Netflix’s The Crown focuses on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most famous and recognizable people in the world. It also happens to be one of the best shows on Netflix right now. The Crown sees her grow from a young girl into the most powerful woman in England, dealing with both national and familial crises. While the former certainly has more of an impact worldwide, the latter creates much of the drama in the show.
Within the Queen’s family and close circle of political associates (including several prime ministers), there are certain people who exemplify British wit and intelligence. Alternatively, there are a few characters who show very little of either. So, let’s take a look at all of the main characters in The Crown, ranked by intelligence. This list will start with the most intelligent characters and work its way down to the least intelligent characters.
Updated on November 11th, 2022 by Jordan Iacobucci – After an extended hiatus, The Crown has returned for season 5, which will continue its depiction of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The historical drama, typically acclaimed for its writing and acting, has been the subject of controversy regarding its upcoming season given the recent death of the Queen and its coverage of the Royal Family’s messy relationship with Princess Diana. Nevertheless, fans are eager to see the next installment of Netflix’s award-winning series and its vast array of intriguing and brilliant historical characters.
King George VI
King George VI was the father of Queen Elizabeth, serving as King of England from 1936 until his death in 1952. The series opens in the final years of his reign, eventually following the transition from his time on the throne to his daughter’s.
Though the King only appears in season 1 of The Crown, he largely shapes the future of Elizabeth’s reign. King George VI imparts his wisdom and years of experience to his daughter, preparing her to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Additionally, he is often credited with helping guide the nation to victory during the Second World War.
Winston Churchill
As one of the most revered and influential figures in British history, Sir Winston Churchill serves a key role in The Crown. In addition to seeing England through some of its darkest hours, Churchill also worked as a welcome complement to the Queen’s stoic nature.
The two shared a special relationship, thanks in large part to Churchill’s strategic and diplomatic nature. Much like King George VI, Churchill is partially credited with bringing the Second World War to an end.
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister of England, serving for eleven years, from 1979 to 1990. Portrayed by Gillian Anderson, Thatcher plays a major role in season 4 of The Crown, which specifically follows her complicated relationship with Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite being a very controversial historical figure, it would be difficult to argue against Thatcher’s exceptional intelligence. She helped bring England out of the deep financial straits that had nearly destroyed its economy and, while not all of her actions were universally popular, she certainly knew what she was doing as Prime Minister.
Edward VIII
Edward VIII was the older brother of King George VI, who would become his successor. His reign would turn out to be very short-lived as after just under a year as King of England, Edward VIII abdicated his title in order to marry the love of his life, Wallis Simpson.
Though he became an unpopular figure in England and was forced to live out his remaining days in France, Edward showed admirable intelligence and poise in the face of rigid traditions. Nevertheless, his frightening political positions cause viewers to question his mental astuteness.
Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. In the show (and in real life) Margaret is much livelier than her sister, though she carries a bitterness with her due to an unhappy marriage and a lack of responsibility in the royal family.
Margaret is celebrated as the brighter sister, even though her title holds much less significance. Additionally, Princess Margaret was extremely popular in the United States, which is something that Queen Elizabeth II was never able to achieve.
Prince Philip
Prince Philip is the husband of the Queen. In his younger days, Philip, then played by Matt Smith, dreamed of exploring the world and living life to the fullest. However, the stuffiness of royal life proved to be a suffocating alternative. This, in turn, led to difficulties in his marriage to the Queen.
In any case, Prince Philip was always smart, albeit somewhat rigid and old-fashioned. He has always preferred to stay out of the spotlight, though he has also used his position to advance causes that are important to him.
Queen Elizabeth II
In season 1 of The Crown, fans see the Queen, then played by Claire Foy, for who she truly is: a simple girl thrust into one of the most powerful positions in the world. Nevertheless, as the seasons progress, she gathers the necessary skills to complete her political duties.
Queen Elizabeth II doesn’t come across in the show as exceptionally intelligent or charming, despite holding the highest honor in England. Thus, Elizabeth had to learn how to navigate the world of politics, all while feeling somewhat unprepared for the job. In The Crown, the story often focuses on the Queen’s lack of confidence and uncertainty about which paths to take. Ultimately, Queen Elizabeth II invariably chooses to take the path that stays in line with royal tradition, rather than being pragmatic or strategic in her efforts.
