Dan Snow Rates Portrayals of English Kings and Queens in Movies

Ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, historian Dan Snow reviews depictions of kings and queens of England and Great Britain in famous movies, from Edward I to George VI.

First up, he rates Colin Firth's depiction of the stammering George VI in 'The King's Speech' (2010), with sibling rivalry within the royal family popping up as a theme.

Next, it's Queen Anne as played by Olivia Colman in 'The Favourite' (2018). Dan thinks we should give more credit to Queen Anne for her role in making Britain a global power.

Inaccuracies in the chilling portrayal of Edward I 'Longshanks' in the 90s blockbuster Braveheart (1995) also come under scrutiny. Interactions between Edward and the Prince of Wales, who would go on to become Edward II, are seen as particularly problematic.

Kenneth Branagh played Shakespeare's Henry V in a movie of the same name, but how close to reality is the famous speech given by Henry before the Battle of Agincourt?

'The Madness of King George' (1994) is up for review next. Dan discusses the complicated relationship between George and his son, as well as the possible causes of his so-called madness.

Finally, Laurence Oliver's portrayal of the Shakespearean arch-villain Richard III is also criticised for historical accuracy. It's now thought that this popular perception of the last Plantaganet king had much to do with the attitudes of the Tudor dynasty that had usurped him.

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00:00 Introduction
00:31 George VI in The King's Speech
07:54 Queen Anne in The Favourite
12:57 Edward I in Braveheart
17:25 Henry V in Henry V
23:46 George III in The Madness of King George
29:23 Richard III in Richard III