Netflix’s brand-new Winston Churchill documentary miniseriesChurchill At Waristhe perfect follow-up toThe Crown—but is the royal family in the new docuseries? There have been manyversions of Winston Churchill in movies and TV shows, butJohn Lithgow’s portrayal of Churchillproved incredibly popular, as didThe Crownin general. In fact, Lithgow’s Churchill was largely considered one of the greatest wins of the show.
Because of that popularity (and given the real-life relationship Churchill had with both Queen Elizabeth II and her father, King George VI), many have come to expect the royal family in movies and shows about Churchill’s life.While the royal family of course played a major role in Churchill’s history and legacy, though, there is more to Churchill’s story.Churchill at War’sapproach to incorporating the royal family is demonstrative of that.
The Royal Family Only Appears Very Briefly In The Documentary Series
Footage Of The Royal Family Is Shown Toward The End Of Churchill At War
Members of the royal family do appear inChurchill at War, but only very briefly. In the final episode of the documentary series, footage ofWinston Churchill standing on the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony alongside Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth), Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and King George VIis shown. This comes on the heels of the news that Germany has surrendered.
Members of the royal family do appear inChurchill at War, but only very briefly.
While that did not mean the end of World War II, which would rage on for a few more months, it was in some ways the key victory for Churchill in particular. AsChurchill at Warmakes clear, one of the most significant aims—if not the single greatest aim—of Churchill’s first term as prime minister was to take down Nazi Germany and, specifically, Adolf Hitler.Churchill at Warhighlights more than once that Churchill was a formidable opponent for Hitler and is believed to be the one man Hitler feared.
With this surrender,Churchill had ‘won,’ even if the war wasn’t over yet. In light of the weight of this moment in history and in the docuseries as well, it makes sense that the royal family is included. However, this brief glimpse is effectively the extent of their appearance inChurchill at War.
What Happened To Winston Churchill After World War 2 Ended
Netflix’s brand-new Winston Churchill documentary, Churchill at War, reveals what a major influence Churchill had on World War II—but what came next?
Why Isn’t The Royal Family More Prominent In Churchill At War?
The Focus Of Churchill At War Was Very Specific
Unlike other representations of Churchill, such as inThe Crown,Churchill at Waris primarily focused on the influence Winston Churchill had on World War II. The political landscape throughout the war is covered in the docuseries, especially as it pertains to Churchill’s terms as prime minister, but that is far from the main subject matter. The royal family, especially King George VI, obviously had a bearing on the war and the United Kingdom’s response to it, but the royals simply weren’t the focus ofChurchill at War.
In truth, this is part of what makesChurchill at Warunique. There have been many movies and shows that detail Churchill’s relationship with the royal family and his political history, but this docuseries is much more concerned with capturing what a major impact Churchill had on the trajectory of World War II. The royal family may not be heavily featured inChurchill at War, but the series does offer fascinating insights into Winston Churchill’s role and incredible influence throughout the war.
