So, I’ve been really into The Crown lately…probably because it’s a welcome distraction from the hot mess that is the United States right now. Also I like looking at fancy interiors and rooms with impossibly high ceilings.
Previously, the only knowledge I had about the royal family was from many years of watching Beatles footage (there’s quite a bit of relevant material!). First there was the Royal Variety show in 1963, where the Beatles played for the Queen Mother and John got cheeky:
Then there were multiple instances of the Beatles meeting Princess Margaret (“Priceless Margarine” per John). Fun fact: she and Lord Snowdon both attended the premieres for A Hard Day’s Night and Help! (spoiler alert: the Princess doesn’t marry Peter Townsend).
And of course the MBE debacle, in which the Queen made the boys members of the British Empire, fans stormed Buckingham Palace, a bunch of people got mad, and the Beatles just got super high and gave an incomprehensible interview about it:
Fast forward to the 90s and you have Paul and George Martin being knighted by the Queen herself. And, a gazillion years later, Ringo’s finally a knight too!
Anyway, it’s been fun learning more about the monarchy and all its drama by way of a Netflix original series. Compared to American scandal, it’s all very dignified drama. Also, I’ve learned that I kind of have a crush on King George VI and I’m cool with that.
To end, here’s an adorable picture of Paul and the Queen:
(Bonus picture – I find this one even more adorbs.)
Flip the Record 