Exploring the strange and fascinating lives of rulers, royals, and royalty all around the world and throughout history.

We Will Never Be Royals

Best TV

Television has always been enchanted by the grandeur and drama of monarchies, making shows about kings and queens a popular genre. The list below focuses on the best TV shows about kings and queens, highlighting both historical and contemporary royal narratives. From the iconic British and French monarchies to the captivating rulers from other parts of the world, these monarchy TV series have a unique way of drawing viewers into their regal worlds.Among these, The Crown stands out as a prime example of a TV series about queens, offering an unprecedented look into the life of Queen Elizabeth II. It's a show that beautifully blends the personal and the political aspects of being a monarch. Meanwhile, The Tudors, another notable king and queen TV series, transports viewers back to the reign of Henry VIII, merging political intrigue with personal drama.This list, crafted by TV aficionados, invites you to join in with over 3K other voters in ranking the TV shows with kings and queens. Your votes help determine which series truly capture the essence of royal life. So, dive into this collection of series about royalty, cast your votes, and see where your favorites land.

Srch

affiliatized

affiliate_intent

watchworthy_treatment

Ranker Prime

Flagship Poll

temp_ab_tag

About Topic

Fascinating

Scalable Cleaned

Nebulous

SNet_Lists

primis_nerdstalgic

RETIRED - Revite

Revite Blather

Revite Fine Tuners

Revite Bulk Scrape

Finished Upkeep Timely

Do Not Delete - Cleaned

Do Not Delete - Quality Filters

SEO Node Blather

The Greatest TV Shows About Kings &amp; Queens

TV Program

The 40+ Best TV Shows About Kings & Queens, Ranked

Ranker TV

Diana, Princess of Wales

Her story may be well known, but these surprising facts about Princess Diana are a reminder that there is always something new and unexpected to learn about the People's Princess. Born in 1961, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/princess-diana-early-life-small-details/genevieve-carlton">Lady Diana Spencer</a> became Diana, Princess of Wales, when she married Prince Charles in 1981. Though the marriage had some bright spots - such as the births of their two sons Princes William and Harry - it quickly turned toxic. Torn apart by incompatibility and infidelity, the royal couple divorced in 1996.Tragically, the next year Diana experienced a horrific car crash in Paris. Her untimely passing provoked an outpouring of global grief that solidified her status as the much-loved, much-missed People's Princess&nbsp;who was more interested in connecting with everyday folks than playing the royal game.

FKA Pushable Teams

Tier 1

WH Team

Google News

Apple News

Genre

Nerd Audience

Trending on Ranker

primis_weirdhistory

Tag Wizard

Archive Ignore

Do Not Delete - Account

Revite - Discover

Surprising Princess Diana Facts Where She Broke The Rules For The Best Reasons

General

Facts About Princess Diana That Sound Made Up But Aren't

Lila Reid

Edward I of England

Edward I (actually the fourth, but who&#39;s counting?)&nbsp;is familiar to most as the antagonist in the 1995 film Braveheart. Played to malevolent perfection by veteran Irish actor Patrick McGoohan, Edward is typically remembered as a tyrannical but brutally effective ruler. A more restrained portrayal of an aging ruler by Stephen Dillane can be seen in 2018&#39;s&nbsp;Outlaw King,&nbsp;but there have been no major portrayals&nbsp;of Edward&#39;s rule as a whole or of him in his prime.

The real Edward I was&nbsp;one of the most influential monarchs to ever take the English throne. His lengthy reign shaped the course of not only English history, but also Scottish and Welsh history for years to come.&nbsp;

He lived an eventful life&nbsp;full of adventure, intrigue, innovation, and savage cruelty against those who opposed him. This collection showcases some of the most interesting details of Edward&#39;s life that haven&#39;t been shown on screen. Yet.&nbsp;

Everything 'Braveheart' Gets Wrong About King Edward And Scottish History

'Braveheart' Historical Inaccuracies About King Edward I

Melissa  Sartore

All about Diana Spencer, the beloved Princess of Wales, who married and divorced a future king and tragically died in 1997 at age 36.

