Beneath The Crown: The True Story of the Queen vs Margaret Thatcher

What caused the clashes between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher throughout the 1980s? Anita Rani takes us on a trip to find some answers, with a wealth of rare archive material and enlightening facts.

The Crown Season Four. Now Streaming.

For more Beneath The Crown:

About Netflix:
Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without adverts or commitments.

Find Netflix UK on:

Beneath The Crown: The True Story of the Queen vs Margaret Thatcher

In the 1980s, Elizabeth clashes with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher while Prince Charles enters a tumultuous marriage with Lady Diana Spencer.

[regearstv]

THE VOICE alone of Gillian Anderson is incredible

[Ardenwolfe]

It is UNREAL how well Gillian embodies Thatcher. If Gillian doesn't win every award she can from this role, there is no justice. She plays the best Thatcher I've ever seen.

[xrt]

Damn, Gillian is devouring every scene she's in!

[michaelermcgowaniv]

The shade thrown in that scene after Thatcher spent the weekend in Scotland was legendary.

[noahlibra]

The Queen actually went to Thatchers funeral despite not going to any other PMs ones. They must have had a good relationship despite political disagreements.

[intldawn]

Just give Gillian the goddamned Emmy. I’m only two episodes in and I’m enthralled

[deberebor]

The Queen and Thatcher had a lot in common because they were both women, worked and had children? Come on, Netflix. You are revealing more than you want to with that statement.

[raulalarcon]

Anita's voice sounds like silk being poured into my ears. What a pleasant, soothing voice she has.

[khard]

For all the talk of the Queen not getting on with Margaret Thatcher, which might be somewhat true based on the fact Margaret Thatcher was doing some pretty radical things. But post her resignation she never showed signs of dislike quite the opposite, she attended her 70th and 80th birthdays. Something she certainly never had to do. She also made her a Knight of the Garter very quickly. Something she has not done for Tony Blair or Gordon Brown. She also gave the go ahead for her public funeral and chose to attend, the first funeral of PM she has attended since Churchill.

[therollinggangstas]

So when two men are in power do we call them fathers? Or just men in power?

[Jon.A.Scholt]

The Thatcher parts have been way more interesting than the Diana parts of this season so far; I'm 6 episodes in.

[dean]

What a stunning performance by Gillian Anderson. The voice, the mannerisms, the facial expressions, you really got a sense she put everything into it. I have no doubt she spent countless hours watching footage, reading books and listening to speeches of Thatcher. Flawless portrayal of a very difficult role.

[jackmatthews]

"The UK's head of state and sovereign were both female"? They are one and the same. Thatcher was head of government, the Queen is head of state.

[cherri]

I think Gillian is better at being Margaret Thatcher than Meryl Streep, Jesus I thought Maggie was back there at the end 😰

[thms]

The Queen is the Head of State AND the Sovereign. The Prime Minister is the Head of Government.

[goldenmelanin]

So if male leaders are fathers do we say they have much in common?
Such narratives really don't help our way forward

[adrielsebastian]

One fact about Thatcher: she's one of the only Western European leader that opposed the reunification of Germany in 89. She was scared that a united Germany would eclipse Britain as the main power in Europe. She even called Gorbachev to increase troop presence in the East.

[charliotero]

calling the queen a "working mother" is a bit of a stretch, i think

[serahmwinzila]

The last phrase, 'No one would remember the story of the good samaritan if he only had good intention you see he had money as well.

[Blueboy]

Gender shouldn't be a determining factor when attempting to determine one's suitability for leadership. Nor race, creed, ethnicity or orientation.
Its what's in your head, heart and what you do that matters.