The British monarchy has a rich and fascinating history. Spliced with tension, drama, and love affairs, it makes for ideal television. Throughout the centuries kings and queens have ruled Britain with an iron fist. Many of these royal characters have become larger than life thanks to their personalities and methods of ruling. There’s King Henry VIII who went through six wives during his rule. You also have Mary, Queen of Scots who was involved in murder plots and love triangles. Then there’s the current Queen Elizabeth II who has incredibly been in power for 70 years. Many of these historical characters and their lives have been adapted to the small screen. TV shows about monarchy and royalty continue to captivate audiences around the world.

So whether you want to learn more about Queen Elizabeth I or Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII’s chief minister, here are the best TV shows about monarchy to binge watch. 

1. The Crown

This amazing series from Netflix focuses on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Created and written by Peter Morgan (The Queen, Frost/Nixon), The Crown covers the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II, from her wedding in 1947 to the current day. So far there have been four seasons of the series released. A further two more are set to air in the coming years. The Crown has won many awards and has been critically praised for its writing, acting, and directing. 

One of the interesting things about the show is how the characters are played by different actors as they age. The first two seasons star Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth and Matt Smith as Prince Philip. Seasons three and four feature Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip respectively. For the upcoming final seasons, Imelda Staunton and Jonathan Pryce will be filling the roles of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.