The Crown: Looking back at the show's success

Part one of The Crown’s series finale has landed on Netflix and is so far receiving very mixed reviews.

The first part tackled the events surrounding Princess Diana’s death in 1997, including harrowing scenes of Prince William and Prince Harry finding out the news.

The show’s first season starts in 1947 and covers the marriage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the sudden death of King George VI, and her succession to the throne. Now in its sixth season, The Crown is one of Netflix’s most successful series.

But as it all draws to a close, how has the series remained so popular over the past seven years?

The Crown is renowned for its casting: managing to find actors each season with a striking resemblance to the royal family through the decades.

Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton are the lucky few who have played the Queen to the millions. Staunton is the only one to play the Queen since she died in 2022.

Foy and Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip, are still firm fan favourites online as the best pairing and depiction of the royal couple.

The first few seasons tackle the Queen adjusting to her role whilst dealing with family, her marriage to Prince Philip, and the ever-changing political landscape of the country.

Seasons featuring the people’s princess have raked in eye-watering numbers, with Emma Corrin as Diana in season four and Elizabeth Debicki in seasons five and six.

The Crown’s version of Charles and Diana’s wedding in season four drew in an immense 29 million viewers, just a few thousand more than the 28.4 million British viewers who tuned in to the real wedding on BBC and ITV.

The launch day of season five saw 1.1 million people tune in, which opened with Charles and Diana’s highly anticipated and explosive ‘second honeymoon’.

Season four is the show’s most successful, winning all seven drama categories at the 2021 Primetime Emmy Awards and being the first show to do so.

As well as the royal marriage, the season featured an incredible performance from Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher. She not only portrayed matters of the crown but also secrets of 10 Downing Street.

The tense scenes between the two female leaders of the country, paired with the rising tensions between the Prince and Princess of Wales, made the fourth season so gripping.

Part two of the finale will air on December 14th, ending in the early 2000s.

Edited by Nicole Collins