One of the most expensive shows till date is The Crown, a period drama based on the life of one of the most important people in the world, Queen Elizabeth II. The series was launched by Netflix in 2016. As expected the series became an instant hit, not least because of the enormous public curiosity into the lives of the royals, but also because it was a remarkably well-crafted, well-thought-out drama, with a hugely talented ensemble at its center.
Here are a few behind-scenes-facts about this British drama that narrates the tale of one of the few surviving monarchs in the world.
ALSO READ: The Crown: Where will the final season end?
1. Fake Palace and Jewels
The series is not filmed on any royal premises at all. The entire palace has been designed painstakingly by a very efficient production design team to make it look as real as possible. All of the artifacts shown scattered around the various staterooms are also mere props and shockingly, even the jewels that the ladies wear aren’t the real deal.
2. The Queen’s Wedding Dress
The gown wore by the Queen on her wedding day in season 1 was very detailed and made as historically accurate as possible. Michele Clapton, who was the costume designer for the first season of The Crown was very particular about getting the intricacies right for Queen Elizabeth’s wedding dress with its glorious train, the bridesmaids, and all the jazz.
ALSO READ: 4 true secrets of Netflix series ‘The Crown’ revealed
3. Shocking Expenses
The lavish sets and the grand costumes cost the producers a pretty penny. It is rumoured that the first season itself cost around 130 million pounds which made it one of the most expensive series ever to have been produced.
4. Pay Disparity Between Actors
Claire Foy, who aced the young Queen’s role in the first two seasons, did not receive the most fees among all the cast members. In fact, she received less pay than Matt Smith who played the Prince Consort. Smith was apparently already a well-known name when he joined The Crown’s cast, on account of his starring role in Doctor Who.
ALSO READ: Emma Corrin opens up on playing Princess Diana in ‘The Crown’
5. Claire Foy Wore Corsets
Claire Foy has revealed to Vanity Fair that she had to wear corsets to correct her shape while filming the first season. The actress had just given birth when production began and she had to suffer the agony of having a corset underneath her costumes to maintain her posture.
6. Investiture of Prince Charles Shot in Real Location
Season 3 dedicated an episode to the investiture of the young Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales. Josh O’Connor, who clearly put his heart and soul into playing the Prince, looked spectacular in the grand costumes and crown that his character wore during the event. The entire sequence was shot in the exact same location on the grounds of Caernarfon Castle in the town of Gwynedd in northern Wales, where the real Prince had had his own investiture ceremony.