The People's Princess

In Season 4 of The Crown, Princess Diana finally joined the royal family. But what was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-princess-diana-facts/setareh-janda">Princess Diana's life</a> like before she married Prince Charles?&nbsp;Diana's childhood wasn't always happy. Her parents went through a difficult divorce that tore apart the family. Diana also struggled to find her purpose -&nbsp;a search she solved by taking on charity work and becoming the "people's princess" as a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/members-of-the-british-royal-family/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">member of the royal family</a>. She also trained as a dance teacher before quitting. However, Diana's dance training came back when she attended a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-princess-diana-facts/mallory-weiler">1988 Michael Jackson concert</a> and danced to "Dirty Diana."Read more about what made Princess Diana so special.&nbsp;

Little Details

Princess Diana's Life Before Royalty From  Dropping Out Of School To A Nanny Job

Details About Princess Diana's Life Before Marrying Prince Charles

Get to know the fascinating family headed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and comprised of her four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren—some of whom may someday become the King of England.

The Royal Family

British Royal Family

The British <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/members-of-the-british-royal-family/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">royal family members</a> have become points of pop culture obsession - many of us know them as public figureheads for the UK's parliamentary system, or as frequent photographic presences in magazines and tabloids. However,&nbsp;many royals perform important government duties, and many are involved in charitable and philanthropic efforts. Others have careers in business or the military. The former Kate Middleton,&nbsp;the Duchess of Cambridge, and the former Meghan Markle, the&nbsp;Duchess of Sussex,&nbsp;both had successful careers in party-planning and acting, respectively, before they married.There have been some pretty <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey">strange royals</a> throughout history, but the living&nbsp;family members keep&nbsp;themselves grounded through public service and their careers. From philanthropy to attending state events and piloting aircraft, members of one of the globe's most well-known families contribute&nbsp;to their country both in and out of Buckingham Palace.

cleanup_exclude

What The British Royalty Does For Work Inside & Outside The Palace

Person

Jobs Of The British Royalty

Exploring the real people, historical events, and behind the scenes of Netflix's series that follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II and her family.

The Crown

The Crown (Netflix)

The Crown&nbsp;dishes on behind-the-throne drama featuring members of the British royal family, and one royal couple cooked up more drama than most: Diana and Charles. But what was Diana and Charles's relationship really like? How much did&nbsp;The Crown&nbsp;get right, and how do the details provided in the show shed new light on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/relationship-between-charles-and-diana/veronica-walsingham">royal couple's troubled relationship</a>?Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, began dating Lady Diana Spencer in 1980. Charles asked Diana to marry him in early 1981 after only a handful of dates. The world watched as Prince Charles and Princess Diana got married, had children, and eventually fell out in a painfully public separation.&nbsp;The Crown&nbsp;shares a number of facts about Charles and Diana's relationship. Vote up the ones you didn't know about.&nbsp;

Ticker Exclude

Archive Future Social

'The Crown' Brought To Light Juicy Details About Diana & Charles' Relationship

‘The Crown’ Revealed Details About Diana & Charles' Relationship 

Before the invention of photography (1822), the wealthy donned their fanciest duds, sat perfectly still for hours on end, and let artists do their best to make them look attractive. Let's rank.

Portrait Gallery

Weird History

In 2013, the unveiling of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260655/Kate-Middleton-Rotten-official-portrait-Duchess-Cambridge-artist-Paul-Emsley-unveiled.html">the first official&nbsp;portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge</a> caused an international response fit for, say, an actual important international event. People all over the world&nbsp;went crazy with&nbsp;judgment and jeers, critiquing every aspect of the painting. But Kate Middleton's portrait looks like a Rembrandt compared to some of the heinously ugly royal portraits&nbsp;that came before it. The&nbsp;historical artists who&nbsp;crafted many of these horrendously unflattering <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/portraits-of-historical-royals-vs-real-life/alby-thompson">royal portraits</a>&nbsp;are lucky they aren't alive to experience the wrath of the Twitterverse. If they were, their paintings, and they themselves, would probably be torn to shreds for the travesties they committed to canvas.&nbsp;To be fair, it isn't always the fault of the artist that a&nbsp;painting comes out looking like the stuff of nightmares.&nbsp;Sometimes, a royal just doesn't measure up to the day's beauty standards, and an artist has to grit his teeth and muscle his way through. Perhaps that's why a few monarchs&nbsp;make their way onto the list numerous times, painted by different artists.There are also artists throughout history who created intentionally&nbsp;bad portraits, as a means of criticizing&nbsp;a royal individual or family.&nbsp;Ultimately, whether the result of bad artistry&nbsp;or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey">royal inbreeding</a>, these royal&nbsp;embarrassments are our enjoyment. Want more?&nbsp;Take a look at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-descriptions-what-royals-really-looked-like/setareh-janda">our roundup of written, firsthand descriptions of historical royals</a>.

