While many fans of the Netflix series The Crown have already finished the entire third season of the show, the premiere of the much-anticipated fourth season is still more than two months away, and oh, how we miss it. Not only do we miss the slow, deliberate drama of the series — which chronicles the history and lives of the British royal family — but we are also absolutely bursting with anticipation for the fourth season, because it'll be the first time we see the beloved Princess Diana depicted on the show. For some of us, these next two months will feel like entertainment purgatory.
OK, OK, maybe it's not that serious, but still, after a summer of frivolous reality shows and reruns, we are beyond ready to see some drama on our TV screens. Thankfully, for anyone who loves insight into the lives of royalty (factual or fictional), there are actually a bunch of royal-inspired shows and movies available to stream on both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Some are classics worth rewatching, some are older but may have slipped under the radar, and others are newer and totally worth binging while we wait for the The Crown's fourth season.
'The Royals'
Available on: Amazon Prime
Imagine The Crown but even more fictionalized and scandalous and set in the 21st century. That's basically the premise of The Royals, most notably starring British superstar Elizabeth Hurley. The series has just 40 episodes, so it's a quick binge to help anyone obsessed with the royal family get through a month or so.
'The Duchess'
Available on: Amazon Prime
Starring Keira Knightley, The Duchess is a 2008 film about Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, an aristocrat who lived in the 18th century. The movie is a biographical drama about Georgiana, who was actually an ancestor of Princess Diana. Beyond being well-made and well-acted, the Diana connection definitely makes the film an interesting watch.
'The Last Kingdom'
Available on: Netflix
Taking it all the way back to the ninth century, The Last Kingdom is a series about King Alfred of Wessex's struggle to protect his kingdom from Viking invaders. He is aided by Uhtred, who was born a Saxon but kidnapped as a child, raised by Vikings, and is determined to stake claim on his ancestral home as one of the invaders.
'Victoria'
Available on: Amazon Prime
Victoria chronicles the early life of Britain's Queen Victoria, one of the country's most influential and well-known monarchs. The show covers her life from the time she took the throne at just 18 years old through her marriage to Prince Albert, marking only a fraction of her 63-reign — though certainly a formative one.
'Reign'
Available on: Netflix
Reign is a series that ran between 2014 and 2017, and it told the often scandalous story of Mary Queen of Scots. Mary was sent to France at the age of 15 to marry Prince Francis, along with four friends to keep her company as her "court." The show is a steamy romance filled with tons of secrets, drama, and intrigue.
'The Tudors'
Available on: Netflix
Starring eye candy Jonathan Rhys Myers and Henry Cavill, The Tudors is as intense and drama-ridden series as any. There's love and war, tension and scandal, and pretty much anything a viewer could want from a drama about the royals. It's about the notorious Henry the VIII of England and the often unbelievable tales from inside his royal court.
'A Royal Night Out'
Available on: Amazon Prime
A Royal Night Out is a feature-length drama based on actual events during the lives of the future Queen Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret. In May 1945, on what's known as "V.E. Day," the royal sisters were allowed to slip out of Buckingham Palace to anonymously celebrate with the crowd of citizens that had gathered near the palace to celebrate the end of he war … leading to quite a memorable night for the royals.
'Versailles'
Available on: Netflix
Lest we forget the other European royal families, we must mention Versailles, a period drama chronicling what went on inside the walls of King Louis XIV's history-making palace at Versailles. The story begins when the 29-year-old prince first commissions the palace and digs deep into the story of romantic affairs, political turmoil, and dangerous liaisions that ensued afterward.
'The Queen'
Available on: Netflix
Helen Mirren's 2006 portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in The Queen is a thing of cinematic legend and sure to enamor any fan of The Crown, including those who have already seen the film. It focuses on the brief period after Princess Diana's death and how the Queen handled the demands of her adoring public. Talk about drama!
'The King'
Available on: Netflix
Quite a different tale than the similarly named The Queen, The King stars Timothée Chalamet and Robert Pattinson and is about King Henry V before he became England's king — and the events that led to him ascending the throne, even though he had abandoned the royal family and had no desire to rule.
'Sophia'
Available on: Amazon Prime
Originally released in Russia, Sophia is a mini-series that tells the story of the last Byzantium princess, Sophia Palaiologina. The princess moves from Rome to Moscow to marry 15th century Czar Ivan III, and she manages to survive the notoriously brutal royal court and help Ivan defeat Mongolian invaders. They eventually build the Kremlin, making her one of the most influential female leaders of the Russian Empire.
'The Last Czars'
Available on: Netflix
Perhaps in the hope of capitalizing on the success of The Crown, Netflix produced this original series about the last of the Russian monarchs. In the early 20th century, the actions of Czar Nicolas II prompted an uprising that led to the end of the Romanov Dynasty. The series is just six episodes and definitely makes for a good placeholder.
'Catherine the Great'
Available on: Amazon Prime
This series tells the story of the early years of Russian empress Catherine the Great who, despite enduring the abuse of her notoriously brutal husband, Peter III, and his catty court, managed to overthrow him and become one of the country's most well-known rulers. It has subtitles, though, so anyone who can't handle that might want to find another telling of Catherine's story.
'Anna Karenina'
Available on: Netflix
In this gorgeous adaptation of the classic Leo Tolstoy novel of the same name, Keira Knightley and Jude Law take the lead. For those who haven't seen or read it, the story is that of an aristocratic woman from Russia who falls in love with a count and embarks on a heartbreaking forbidden affair with him.
'I Am Henry'
Available on: Amazon Prime
I am Henry is a really interesting short film that depicts King Henry VIII on his deathbed, contemplating his life, and deciding whether he believes he'll be accepted into heaven. The film is shorter than half an hour, but it manages to include the perceived perspectives of both of his wives, Catherine and Anne Boleyn, making it a pretty deep watch.
'Queens: The Virgin and the Martyr'
Available on: Amazon Prime
In this docudrama, viewers learn the story of the conflict between Queen Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen), and Mary Queen of Scots (Bloody Mary) as they battled to rule England in the 16th century. The inherently dramatic tale is one of political strife, personal grudges, murder, and deception that, of course, ends with Mary's beheading.
If that's not enough, here's the season four trailer for 'The Crown.'
If all of that isn't enough, die-hard fans of The Crown can always watch the dredged-in-drama season four trailer on repeat until Netflix finally drops the new episodes on November 15. If it's any indication of what we're in for, it'll be worth the wait.
