List of films about British royalty

Listed films are biographical films and documentary films in which the main subject is one or more members of the British royal family. This includes the preceding English and Scottish royal families and fictional British royal families. It does not include films in which members of the royal family only play supporting roles. It is limited to films with articles on Wikipedia.

Biographic films

Title Director Release date Subject Top Billing Notes Ref
The Execution of Mary Stuart Alfred Clark 28 August 1895 Mary, Queen of Scots Silent short film
The Coronation of Edward VII Georges Méliès 9 August 1902 Edward VII Silent short film
Henry VIII Will Barker 1911 Henry VIII Arthur Bourchier as Henry VIII Silent film
Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth
12 July 1912 Elizabeth I Sarah Bernhardt as Queen Elizabeth I Silent film
Richard III
15 October 1912 Richard III Frederick Warde as Richard, Duke of Gloucester Silent film
Sixty Years a Queen Bert Haldane November 1913 Victoria
Silent film
Anna Boleyn Ernst Lubitsch 3 December 1920 Henry VIII
Silent film
When Knighthood Was in Flower Robert G. Vignola 21 September 1922 Mary Tudor Marion Davies as Mary Tudor Silent film
The Virgin Queen J. Stuart Blackton 23 January 1923 Elizabeth I Diana Manners as Queen Elizabeth I Silent film
The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots Denison Clift October 1923 Mary, Queen of Scots Fay Compton as Mary, Queen of Scots Silent film
The Virgin Queen R. William Neill 12 May 1928 Elizabeth I Aileen Manning as Queen Elizabeth I Silent film
Henry the Ache Ray McCarey 26 January 1924 Henry VIII
A Princess of Destiny Tom Terriss 4 May 1929 Henry VIII
Lost silent short film
The Private Life of Henry VIII Alexander Korda 17 August 1933 Henry VIII Charles Laughton as Henry VIII
Victoria in Dover Erich Engel 28 February 1936 Victoria Jenny Jugo as Princess Victoria German language film
Mary of Scotland John Ford 28 August 1936 Mary, Queen of Scots Katharine Hepburn as Mary, Queen of Scots
Tudor Rose Robert Stevenson 1 September 1936 Lady Jane Grey
Fire Over England William K. Howard 5 March 1937 Elizabeth I Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth I
Victoria the Great Herbert Wilcox 16 September 1937 Victoria Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria
Sixty Glorious Years Herbert Wilcox 14 October 1938 Victoria Anna Neagle as Queen Victoria
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Michael Curtiz 11 November 1939 Elizabeth I Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I
Entente cordiale Marcel L'Herbier 3 April 1939 Edward VII
French language film
Das Herz der Königin Carl Froelich 1940 Mary, Queen of Scots Zarah Leander as Mary, Queen of Scots German language film
Henry V Laurence Olivier 22 November 1944 Henry V Laurence Olivier as King Henry V
The Mudlark Jean Negulesco 30 October 1950 Victoria Irene Dunne as Queen Victoria
Young Bess George Sidney 21 May 1953 Elizabeth I Jean Simmons as Young Bess
The Sword and the Rose Ken Annakin 23 July 1953 Mary Tudor Glynis Johns as Mary Tudor
Victoria in Dover Ernst Marischka 16 December 1954 Victoria Romy Schneider as Princess Victoria German language film
The Virgin Queen Henry Koster 22 July 1955 Elizabeth I Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I
Richard III Laurence Olivier 13 December 1955 Richard III
Victoria Regina George Schaefer 30 November 1961 Victoria Julie Harris as Queen Victoria Part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology
Tower of London Roger Corman 24 October 1962 Richard III Vincent Price as Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Becket Peter Glenville 11 March 1964 Henry II Peter O'Toole as King Henry II [1]
Elizabeth the Queen George Schaefer 1968 Elizabeth I Judith Anderson as Queen Elizabeth I Television film
The Lion in Winter Anthony Harvey 30 October 1968 Henry II Peter O'Toole as King Henry II [2]
Anne of the Thousand Days Charles Jarrott 18 December 1969 Henry VIII
[3]
Carry On Henry Gerald Thomas 17 February 1971 Henry VIII Sid James as King Henry VIII Part of the Carry On series
Mary, Queen of Scots Charles Jarrott 22 December 1971 Mary, Queen of Scots Vanessa Redgrave as Mary, Queen of Scots [4]
Henry VIII and His Six Wives Waris Hussein 13 July 1972 Henry VIII Keith Michell as Henry VIII
Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story James Goldstone 1982 Charles III
Television film [5]
The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana Peter Levin 1982 Charles III
  • Catherine Oxenberg as Diana, Princess of Wales
