The Crown, Peter Morgan’s marvellous series about Queen Elizabeth II, completed its first series of 10 hour-long episodes with “Gloriana”. With a clear reference to the first Elizabeth, we saw the Queen in the mid-1950s, growing into the role that had been sprung on her, aged only 25, at the death of her father in 1952.
The jewels seemed heavier, the burdens greater, the protective shell of unwavering duty had hardened: the young wife and mother had become the Crown, the embodiment of public service, and of something more elusive and important.