Royal Weddings: The Crown's Marital Moments

do we see the wedding in the crown

Netflix's The Crown has featured several weddings throughout its seasons, including that of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The show has chosen to portray certain aspects of these weddings, such as the exchange of vows, the wedding dress, and the post-engagement interview, while omitting others, such as the actual wedding ceremony of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The show's creators have stated that their focus is on depicting the nuances of the relationships and the impact of these events on the Queen, rather than simply recreating iconic moments.

Characteristics Values
Show The Crown
Wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Season 4
Episode Fairytale
Recreated Princess Diana's dress
Reason for skipping wedding Easily accessible on YouTube
Not crucial to the plot
Show is about Queen Elizabeth, not Princess Diana

shunbridal

Princess Diana's wedding dress

The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown featured a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, valued at £9,000 at the time of her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales in 1981. The dress was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and over 10,000 pearls. It also included an 18-carat gold horseshoe charm stitched in for good luck and a small blue bow for her "something blue".

The dress set wedding fashion trends after the wedding, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and soft touch fabrics becoming popular requests. Copies of the dress were available within hours of the wedding and it is still considered a "gold standard" in wedding fashion. The dress toured for many years with the exhibition "Diana: A Celebration" and was displayed in London in 2021 as part of Kensington Palace's "Royal Style in the Making" show.

In the Netflix series The Crown, the wedding episode titled "Fairytale" cuts directly to credits after showing Diana in her iconic gown. The recreated dress was featured on the show's Instagram page, but the ceremony itself was not included.

shunbridal

The Queen's role

The Netflix series The Crown focuses on the life of Queen Elizabeth II. While the show does feature other members of the royal family, their storylines are meant to feed back into the narrative of the Queen's life.

For example, in Season 4, the show covers the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. However, the wedding itself is not shown. Instead, the episode ends with Princess Diana in her wedding dress, and the credits roll. Actress Emma Corrin, who portrays Princess Diana, explained that the wedding was not included because it could be easily viewed on YouTube. She also stated that everything in the show needs to relate back to the Queen, and the wedding was not crucial to that narrative.

The Crown does recreate Princess Diana's wedding dress, which was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and featured a 25-foot train. The dress in the show cost £30,000 and took seven weeks to make. It was an almost exact replica of the original, with some minor alterations.

While the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was not shown, the show does depict the marriage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. This wedding focuses on the action inside Westminster Abbey, showing the exchange of vows between the couple. The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell and was based on Botticelli's painting Primavera, featuring star lilies, orange blossoms, and 10,000 seed pearls.

shunbridal

The wedding's historical accuracy

The Crown's depiction of weddings has varied in its historical accuracy. While the show aims for a degree of accuracy, it also takes creative liberties to craft engaging storylines. For instance, in the case of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wedding, the show recreated the dress with minor alterations, and the venue was changed to Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire due to the unavailability of Westminster Abbey for filming. The show also included historical details such as the placement of the bridal bouquet on the Unknown Warrior's tomb and the presence of rationing, which resulted in a more frugal ceremony than depicted.

The wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was not included in the series, with actress Emma Corrin explaining that the show is primarily about Queen Elizabeth, and any other plotlines, including Diana's, relate to how they impact the Queen. The Crown also did not recreate Princess Margaret's wedding, instead focusing on the personal struggles and family conflicts surrounding the event.

While The Crown does feature some accurate details and strives for historical accuracy, it is not a documentary, and viewers should maintain a critical eye regarding its depiction of historical events. The show takes artistic liberties, particularly in its portrayal of private conversations and personal relationships within the Royal Family, as these intimate details are rarely made public.

shunbridal

The wedding's global viewership

The Crown, a historical drama television series, portrays the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, until the early 21st century. The show's first season covers 1947 to 1955, including significant events such as Elizabeth's accession after the death of George VI, Churchill's resignation, and Princess Margaret's decision not to marry. While the show provides a glimpse into the royal wedding, it does not include the entire ceremony. Instead, it focuses on the exchange of vows and the iconic dress designed by Norman Hartnell, which was recreated for the show.

The fourth season of The Crown attracted a significant global audience, with just under 29 million viewers worldwide in its first week of release. This surpassed the number of people who watched the TV coverage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles's real-life wedding in 1981, which was reported to be 600,000 less than the show's viewership. The dramatized portrayal of the royal couple's courtship gained more traction than their actual wedding, showcasing the show's impact on popular culture.

While official figures from Netflix are not always disclosed, the streaming giant has shared some insights into the show's popularity. According to Netflix, 73 million households worldwide have made The Crown a part of the global cultural zeitgeist. This places the show among other popular Netflix releases, such as Stranger Things, which broke records with 40 million households watching in its first four days.

The Crown's impact extends beyond viewership numbers. The costumes from the show were displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, showcasing the attention to detail in recreating historical moments. Additionally, the show has sparked discussions about the accuracy of its portrayal of senior royals, with some commentators finding it intrusive and taking liberties with facts. Nonetheless, The Crown has become a global phenomenon, with its blend of history and creative license, captivating audiences worldwide and contributing to the cultural conversation.

shunbridal

The wedding's cost

The Crown features several weddings, including that of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and, in a later season, the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The weddings featured in The Crown are lavish affairs, with high production costs.

The wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947 was recreated for The Crown, with a focus on the action inside Westminster Abbey. The dress was an almost exact replica of the original, with some minor alterations. The replica dress took seven weeks to make and cost £30,000. The original dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, featured a pattern of star lilies and orange blossoms, as well as 10,000 seed pearls imported from the United States. The replica dress was worn by actress Claire Foy in the series.

The Crown also recreated Princess Diana's wedding dress, an Elizabeth and David Emanuel gown with a 25-foot train. However, the actual wedding ceremony of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was not included in the series. Emma Corrin, who portrayed Princess Diana, explained that the wedding was not crucial to the plot and could easily be viewed on YouTube. The decision to exclude the wedding was also in line with the show's focus on Queen Elizabeth rather than Princess Diana.

Weddings: Happening, but How?

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

No, the wedding was not recreated for the show. Actress Emma Corrin, who plays Diana, explained that the show only recreates events that are crucial to the plot and that viewers could simply watch the original wedding footage on YouTube.

The Crown is ultimately about Queen Elizabeth, not Princess Diana. As Corrin explained, "everything actually has to feed back to the queen".

The wedding episode, titled "Fairytale", shows Princess Diana getting into her wedding gown and the rest of the royal family preparing for the big day. However, the credits roll just before the wedding begins.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment