Living under the Royal spotlight, one wouldn’t necessarily expect the Royal family to have much spare time due to their packed calendar of events. However, even members of the monarchy find occasional moments to unwind – and what could be more relatable than curling up to enjoy a spot of telly?
Just last week, Queen Camilla sent fans into a frenzy when she confessed to being a fan of Bridgerton, during a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, in perfect timing for a tour of a gorgeous garden inspired by the much-talked-about Netflix series. While exploring the floral paradise, designed by Holly Johnston, the Queen disclosed: “I watched the first lot” referring to season three of Bridgerton, whose upcoming second half is slated for June 13 release, reports the Mirror.
But its not just Bridgerton that has caught Royal attention, as over the years, a number of hit TV series have won over the hearts of the royals.
Let’s delve deeper into some of the highly-rated shows that managed to snag the Royal nod….
The Crown
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Despite its sensational depiction of some contentious chapters in Royal history, The Crown – the popular Netflix saga tracing the life of Queen Elizabeth – surprisingly had Royal watchers within Buckingham Palace itself.
In a chat with Harper’s Bazaar, Vanessa Kirby, who played Princess Margaret in The Crown, shared an amusing anecdote: “A friend of mine was at a party and didn’t know anyone, so he sidled up to this group who were talking about The Crown. One girl said, ‘Well, my granny watches it and really likes it’. It slowly dawned on him that the girl was Eugenie and her granny was the Queen.”
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and mother to Eugenie, is also reportedly a massive fan of the series, even confessing that she “loved” how her 1986 wedding to Prince Andrew was depicted in season 4.
Britain’s Got Talent
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Given that the winners of Britain’s Got Talent get the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance, it’s hardly surprising that the Royal family are big fans of the show. Prince Harry has even expressed his love for the talent competition.
In a conversation with the Independent, judge Amanda Holden revealed that Harry once cheekily asked if then-judge Piers Morgan was “really a prat”, to which she candidly responded: “You can’t say that but yes! “.
Game of Thrones
(Image: Home Box Office Inc.)
Prince William has previously admitted that he and Kate were avid viewers of the fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, which aired from 2011 to 2019. This unexpected revelation came during a radio show, when William recommended the series to the host who hadn’t yet seen it.
“You should definitely watch Game of Thrones, that’s worth watching,” he advised her.
Moreover, they even tried to get some spoilers from Jaqen H’ghar actor Tom Wlaschiha, confessing that they had “watched every series”. Recalling his Royal encounter, Tom told the Evening Standard: “They wanted spoilers but I said I couldn’t tell them. I’m surprised they have time to watch such a long running series.”
Fireman Sam
(Image: Getty)
It’s not just the older royals who are fans of certain shows, as Prince George was once so engrossed in the animated series Fireman Sam that the creators made a special episode just for him. Kate Middleton shared on BBC Radio One: “Fireman Sam has taken an awful lot of interest.”
Besides loving the characters, George was also fascinated by the helicopters featured in the show and was even spotted buying a Fireman Sam book from a charity shop. Impressed by his unwavering fandom, the show’s creators decided to dedicate an entire episode to the young prince. For the 30th anniversary, both George and William were given a sort of cameo in the episode titled: The Prince in Pontypandy.
Set in the fictional Welsh village of Pontypandy, home to Sam and his fire crew, the village was visited by an unnamed Royal prince. During the visit, Sam and his crew were tasked with organising the event. However, when one character falls down a ravine, the prince himself comes to the rescue in a helicopter – in what many considered to be a subtle nod to William’s career with the RAF.
Strictly Come Dancing
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The BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing is another favourite in the Royal household. Known to be loved by Kate Middleton and her mother Carole, it seems Prince Louis has also caught the Strictly bug. Last December, the youngest son of Prince William and Kate had the chance to visit the famous set.
He was captivated by the backstage action and even asked if he could take one of the costume crowns home.
Jeopardy
(Image: ABC via Getty Images)
While it may not be as popular in the UK, the American quiz show Jeopardy is a staple in many US homes. In February 2021, Prince Harry admitted on The Late Late Show that he’s a fan of the show.
Describing his ideal night in, Harry told host James Corden: “Meg might cook a meal, we might order a takeaway, go upstairs, sit in bed, turn the TV on, watch some Jeopardy, maybe watch a little bit of Netflix.”
Downton Abbey
(Image: Daily Mirror)
According to the Daily Telegraph, one of the late Queen’s favourite shows was the ITV period drama Downton Abbey. She reportedly enjoyed watching the series on Sunday evenings when it aired from 2011 to 2018.
In addition to being captivated by the cast and plotlines, The Queen was also surprisingly critical of the show, according to the newspaper. She would “point out things they have got wrong” as she was familiar with Highclere Castle, where the show was filmed.
Blackadder
(Image: BBC)
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Prince William famously participated in the BBC’s The Big Night In performance, showing support for front-line workers keeping the nation going and ensuring the safety of those at home. As part of the show, William joined forces with Stephen Fry for a special Blackadder themed sketch, revealing it as one of his favourite TV shows.
Giving us a peek into his viewing preferences, during the same sketch, William humorously asked Stephen for recommendations on what to watch, expressing that he missed EastEnders. In a funny twist, Stephen suggested the Netflix documentary Tiger King, to which William confessed he “avoids shows about royalty! ” much to the delight of viewers at home.
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