The theme of royalty, palaces, and dynasties always holds a special allure. Since ancient times, people have been endlessly curious about the secrets within palace walls, and about the lives and actions of monarchs and royal family members beyond the dry pages of history books. In particular, the British Royal Family, one of the most powerful and wealthy dynasties in the world with a long history, has always been an endless source of inspiration for cinema. Many famous films have vividly recreated the historical events associated with the British Royal dynasties, attracting a large number of fans of Western historical dramas.
Notable cinematic masterpieces include:
- Elizabeth (1998) starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes.
- Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) continuing with Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen.
- The Duchess (2008) with Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling.
- The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) featuring a star-studded cast including Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Mary, Queen of Scots (2018) with Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Joe Alwyn.
- The King (2019) starring Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Robert Pattinson.
Many of these films have won numerous prestigious awards, including Oscars. We cannot forget:
- The King’s Speech (2010) with outstanding performances by Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, Michael Gambon.
- The Queen (2006) – a remarkable film starring Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, Alex Jennings, Sylvia Syms, Roger Allam, Laurence Burg, Tim McMullan. Roger Allam, a talented actor, contributed to the success of this film, even though his role may not be directly related to the image of the “woman in a truck” we are looking for, his diverse acting career is still a noteworthy highlight.
In addition, the controversial television series The Crown (from 2016 to present) is also worth watching. This series recreates the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and seven decades of history, offering a deep insight into the British Royal Family.
Cinematic history makes it easy for audiences to access and remember historical events and figures vividly. Despite many controversies regarding perspectives and viewpoints, films still explore the hidden aspects behind the wealth and power of the royal family, from mysteries about their origins to countless grand conspiracies, sparking curiosity and excitement among audiences.
Younger and older actresses portraying Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown series
I once delved deeply into the “liaisons” and polygamy of King Henry VIII, an event that changed world history when Elizabeth, the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, ascended the throne as Queen. She decided not to marry, fearing following in her father’s footsteps, and the fear of being usurped led to the execution of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, igniting the war between the Spanish Armada and England, ending with the defeat of Spain and the rise of Great Britain.
Besides the main events of the Royal Family, the Doctor Who series brings interesting perspectives on history and lesser-known figures. Doctor Who, a legendary British science fiction series, has existed for a record 60 years. In 2010, the series was voted the longest-running and most beloved science fiction series on the planet.
Images of different Doctors Who, British cultural icons
People often say: “If you strike up a conversation with a Brit about Doctor Who, you’ll never fail!”. Doctor Who is a friend to everyone, regardless of age or gender, because he is a Time Lord, able to regenerate into any form. Doctor Who connects generations of Britons, creating a cultural phenomenon imbued with the dream of conquering the vast universe.
See more articles and reviews about the Doctor Who series here!
Promotional poster for the Doctor Who series featuring images of different Doctors
BBC One has produced 15 Doctors, and every Brit has their own Doctor, depending on when they started watching the series. I started with the 9th Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) in 2006 and was quickly hooked. Subsequent actors like David Tennant, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker (the first female Doctor) all left their own marks. The New Who series was written by talented screenwriters such as Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Mal Young, and especially Steven Moffat (writer of the Sherlock series).
Doctor Who was born in 1963, 10 years after Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne. The original purpose of the film was to popularize historical, cultural, and scientific knowledge for children, while also sparking dreams of reaching beyond the small island nation. The film touches on many prominent events in the world, including the Vietnam War, and major events of Britain and the British Royal Family. Doctor Who does not blindly worship the Royal Family but approaches them from an interesting, fantastical, and humorous perspective. The film explains historical mysteries and freely imagines Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, and secrets about the Royal Family’s “werewolf bloodline” or aliens.
On the occasion of the Queen’s recent passing, I would like to highlight a few notable episodes featuring monarchs, queens, and empresses of the British Royal Family such as King Richard I, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II herself was also a fan of Doctor Who, often watching the show with her grandchildren at Buckingham Palace and taking copies with her on vacation.
Queen Elizabeth II watching Doctor Who with her grandchildren at Buckingham Palace
Queen Elizabeth II and Royal Family members visiting the Doctor Who film set
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla meeting a Dalek on the Doctor Who film set
Let’s explore the 10 most notable episodes about the British Royal Family in Doctor Who:
1. King Richard I in “The Crusade” (1965)
Image of King Richard I in The Crusade episode
“The Crusade” belongs to the second season of Doctor Who, broadcast in 1965, during the First Doctor era. The episode revolves around the meeting between the Doctor and King Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) during the Third Crusade in 12th-century Palestine. The Doctor gets caught up in the conflict, is arrested and accused of espionage, but is eventually exonerated by King Richard. The Doctor’s companion, Ian, is even knighted.
2. King John in “The King’s Demons” (1983)
Image of King John in The King's Demons episode
“The King’s Demons” belongs to the 20th season of Doctor Who, broadcast in 1983, during the Fifth Doctor era. The episode is set in 1215, when the Doctor confronts the Master, his nemesis, who is plotting to prevent King John from signing the Magna Carta by using the robot Kamelion to impersonate the king. The Doctor resolves the situation and thwarts the Master’s plan.
