If you have been living under a rock for the past four years, you may not have realized that The Crown has become one of the most popular – and acclaimed – TV series’ on Netflix. Since premiering back on November 4, 2016, this biographical show has placed a worldwide spotlight on the history of the British royal family.
The show, which depicts the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, has already spanned four seasons. Beginning at Elizabeth’s marriage to Prince Philip in 1947, the series has explored various events, controversies, and characters that involve the royal family over the decades.
Yet, with so much focus being placed on them, how has The Crown impacted the public perception of the British royal family? This article has the answers!
A positive influence
It’s fair to say the royal family hasn’t had the most pristine reputation in British circles. Even today, controversies like Prince Andrew’s association with the notorious Jeffrey Epstein continue to rock the family’s core.
However, The Crown has had a positive influence on the British public and how they generally view the royal family. According to research by Betway – who compiled all of the following statistics – 35% of British people that watch The Crown see the royals in a “little better” or “much better” light than what they did previously.
As for individuals, 34% of British people also view Prince Charles with “more empathy” after viewing The Crown.
Popularity around the world
Outside the British bubble, The Crown has also been influential on a global scale. Aside from winning a host of awards and plaudits from critics, it has also sent fans into a Google-based frenzy.
In fact, “Queen Elizabeth II” becomes a worldwide search trend after the release of each season. Even though the Queen is one of the most famous recognizable and famous people on the planet, the search volume for her name goes up by a staggering 433% on average when a new season of The Crown drops.
You only have to look at the recent season to see how the show can influence society. Two weeks after season four came out in November 2020, searches for “Princess Diana” and “Prince Charles” shot up by 1566% and 1425%, respectively. It also goes beyond the royal family. Three days following the premiere of the fourth season, searches for Margaret Thatcher – who was British prime minister during the season’s timeline and a main focus of the show – went up by 1540%.
A family matter
When it comes to questions that revolve around The Crown, one of the most common is: How does the British royal family feel about the series?
While answers are generally from a second-hand source, it is said the Queen “really liked” the show. Yet that opinion may have since changed, and she was apparently upset at the overly dramatized depictions of certain events. Prince William and Prince Harry, however, have not watched the show – and the latter reportedly wants to stop the series before it touches upon his own story.
One royal that has confirmed watching The Crown is Princess Eugenie. Eugenie, the Queen’s granddaughter, has praised the show for its beautiful story and how it is filmed.