Top Tier

Finished Forever

23 Of The Most Heinously Unflattering Royal Portraits In History

23 of the Most Heinously Unflattering Royal Portraits in History

Danielle Ownbey

Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Elisabeth of Austria&nbsp;was one of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-warrior-queens-in-history/carly-silver">most powerful monarchs</a> of the 19th century. Remarkably beautiful, Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi, defied Austrian court traditions. She traveled often and became a beloved figure in both Austria and Hungary.&nbsp;Elisabeth was very concerned with her looks; she engaged in strange beauty rituals and aggressive exercise routines. Elisabeth's iconoclastic ways resulted in&nbsp;her bizarre death at the hands of an anarchist.

The Tragic Life Of Elisabeth Of Austria

Phil Gibbons

Historical Entertainment

What are the most inaccurate <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies about royals</a>? Whether depicting love affairs that never happened or covering up unsavory politics, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal biopics</a>&nbsp;on this list don't tell the full - or even the real - story about kings and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-historical-queens/mallory-weiler?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">queens in history</a>.Historians evaluate the accuracy of films in two ways: by policing the nitty-gritty historical facts that the movie depicts,&nbsp;and by analyzing the overall truth that the film is communicating about a person, event, or era. Historical facts often get manipulated for the sake of narrative necessity. Worse, many films are inaccurate by omission, since they leave out crucial facts that might shape how a royal is remembered. In these cases, royal biopics completely misrepresent the past.From Shakespeare's plays to Hollywood biopics, the lives of royals throughout history have always made for compelling drama. But good movies are rarely good history lessons.

True Story vs Adaptation

watchworthy_social

The Least Accurate Movies About Historical Royals

Film

The Most Inaccurate Movies About Royals

Setareh Janda

Royalty

Us common folk love discussing and learning about the lives of royalty. That is why there are so many movies about English queens. Our fascination with royalty varies from the roles a king or queen has played in history, to what their palace is like, what love interests they had, and what political differences they made during their reign. The news is constantly full of stories about the Royal Family and it’s no wonder that so many great movies have been made the life of royalty! What are the best movies about queens? Vote up the best below and see where your favorite queen films rank.The movies on this list discuss the life of queens in one way or another. Most of the flicks featured here are more literal and biographical in nature, though some are completely fictional stories about fictional queens. Perhaps the most famous queen featured in several of these movies is Queen Elizabeth of England. Cate Blanchett has <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/queen-elizabeth-actors/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">played the queen</a> multiple times.This list features <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-queen-songs/voteable?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the best queen</a> movies, including: Elizabeth, One Night with the King, The Princess Diaries, Anastasia, The Other Boleyn Girl, Mad Love, and The Young Victoria. Vote up the best films below or add a film about a queen that you love if it isn't already on the list. Then check out these other <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-movies-about-royalty/ranker-film" target="_blank">royal movies</a>.

Shakespeare in Love

Amazon Alexa

Rankings Checked

The Best Movies About Queens

The Best Queen Movies, Ranked By Fans

Ranker Film

Entertainment

Put on your crown, sit on the throne, and let's rank the best movies about royalty ever made! These royal monarch films capture the splendor and intrigue surrounding kings, queens, and noble courts, making them a favorite among audiences drawn to history, drama, and spectacle. This ranked list celebrates films that excel in portraying royal lives through engaging stories and well-developed characters. Whether one seeks historical fidelity, strong performances, or the opulent majesty of regal settings, this compilation serves as an essential resource for discovering remarkable royal-themed cinema.Among the top titles is The King's Speech, where Colin Firth delivers an Oscar-winning performance as King George VI, overcoming a speech impediment with help from an innovative therapist. In The Queen, Helen Mirren brings Queen Elizabeth II to life, navigating the stormy aftermath of Princess Diana's death with poise. Elizabeth captures a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/young-queen-elizabeth-ii-pictures/carly-silver?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">young Queen Elizabeth</a> I, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, as she ascends to power amid political strife. Other popular films include Elizabeth: The Golden Age, capturing Elizabeth I's reign at its zenith, and Victoria &amp; Abdul, highlighting the unforeseen friendship between Queen Victoria and her Indian servant. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-mad-king-george-iii/setareh-janda?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">The Madness of King George</a> delves into the mental challenges faced by King George III, while Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette provides a modern take on the tragic French queen's life.This curated selection showcases films rich in historical drama, romance, and fascinating portrayals of regal life. With characters ranging from unyielding Elizabeths to formidable Henrys, each movie offers unique depictions of royal figures set against glorious backdrops. Vote for your favorite films about British royals or a family of monarchs, and let's see which movie rules them all.&nbsp;

