Bridgerton has taken the world by storm, with the period drama continually topping Netflix's list of highest watched shows. Ratings aside though, the series marks yet another attempt to explore Britain's Royal Family and their long history.
Plenty of movies and TV shows over the years have taken it upon themselves to dive deeper into the British Royal Family. Whether they fictionalize events, or try to create a genuinely authentic viewing experience, it's hard to deny that audiences are still fascinated by one of the longest-running monarchies in the world and their lives, scandals, and secrets.
Bridgerton (2020-)
Certainly fitting the fictionalized area of the genre, Bridgerton might be a highly celebrated period piece but it does play it fast and loose with historical fact. Nonetheless, the show manages to capture the essence of multiple positions throughout the Royal Family's hierarchy.
While the key focus of the series is the love story between the Duke and Duchess of Hastings, it's important to note the historical position of the show. Taking place during the reign of George III, the monarch did indeed suffer from mental illness and there are a lot of historians who subscribe to the theory that Queen Charlotte was of Black ancestry.
The Favourite (2018)
An important entry into the increasingly diverse archive of LGBTQ+ cinema, The Favourite also plays around with the facts when exploring the relationship between Olivia Coleman's Queen Anne and Emma Stone's Abigail, one of her favorite members of the court.
In real life, it's a little more complex to work out what the connection between the two really was. While they were said to be inseparable, many historians doubt that a sexual relationship took place between the pair. On the other hand, early letters between the two suggest some kind of emotional relationship; the movie balances the truth and fiction in a fantastically nuanced manner.
Victoria (2016-)
While Jenna Coleman's breakout performance arguably came in Doctor Who, it's fair to say that she secured her position as a leading lady in Victoria. The critically acclaimed show portrayed the life of a younger Victoria and her career as she grew into the role of Queen.
Prince Albert played a huge part in the Queen's success and it's only fitting that he gets a starring role alongside one of Britain's most influential monarchs. Victoria dramatizes fact in a way that manages to accurately depict many of Queen Victoria's most troubling and momentous moments.
The King's Speech (2010)
Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture and defined as one of the best movies of 2010, The King's Speech is one of Colin Firth's most well known roles thanks to his compelling performance of George VI. King during WWII, one of George's defining factors was his speech impediment.
The movie tries to portray the struggles that King George VI had with his stutter and the lengths he went to in order to combat this; especially for making speeches during such an important period of time. The Crown also depicts the later life of George.
The Crown (2016-)
As one of the streaming service's most successful period dramas, many fans are looking forward to season 5 of Netflix's The Crown. Each season has tried to explore, in as much fact and fictionalized detail as possible, major events in Britain's more recent history.
With a different cast taking on these monumental roles each season, The Crown blazes through Queen Elizabeth's reign as the longest serving monarch in the world and in Britain's history. From her initial coronation to the death of Princess Diana, no stone is left unturned in the significant legacy of Elizabeth II.
Mary Queen Of Scots (2018)
Mary Queen Of Scots is one of the most controversial entries in Margot Robbie's filmography thus far in her career. The film looks at the rivalry between Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, and Queen Elizabeth I of England.
In real life, the two cousins fought for power, with the film following in part, the 2004 biography by John Guy, Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. The film makes one false jump though by having the rivals meet. Mary and Elizabeth famously never came face to face with one another.
The Tudors (2007-2010)
Featuring some of Britain's biggest actors before they shot into superstardom, with the likes of Natalie Dormer and Henry Cavill, The Tudors was a well-received drama based on the most famous timeline in the history of Britain's Royal Family.
The Reign of King Henry VIII has perhaps been written about more than most others, thanks to the impact it had on society and the storied legacy of the King's many wives. The show is as accurate as it can be when depicting this 16th century court and the scandals that took place around the crown; although it did make some changes for the sake of story.
The Queen (2006)
Award-winning actress Helen Mirren took on the task of portraying Queen Elizabeth in The Queen, which was interestingly enough produced by Andy Harries who is also now executive producer on The Crown. The film picked up a number of accolades during award season and was given specific praise when it came to Michael Sheen's portrayal of Tony Blair.
The film was pretty accurate thanks to the fact it depicted events that had happened in recent history for audiences, but was one of the few times that Elizabeth II was portrayed on screen slightly later in her life.
Reign (2013-2016)
Heavily fictionalized and dramatized, there's little of true accuracy within CW's Reign. That isn't to say that it didn't produce some fantastic episodes though. The show went all out in creating its own unique version of history.
This too featured Mary Queen of Scots as the key character, with other famous figures from European history such as Catherine de' Medici, the Queen of France, and of course Elizabeth I of England, impacting and circling Mary's reign. The show even moved into the realms of fantasy with the inclusion of magic and witches.
The Windsors (2016-)
The Windsors is a highly satirical take on the Royal Family, as well-known British comedians take on these iconic roles and create hilarious caricatures which are sure to stand the test of time.
Although receiving mixed reviews from critics, no one can deny that the sitcom pushes the boundaries when it comes to jokes about the monarchy and manages to stay topical with its representation of the Royals; including recent dramas with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.