Tommy Lascelles
Tommy Lascelles was the personal secretary to the sovereign during the reigns of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. Even after retiring in season 2, Lascelles had an active hand in preserving the public image of the Royal Family.
Though one has to wonder about the moral implications of certain actions performed and advised by Tommy Lascelles, it cannot be denied that he had an excellent understanding of how the world works and how to get what he wants. Lascelles was a loyal servant to the Royal Family who aided them greatly during (and after) his career.
Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden was the Foreign Secretary before serving as the Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957. As the Prime Minister who immediately succeeded the great Winston Churchill, Eden had very big shoes to fill, with his time in office becoming rather discolored by his ill-advised war for the Suez Canal.
In the show, Eden’s character functions as a kind of fatherly figure to the young Queen. Though mild-mannered and traditional, Eden exudes a sense of wisdom far beyond his years. However, unlike Churchill, his emotions often get the better of him, spelling out his eventual political downfall.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana plays a major role in The Crown, taking a leading role in Seasons 4 and 5 as her marriage to Prince Charles begins and eventually crumbles. As the Princess of Wales and a public icon, she is one of the most notable British public figures in recent decades.
Diana certainly had an excellent command over her public image, using her position to make the world a better place. While she did not possess the political savviness that the Royal Family did, she had a far higher emotional intelligence than any of the other figures portrayed in The Crown.
Louis Mountbatten
Prince Philip’s uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, plays a surprisingly important role in The Crown, much as he did in real life. Portrayed first by Greg Wise and then by Charles Dance, Lord Mountbatten is assassinated in season 4 of the series.
Lord Mountbatten frequently offers his advice on state matters and accompanies the Queen during some of her most celebrated moments. That said, Louis Mountbatten is a reactionary figure, and he often resists any change within the royal family’s ranks. Moreover, in Season 1, he is even blamed for having “given away India.”
Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
Queen Elizabeth, the queen’s mother, is the widow of King George VI who is left to help her daughter ascend the throne in the years that followed her husband’s death. She is portrayed by Victoria Hamilton in the first two seasons of the series and Marion Bailey in seasons 3 and 4.
The queen mother proved invaluable in helping her daughter settle into her new role on the throne. Having performed many of the same duties as George’s wife, she is able to provide Elizabeth with much-needed advice and support in her early years. However, the queen mother also seems to be at the forefront of many of the family’s biggest mistakes, including the blocking of Margaret’s marriage to Peter Townsend.
Camilla Parker Bowles
Camilla Parker Bowles (now known simply as “Camilla”) is one of the most notorious figures in the royal family. In her youth, Camilla began a scandalous affair with Prince Charles, the son of Queen Elizabeth II. It was scandalous because the affair began before her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, and continued during the marriage. Years later, Camila and Prince Charles were finally able to get married, though she was never met with much enthusiasm in the royal family.
Despite her ability to charm the Prince, Camilla was never known for being the smartest member of the royal family. In fact, she often stays out of the limelight to avoid criticism, as many in the media couldn’t help but compare her to Princess Diana.
Prince Charles
As a boy, Prince Charles was somewhat awkward and out of place in the royal family. He showed little interest in royal life, despite being next in line to the throne. As the future king during the show’s events, tremendous scrutiny is placed on him and his every action.
Even though much of the rest of the family moved strategically to maintain and even strengthen the monarchy, Prince Charles always seemed to do or say the wrong thing. He is often criticized for his ill-fated relationship with Princess Diana, his sordid affair with Camilla, and his general lack of intelligence compared to his sister, Princess Anne.
Anthony Armstrong-Jones
Anthony Armstrong-Jones is the ex-husband of Princess Margaret, to whom she was married for several decades before their messy divorce following an extended cheating scandal. Armstrong-Jones was a photographer and artist who never seemed to settle into royal life, leading to his divorce from Margaret in 1978.
While watching The Crown, viewers will likely find themselves frustrated with Anthony, as he always seems to make the wrong decision. He marries out of spite for his mother despite knowing full-well that he could never make the relationship work and, when it becomes clear that he has cheated on Margaret, he unconvincingly attempts to shift the blame to her, leaving a rather poor impression of his own intelligence in the process.