  • Christopher Baines as Charles, Prince of Wales
 Television film [6]
Lady Jane Trevor Nunn 7 February 1986 Lady Jane Grey Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey [7]
Henry V Kenneth Branagh 8 November 1989 Henry V Kenneth Branagh as King Henry V [8]
Diana: Her True Story (film) Andrew Morton 1993 Diana, Princess of Wales Serena Scott Thomas as Diana, Princess of Wales Television film
The Madness of King George Nicholas Hytner 30 December 1994 George III Nigel Hawthorne as King George III [9]
Willi und die Windzors 1996 Elizabeth II Irm Hermann as Queen Elizabeth II German language television film
Mrs Brown John Madden 18 July 1997 Victoria Judi Dench as Queen Victoria [10]
Elizabeth Shekhar Kapur 6 November 1998 Elizabeth I Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I [11]
Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess Gabrielle Beaumont 1998 Diana, Princess of Wales Amy Seccombe as Diana, Princess of Wales Television film [12]
Monarch John Walsh 2000 Henry VIII T. P. McKenna as King Henry VIII [13]
Bertie and Elizabeth Giles Foster 2002 George VI
Television film [14]
The Other Boleyn Girl Philippa Lowthorpe 28 March 2003 Henry VIII
Television film
The Lion in Winter James Goldman 26 December 2003 Henry II Patrick Stewart as King Henry II Television film
Whatever Love Means David Blair 2005 Charles III
Television film [15]
Diana: The Rose Conspiracy Martín Sastre 2005 Diana, Princess of Wales Denise Watson as Diana, Princess of Wales Short film
The Queen's Sister Craig Warner 2005 Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Lucy Cohu as Princess Margaret Television film [16]
The Queen Stephen Frears 14 September 2006 Elizabeth II Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II [17]
Diana: Last Days of a Princess Richard Dale 12 August 2007 Diana, Princess of Wales Genevieve O'Reilly as Diana, Princess of Wales Television film
Elizabeth: The Golden Age Shekhar Kapur 12 October 2007 Elizabeth I Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I [18]
The Other Boleyn Girl Justin Chadwick 29 February 2008 Henry VIII
[19]
The Young Victoria Jean-Marc Vallée 6 March 2009 Victoria Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria [20]
The Taking of Prince Harry 21 October 2010 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Sam Reid as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex Television film
The King's Speech Tom Hooper 26 November 2010 George VI Colin Firth as King George VI [21]
William & Kate: The Movie Mark Rosman 2011 William, Prince of Wales
Television film [22]
William & Catherine: A Royal Romance Linda Yellen 2011 William, Prince of Wales
Television film [23]
Mary Queen of Scots Thomas Imbach 12 November 2014 Mary, Queen of Scots Camille Rutherford as Mary, Queen of Scots English and French language film [24]
Diana Oliver Hirschbiegel 26 September 2013 Diana, Princess of Wales Naomi Watts as Diana, Princess of Wales [25]
Monarch John Walsh 14 September 2014 Henry VIII T. P. McKenna as Henry VIII [26]
A Royal Night Out Julian Jarrold 14 May 2015 Elizabeth II Sarah Gadon as Princess Elizabeth [27]
King Charles III Rupert Goold 10 May 2017 Charles III Tim Pigott-Smith as King Charles III Television film [28]
Victoria & Abdul Stephen Frears 3 September 2017 Victoria
[29]
Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance Menhaj Huda 13 May 2018 Harry, Duke of Sussex
Television film
Outlaw King David Mackenzie 9 November 2018 Robert the Bruce Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce
Mary Queen of Scots Josie Rourke 7 December 2018 Mary, Queen of Scots Saoirse Ronan as Mary, Queen of Scots [30]
The Favourite Yorgos Lanthimos 21 December 2018 Anne Olivia Colman as Queen Anne [31]
The Queen and I Dan Zeff 24 December 2018 Elizabeth II Samantha Bond as Queen Elizabeth II Television film
Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal Menhaj Huda 27 May 2019 Harry, Duke of Sussex
  • Charlie Field as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
  • Tiffany Smith as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
 Television film
The King David Michôd 17 October 2019 Henry V Timothée Chalamet as King Henry V [32]
Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace Menhaj Huda 6 September 2021 Harry, Duke of Sussex
  • Jordan Dean as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
  • Sydney Morton as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
 Television film
Spencer Pablo Larraín 5 November 2021 Diana, Princess of Wales Kristen Stewart as Diana, Princess of Wales [33]
Firebrand Karim Aïnouz 21 May 2023 Henry VIII
[34]

