Released on Thursday, the last episode of “The Crown” showcased an unexpected reunion between the three actresses who took on the roles of Queen Elizabeth II at various points in time.
Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton reunited for a moving scene beneath the arches of St. George’s Chapel, the actual Queen’s resting place.
The Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, has been a devoted fan of the Netflix series and has expressed his thoughts about Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton’s performances, especially in the four seasons of “The Crown” that focused on his time spent working closely with Queen Elizabeth.
Dickie Arbiter expresses views on Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton’s performances
Arbiter claimed that he was unable to identify Colman’s portrayal of the “drawn” Queen and blasted Staunton’s dark portrayal, believing it to be a disservice to the real Queen.
He said that during his time working with Queen Elizabeth, he didn’t recall her being constantly gloomy and uninteresting, with the exception of depressing circumstances like pet losses or family deaths.
Arbiter recognized Staunton’s accuracy in portraying the Queen in a particular scene—her speech to the nation following Princess Diana’s passing—a moment he helped to arrange in real life.
The Crown’s Final Episode Teases Prince William & Harry’s Strained Relationship
Even though Peter Morgan wrapped up The Crown well in advance of Prince William and Harry’s actual conflict, he deftly foreshadows the beginnings of the brothers’ animosity in the last episode.
The final episode, which is available to stream on Netflix, suggests that there may be tensions in the relationship between Prince William (Ed McVey) and Prince Harry (Luther Ford) as they deal with growing up and their royal duties.
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s (Imelda Staunton) disclosure that their father, Prince Charles (Dominic West), intends to wed Camilla Parker Bowles (Olivia Williams), the portrayal takes a chilly turn.
Recognizing the importance of the proposal for his father’s happiness and future throne ascent, Prince William reluctantly agrees to it. Prince Harry, on the other hand, shows less excitement and says nothing while his brother gives the Queen their blessing.
Harry says, “I can’t believe you caved like that.” William says, “I’m just being a realist; I didn’t cave.” Harry observes the Queen giving Prince Charles permission to get married and remarks, “What a f***ing company man.”
The comment might be interpreted as a reference to Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife, referring to the royal family in critical interviews as “The Firm.” On the eve of their father’s wedding, the show also imagines a heated argument between William and Harry over dinner.
In reference to an earlier event at a costume party involving a Nazi uniform, Harry accuses his brother of “stabbing me in the back” and asks the jury, “Ladies and gentlemen, how many faces does this man have?”
Omid Scobie and other supporters of Prince Harry have recently made allegations that Prince William briefed the media against his younger brother.
The Queen counsels William regarding his brother and suggests that Harry will eventually be alone in her portrayal of the Crown, saying, “Be kind to him.” Being number two is more difficult than being number one in many aspects. First, it is protected by the system. Number two frequently requires more consideration and care.
What is the The Crown series about?
A television historical drama series called The Crown tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. It was produced for Netflix by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Television and was primarily written and created by Peter Morgan.
The series was adapted by Morgan from his Elizabeth-focused stage play “The Audience” (2013) and film “The Queen” (2006).
The six seasons of the show span nearly six decades, starting before Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten’s 1947 nuptials and ending with Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ 2005 wedding.
Every two seasons, the main cast members switch roles; Claire Foy played Elizabeth in seasons one and two, Olivia Colman in seasons three and four, and Imelda Staunton in seasons five and six.
Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, served as the primary filming location, with additional locations shot both domestically and abroad. Nov. 4, 2016, was the release date of the first season on Netflix; the sixth season was released in two parts, on Nov. 16, 2023, and Dec. 14, 2023.