dfp_policy_violation

Revite New URL

SNet_Update

Revite Title

Images Audited

SEO Content Team

Level 2 - Revite New URL

The Best Movies About Royalty, Ranked

The 50+ Best Movies About Kings & Queens, Ranked

Harper Brooks

Who are the best actors who have played royals? One tried-and-true pathway to success for actors in Hollywood is by <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-should-play-english-royals/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">playing a royal</a>, since many actors who played royals have received critical acclaim and accolades for their performances. For example, several actresses who have played royalty - including&nbsp;Olivia Colman, Helen Mirren, and Judi Dench - have won Oscars, Golden Globes, and Emmys. Likewise, some of the best royals actors - like Colin Firth, among others - have earned award recognition&nbsp;for their work.

Each actor approaches his or her royal&nbsp;role differently. Some actors who have played kings, and actresses who have played queens, use their prep time to undertake extensive historical research, while others evaluate historical figures just like any other character. But all&nbsp;have the challenge of portraying historical figures in a unique way, since many royals have been played by several different actors over the years.

Vote up the actors who did the best job bringing historical royals to life.

The Best Actors Who Played Historical Royals On Film & Television

Actors Who Played Real Royals In Movies & TV, Ranked

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother

Many remember Queen Elizabeth II&#39;s&nbsp;mother as an affectionate parent who patiently, cheerfully stood by her daughter through thick and thin. But the life of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/queen-mother-small-poignant-details/gordon-cameron" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth</a> the Queen Mother was a lot more colorful than most people knew. Both as a queen in her own right and eventually as a royal mother, Elizabeth became one of the most beloved - yet polarizing - Windsors in history.

Born on August 4, 1900, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was a member of one of Scotland&#39;s most illustrious noble families. In 1923, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/who-married-into-the-british-royal-family/setareh-janda" target="_blank">she married Prince Albert</a>,&nbsp;second son of King George V. But when Albert&#39;s older brother abdicated the throne to&nbsp;marry <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-wallis-simpson-mistress-prince-edward-abdication/setareh-janda" target="_blank">the love of his life</a>, the royal spotlight pivoted to Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;and her husband.&nbsp;

Suddenly, the fate of the monarchy rested on their shoulders, and&nbsp;they&nbsp;became&nbsp;King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain. After leading the country through World War II, George VI tragically died in 1952, and Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;went from the Queen to the Queen Mother, as her eldest daughter inherited the throne and became <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-queen-of-england-facts/carly-silver" target="_blank">Queen Elizabeth II</a>.

Though remembered as a grandmotherly figure&nbsp;to the United Kingdom, Bowes-Lyon&nbsp;wasn&#39;t always the cheery, loyal, and steady royal mum of popular imagination. In fact, her biography revealed a far more interesting - and controversial - story that has earned her both fans and detractors.

instagram_posted

Elizabeth II's Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Was As Feared As She Was Loved

Elizabeth II's Mother Was As Feared As She Was Loved

Kings & queens, princes & princesses. They're made of blood and bones like the rest of us, but they're told they can do whatever they damn well please. Sometimes, this causes problems.

Royal Pains

Queen Victoria

Despite the fact that she was quite tiny, Queen Victoria&nbsp;looms large over most&nbsp;of the 19th century. She was every bit a woman of her time, engaging in the overblown sentimentality and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/odd-victorian-mourning-rituals/amandasedlakhevener">culture of death</a> so pervasive during the age that bears her name. When she died at 81, the queen left secret, detailed instructions on how to handle her body and what items to place in her coffin. There are, indeed, a number of&nbsp;strange Queen Victoria&nbsp;death&nbsp;facts worth exploring.Victorians had something of an obsession with death and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/victorian-death-and-mourning-customs/lisa-waugh">death rituals</a>. One reason this was true was because people of the era literally lived in close proximity to death. Aspects of the Industrial Revolution shortened life expectancy, even in an age when 40 was considered old. Dead bodies were cleaned and prepared for burial by family members, and the corpses were put in their parlors for viewing.&nbsp;Friends and loved ones created jewelry made from the hair of the deceased;&nbsp;furniture and doorways were draped in black crepe;&nbsp;and even photos were taken of the dead, dressed and seated in chairs with other family members, as though they were still alive. Or families would gather for photos, all dressed in black,&nbsp;around a portrait of the dearly departed, sorrowful looks on every face.&nbsp;Death and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/collections/life-after-death">all that came with it</a> hovered far more closely to the living than it does today.This was also the age of Romanticism, an artistic, literary, and cultural tradition that focused on both the natural and unnatural world. Some Victorians expressed a strong interest in the paranormal, the spectral, and otherworldly. Sentimentality and emotion also held sway during the 19th century. It's no wonder, really, that Queen Victoria's death wishes were anything but simple.