Fictional characters

Title Director Release date Top Billing Notes Ref
King Ralph David S. Ward 15 February 1991 John Goodman as Ralph Jones [35]
The Queen's Corgi
14 February 2019 Jack Whitehall as Rex the royal corgi Animated film [36]
Red, White & Royal Blue Matthew López 11 August 2023 Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry [37]

Documentary

Title Director Release date Subject Notes Ref
With Our King and Queen Through India 2 February 1912 King George V's coronation as Emperor of India Silent film, partially lost
Royal Journey
21 December 1951
A Queen Is Crowned Michael Waldman 2 June 1953 Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen in Australia Stanley Hawes 1954 Queen Elizabeth II
The England of Elizabeth John Taylor 1957 Queen Elizabeth I
A King's Story Harry Booth 1965 King Edward VIII
The Royal Tour of the Caribbean 1966 Queen Elizabeth II
Royal Family Richard Cawston 21 June 1969 Queen Elizabeth II Television film
Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen Edward Mirzoeff 6 February 1992 Queen Elizabeth II Television film
Charles: The Private Man, the Public Role 29 June 1994 King Charles III Television film
Looking for Victoria Louise Osmond 2003 Queen Victoria Television film
Britain's Real Monarch 3 January 2004 George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence Television film
Unlawful Killing Keith Allen 13 May 2011 Diana, Princess of Wales
Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute John Bridcut 21 April 2016 Queen Elizabeth II Television film
Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy Ashley Gething 24 July 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales Television film [38]
Diana: In Her Own Words 6 August 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales Television film
The Story of Diana Rebecca Gitlitz-Rapoport August 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales Television film
Diana, 7 Days Henry Singer 27 August 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales Television film [39]
The Coronation 14 January 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Television film
The Princess 19 January 2022 Diana, Princess of Wales
Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts Roger Michell 27 May 2022 Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen Simon Finch 29 May 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Television film
Charles R: The Making of a Monarch 30 April 2023 King Charles III Television film
Frankie Boyle's Farewell to the Monarchy 30 April 2023 Various Television film
Charles III: The Coronation Year Ashley Gething 26 December 2023 King Charles III Television film

See also

References

  1. ^ "Becket (1964)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  2. ^ "The Lion in Winter (1968)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  3. ^ "Anne of the Thousand Days". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  4. ^ "Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ^ "Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  6. ^ "The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  7. ^ "Lady Jane (1986)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  8. ^ "Henry V (1989)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  9. ^ "The Madness of King George". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  10. ^ "Mrs. Brown (1997)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  11. ^ "Elizabeth (1998)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  12. ^ "Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess (1998)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  13. ^ "Monarch: Henry VIII | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  14. ^ "Bertie & Elizabeth | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  15. ^ "Whatever Love Means (2005)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  16. ^ "The Queen's Sister | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  17. ^ "The Queen". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  18. ^ "Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  19. ^ "The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  20. ^ "The Young Victoria". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  21. ^ "The King's Speech (2010)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  22. ^ "William & Kate | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  23. ^ "William & Catherine: A Royal Romance | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  24. ^ "Mary Queen of Scots". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  25. ^ "Diana (2013)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  26. ^ Balasundaram, Nemesha. "Rare TP McKenna film to be screened after original tapes recovered". The Irish Post. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  27. ^ "A Royal Night Out". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  28. ^ "BBC Two - King Charles III". BBC. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  29. ^ "Victoria and Abdul (2017)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  30. ^ "Mary Queen of Scots". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  31. ^ "The Favourite (2018)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  32. ^ "The King (2019)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  33. ^ "Spencer (2021)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  34. ^ "Firebrand". Festival de Cannes. 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  35. ^ "King Ralph (1991)". AFI Catalog. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  36. ^ "The Queen's Corgi (2019)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  37. ^ "Red White & Royal Blue (2023)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  38. ^ Scheck, Frank (2017-07-22). "'Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  39. ^ "BBC One - Diana, 7 Days". BBC. Retrieved 2024-02-24.