This series continues in the 1960's. This season is about change and how the government begins reflecting the wants and needs of people who see no need for a rich, decadent figurehead and her family. Even the people on the inside of the family--Prince Charles, Princess Margaret, and sometimes the Queen herself--don't understand the purpose of their lives while at the same time feel trapped by it.
I haven't seen the entire series yet, but Episode 3 recounts the horrific details of the disaster at Aberfan in Wales. It's a coal mine town. A period of heavy rain led to a build-up of water within the tip which caused it to suddenly slide downhill as a slurry, killing 116 children and 28 adults as it engulfed the local junior high school and other buildings.
Episode 6 was another one I enjoyed. It shows Prince Charles continuing through school. He was very happy at university in Cambridge but as the future Prince of Wales, his mother the Queen, felt he needed to change to the University of Wales. Every future king begins as a Prince of Wales, but this time around, the palace wants to send their heir to Wales itself in order to learn enough of the language so he can give the official investiture speech in Welsh. A nice gesture, except Wales doesn’t exactly want him!
The late 1960s were an especially divided time for the U.K., with Wales feeling more than a little shafted by the British government. In 1925, Plaid Cymru — The Party of Wales — was formed to advocate for independence from the U.K. By 1966, they officially had a seat in Parliament, and by 1969, things were ramping up. Which is why Dr. Tedi Millward, the vice president of the party, was not pleased to be tasked with teaching Welsh to the future king himself. For Millward, Charles represents everything that’s wrong with the status quo, and the two get off to a contentious start.
Charles isn’t thrilled either. Having been pulled out of Cambridge, where he’s been having a fun time playing Shakespeare, he has been dropped into the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Without fanfare, staying in a regular dorm room and working among regular students. This may not sound that bad, but remember, this is the son of a man who complained about having to sell a yacht.
I enjoyed watching the investiture on Canadian TV. It took place on July 1, 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in Wales. I didn't realize he changed the speech, at the displeasure of his mother. His changes came from his heart and he really tried to understand the people of Wales.
I also noticed a Charles had a good relationship with Princess Anne. They seem to get along very well and she understands what he is going through. Queen Elizabeth comes across as cold towards her children. You don't see Andrew or Edward until episode 7. I thought Princess Alice played by Jane Lapotaire did an excellent job.
Season 3 ends in 1977 and Season 4 is now being filmed. They will introduce Princess Diana in Season 4, played by Emma Corrin. Gillian Anderson will play Margaret Thatcher. I look forward to seeing it when it's released near the end of next year.
The palace doesn't usually comment on stories about them, but this was released:
In September, the Queen’s communication secretary, Donal McCabe, sent a stern statement to The Guardian on the household's view of the dramatized events of the show, indicating that the royal family has had no contact with the show about topics, nor would the family ever comment on the series’ accuracy. But this felt like a small, tacit acknowledgment that perhaps they have seen what happens in the latest season of the show. Or, at the very least, it feels awfully coincidental.
From O Magazine:
While many members of the royal family have expressed interest and even praised The Crown, the Queen has still never offered any opinions directly about the series. Instead, a source states that she was convinced to watch the show’s first season by Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
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