The Morbidly Creepy And Straight Up Weird Contents Of Queen Victoria's Coffin

The Morbidly Creepy Contents Of Queen Victoria's Coffin

Cheryl Adams Richkoff

Lists about some of the most extraordinary women who made history, forever changing the world and how we see it.

Well-Behaved Women

Elizabeth I of England

Queen Elizabeth I was not just one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-enlightened-leaders-in-world-history/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">most significant rulers in English history</a> - she was also an amazing queen who defied expectations. Even within the storied English monarchy, Elizabeth stands out. She proved to the early modern world that women could be exceptional rulers.

The England that Elizabeth inherited in 1558 was a troubled one. Her father, Henry VIII, had done what no other monarch&nbsp;had done before him -&nbsp;he expanded the monarchy by breaking with the Catholic Church and making England a Protestant country. That religious rupture with Europe had profound effects and led to conflicts between Catholics and Protestants. Torn apart by instability, England badly needed a strong ruler to steer the direction of its future. After&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/british-monarchy-history-causes-of-death/info-lists" target="_blank">her father&#39;s passing</a>&nbsp;and a number of short-lived successors,&nbsp;Elizabeth took&nbsp;the throne. Elizabeth - a young woman who was never supposed to be queen -&nbsp;was up to the task.

In her 44 years on the throne, she helped bring peace, stability, confidence, and wealth to her people. She charted a middle way in politics and religion and ensured that England remained independent in the face of turmoil on the European continent. Under Elizabeth&rsquo;s leadership, England&rsquo;s maritime destiny was laid out&nbsp;and explorers dipped their toes into the so-called New World.

To this day, Elizabeth remains a standout in the British royal family and deserves her <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-all-time-greatest-people-in-history/alan-smithee?ref=also_ranked&amp;pos=1&amp;a=0&amp;ltype=n&amp;l=2239085&amp;g=1" target="_blank">place in history as one of the greatest</a>.

Why Queen Elizabeth I Was The Most Hardcore Ruler England Has Ever Seen

Why Elizabeth I Was a Badass Queen

Why Queen Elizabeth I Was The Most Badass Ruler England Has Ever Seen

World History

Throughout history, wealthy&nbsp;people &ndash;&nbsp;like many <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-monarch_s)/reference" target="_blank">notable kings</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;had extravagant weddings. For these inestimably costly ceremonies,&nbsp;pre-celebration festivities often&nbsp;included very lavish dowries on behalf of the new brides. Sometimes, these nuptials that involved famous dowries took place between <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/weird-royals-in-history/danielle-ownbey" target="_blank">weird royals</a>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;like uncles and nieces and already closely related cousins.&nbsp;But who had the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;history?

A fair number of medieval and early modern princesses and archduchesses were given lots of land as their dowries, and their husbands wed them for the promise&nbsp;of significant revenue&nbsp;from these properties. Sometimes, these territories were so vast they&#39;re nearly unthinkable. For example, Eleanor of Aquitaine&nbsp;brought the rulership of most of southwestern France &ndash;&nbsp;her duchy of Aquitaine&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;to both of her husbands. Anne of Denmark wed Eleanor&#39;s descendant, James VI of Scotland/I of England, and brought the Orkney Isles with her. But was this the&nbsp;biggest&nbsp;dowry&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;world?

Other wives have brought a ton of cash with them to their newly minted husbands. Modern-day royal Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, apparently brought $200 million to her husband, while Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza&nbsp;gave her spouse, Charles II of England, trading rights all over the world.

exclude_in_feed_os

The Most Lavish Dowries In History

Carly Silver

Royalty lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of royalty lists and rankings