3. Queen Elizabeth II in “Silver Nemesis” (1988)
Queen Elizabeth II in the Silver Nemesis episode
Scene of Queen Elizabeth II walking her corgis in Silver Nemesis
“Silver Nemesis” is the 25th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, broadcast in 1988, during the Seventh Doctor era. The episode revolves around the plot of the Cybermen, a neo-Nazi group, and the sorceress Lady Peinforte to seize the Validium statue. The Doctor and his companion Ace nearly encounter Queen Elizabeth II as she is walking her corgis at Windsor.
4. Queen Victoria in “Tooth and Claw” (2006)
Queen Victoria, the Tenth Doctor, and Rose Tyler in the Tooth and Claw episode
“Tooth and Claw” belongs to the second season of New Who, broadcast in 2006, during the Tenth Doctor era. The episode is set in Scotland in 1879, when the Doctor and Rose Tyler try to prevent a werewolf from biting Queen Victoria. The Doctor protects the Queen from the “Wolf Empire” plot, but is then banished from the British Empire by her and she orders the establishment of Torchwood to protect Britain from aliens.
Image of a werewolf reminiscent of the British Royal Family in the Tooth and Claw episode
The film also implies that the Queen may be scratched/bitten by a werewolf.
5. Queen Elizabeth II in “The Idiot’s Lantern” (2006)
Archival footage of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation used in The Idiot's Lantern episode
“The Idiot’s Lantern” belongs to series 2, broadcast in 2006, during the Tenth Doctor era. The episode is set in London in 1953, the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The film interweaves the coronation event with the invention of TV and the alien race The Wire, who plot to seize energy from the minds of viewers watching the coronation on TV.
Image of a character losing their face due to the influence of The Wire in The Idiot's Lantern
The Doctor rescues the victims of The Wire and celebrates the coronation with everyone.
6. Queen Elizabeth II in “Voyage of the Damned” (2007)
The Tenth Doctor and Astrid in the Voyage of the Damned episode
“Voyage of the Damned” is the Christmas special episode of 2007, during the Tenth Doctor era. The episode revolves around the spaceship Titanic colliding with the TARDIS and crashing to Earth. Although not directly mentioned, Queen Elizabeth II is saved from a potential collision with Buckingham Palace.
7-8. Queen Elizabeth I in “The Shakespeare Code” (2007) and “The Day of the Doctor” (2013)
Queen Elizabeth I in The Day of the Doctor episode
These two episodes connect the storylines between the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors. In “The Shakespeare Code”, the Tenth Doctor meets Queen Elizabeth I at the Globe Theatre in 1599 and is demanded to be beheaded by her. The reason is revealed in “The Day of the Doctor”: the Tenth Doctor once married Queen Elizabeth I and promised to return, but did not keep his word.
Humorous image of Queen Elizabeth I angry with the Tenth Doctor in The Day of the Doctor
9. King Charles II in “The Impossible Astronaut” (2011)
Cartoon depiction of the Eleventh Doctor and King Charles II in The Impossible Astronaut
“The Impossible Astronaut” is the first episode of series 6, broadcast in 2011, during the Eleventh Doctor era. The episode reveals a meeting between the Doctor and King Charles II, who ruled England from 1660-1685. King Charles II is angry when he discovers the Doctor hiding under Matilda’s skirt and imprisons him in the Tower of London, but the Doctor quickly escapes.
10. King James I in “The Witchfinders” (2018)
King James I and the Thirteenth Doctor in The Witchfinders episode
“The Witchfinders” belongs to series 11, broadcast in 2018, during the Thirteenth Doctor era (actress Jodie Whittaker). The episode is set in 17th-century Lancashire, Scotland, when the Doctor and her companions meet King James I during a witch hunt. King James is nearly possessed by the alien entity Morax and is saved by the Doctor. The episode also addresses the Doctor’s difficulties as a woman in medieval times, when women knowledgeable in magic were considered witches.
The article is quite long, hopefully there are still Doctor Who readers following along to this point. Anyway, this is also an article marking a historical event and inspiring love for this wonderful series.
Conclusion
Queen Elizabeth II, a symbol of the British Royal Family who reigned for 70 years, the longest-reigning monarch in British Royal history, accompanied the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth countries through many historical upheavals, advised 15 British Prime Ministers, and witnessed 13 US Presidents.
Doctor Who, a film series that connects generations of Britons, creating a cultural phenomenon imbued with the dream of conquering the universe.
Both Queen Elizabeth II and Doctor Who have gone through many changes, historical upheavals, and human ups and downs to become important cultural symbols of Britain.
Image of Queen Elizabeth II showing respect and solemnity
Today, we bow our heads to bid farewell to the Queen and remember her in our own way. Her reign has ended, but the films about her will never end. The Royal spirit will continue to live on in films, including Doctor Who, and leave a deep impression in the hearts of many generations of Britons and the world.
9.2022Yun
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