A Look into the Normalcy of Royalty

Peter Morgan’s historical drama, The Crown, follows the lives of the British royal family, specifically focusing on Queen Elizabeth II. The show allows curious viewers to explore a world that the vast majority of audience members has never been exposed to. However, more importantly, it also reveals the normalcy of the royal family and the trials and tribulations they undergo, humanizes legendary figures who play on a world stage, and demonstrates that to be great does not require great circumstances of birth, but rather great character.


The events in The Crown and their worldly scale keep viewers precariously on the edge of their seats: the threat of war; the rise and fall of a nation; the writing of history itself. Simultaneously, the show deals with issues and decisions that are very relatable to the normal members of the audience: trying to decide how best to raise one’s children; keeping the fire of a relationship going long after the honeymoon phase has ended; balancing professional duties with personal desires. Even the most normal person in the audience can relate to these struggles and can relish in the commonalities between themselves and members of the royal family.


While showing the normalcy of the royal family, The Crown also allows viewers to see that despite their portrayal in the media as being virtuous and well-principled people, members of the royal family face many of the same moral dilemmas as common people: extramarital affairs and their aftermath; situations that, even just on a personal level, can have consequences for the actor; forgiveness, or the lack thereof. These are facets of life no one, royal or not, may be exempt from. The show is a friendly reminder that no one is perfect.


While the show does highlight some of its main characters’ imperfections, it does display the great courage of these characters. Life in the spotlight is hard. It is harder still, however, when the whole world is affected by the decisions that are made in that spotlight. The decisions made by Elizabeth II, the queen, and her family, impact large groups of people and have great sway on the morale of society and the world as it is known. To succeed in such an atmosphere requires tremendous amounts of courage and perseverance, especially in a society where politics are dominated by men. For Queen Elizabeth II to not only thrive but to survive in that environment draws on her vast reserves of determination, inner resolve, and confidence. Besides making decisions that affect the general populace of the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (among others), the Queen has to be steadfast in her decisions and show no signs of weakness.

In conclusion, The Crown, created by Peter Morgan, shows the normalcy, humanity, and great courage of its characters, allowing the audience to see that the difference between them and the characters they may look up to is not so great: courage and resolve in the face of overwhelming odds and circumstances makes all the difference.