuring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, shows a sisterly rivalry for the Kings affection.
The Other Boleyn Girl Official Trailer #1 - Eddie Redmayne Movie (2008) HD - YouTube
5. The Last King of Scotland
Set in Uganda in the 1970s, The Last King of Scotland follows a Scottish doctor (played by James McAvoy) who travels to the country and finds himself wrapped up in the affairs of the violent dictator, Idi Amin, becoming his personal physician and close confidant until his faith in the leader starts to show cracks.
🎥 THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006) | Movie Trailer | Full HD | 1080p - YouTube
TOP 5 ROYAL-THEMED TV SHOWS
1. The Crown
Taking the top spot for the best royal-themed TV show, hands down, must go to The Crown. If there’s any time to start this wonderfully entertaining and insightful drama on the Royal Family, now is the time. Despite being a ‘blend’ of fact and fiction, the show depicts a lot of the ongoings within the British Monarchy from relations with Margret Thatcher to the introduction of Princess Diana.
The Crown | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube
2. The Tudors
Following one of England’s most notorious Kings, Henry VIII, The Tudors depicts the ruthless acts that the King resorts to in order to get what he wants – a male heir. The first season follows Henry’s political and internal turmoil: tensions with France and his dissatisfaction with his wife, Catherine of Aragon and her inability to get pregnant.
The Tudors: Season 1 Trailer! - YouTube
3. The Windsors
This hilarious parody of the Royal Family is a must-see in the lead up to the Jubilee weekend. Each season follows the events that have ensued each member in British newspapers and gossip columns such as the apparent feud between Will and Harry to character depictions such as Camila the villain and Harry the dim-witted brother.
TRAILER | The Windsors | Tuesday 10pm - YouTube
4. Blackadder
Blackadder is the ultimate throwback for royal-themed TV shows, and if you haven't already seen this 1980s comedic sitcom featuring Rowan Atkinson (AKA Mr Bean), you really need to! Each of the four seasons is set in a different time period: the British Middle Ages, the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the regency ear and the first World War.
The Blackadder is Born - Blackadder - BBC - YouTube
5. The White Queen
This BBC miniseries outlines the events of the War of the Roses between the House of York and the House of Lancaster in 1464. Featuring the dazzling Max Irons as Edward I and the flawless Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville, as the two counterparts marry, the consequences of their arrangement begin to take a treasonous shape.
