As ever, if you want to see these much larger and in better detail, just click on the arrow icon on your right (on desktop). Anyway, as I mentioned in the intro, all plot thoughts and whatnot can be found in our recaps -- so let's dive into the clothes and sets. I thought this look was very dowdy on Her Majesty, but in a way that's very in character, no? (You can assume at all times that I am telling Philip to SHUT UP.)
But it's ALWAYS fun to see her in full gown and jewelry regalia, especially pieces like this, where the gown feels vaguely family, and the jewels are DEFINITELY familar to anyone who spends any time royals watching.
Indeed, here she looks like a stamp. A stamp that is about to have her zipper fixed by her spouse and a kiss for once plonked on the back of her neck -- which would have been a good stamp to commemorate their 70th wedding anniversary!
Behold Her Majesty's Bedhead.
THIS. IS. HORRIFYING. Has Matt Smith betrayed a costume designer, and this is her revenge?
How can you look this SWOONY about THOSE PANTS? But, yes, the point of this slide was to point out that NO ONE wears a twinset like the Queen and while this should NOT be the take-away from this show I often watch it and think things like, "I need more cashmere."
I do NOT need more complicated double-breasted everything else, though. (You have to admit that Anthony Eden looks rather dapper for a man who is about to make some real bad political mistakes because he's whacked out on crank or whatever."
I just really thought this was a good shot, if somewhat on the nose, and when I saw screeners of this season, I did NOT have the translation subtitles, so it's nice to know what was actually happened WRT to Suex Canal. (You could actually follow it fairly well without the subtitles, but still.)
I DEMAND a scene where Elizabeth wears that giant sunhat she's wearing in one of those photos on Philip's desk.
Love 2 shoutout a gallery hallway.
Do I need art plonked down on golden easels throughout my home? Do I need more pearls in my wardrobe? Is this show just shoving me more quickly into the being the uptight old woman I've always known I would be?!!?
You know what I want to read? An article about how they source the crystal and china for this show. That's not a joke. I sincerely want to read that. When we went to Windsor on our Royal We research trip, I spend like TWO HOURS in their rooms that display all of the royal family's china. CERAMICS FOR LIFE.
This green coat is gorgeous on her; don't we all wish we were flying about on a wood paneled plane? I also do really want a leather case like Philip's, hopefully without THREATENING NOTES from a spouse or pictures from a lover who will ruin my life. (That reminds me that we wrote a whole piece about leather totes last week.)
Okay, so things are rough for Anthony Eden. He's strung out on drugs. His career is in the toilet. He kinda broke the UK. But his fireplace mantel is AMAZING.
LOOK AT THESE MUFFINS. Was Chaz EVER so cute?
What a hideous room. (This is part of the recap where I tell you to definitely take the tour of the Buckingham Palace staterooms if you're ever in London and they're open. The Christmas tour is AMAZING. )
Her Majesty looks amazing in this color.
Do you think they have enough items running down the middle of this table; shouldn't we all paint our formal dining rooms green? (I don't have a formal dining room.)
IT ME. Also, this blouse is fetching.
Yes, Dickie Mountbatten's Uniform Room has a giant elephant's tusk as decor.
I mention this in my recap of 202, but this show's take on the Mountbatten's relationship is sort of inaccurate -- they actually liked each other, but they did both have TONS OF AFFAIRS and made many bad but interesting choices. I've recommended their daughter Pamela's book Daughter of Empire before, but definitely give it a whirl if you're into posh British people's lives. Pamela's mother LEFT HER AT A HOTEL IN THE ALPS FOR MONTHS. Because she forgot where in the Alps she left her!
This tiara is stunning -- I must admit that I always think of it as a Bedazzled Slinky.
This dress is so beautiful; if I'm not crazy, we saw this at the exhibit of the Queen's gowns last year. Can Kate PLEASE borrow this? (I say, knowing it absolutely will not fit.)
This ensemble -- where Elizabeth basically tells Anthony Eden to get the hell out -- is one of my favorites of hers. It's so PROFESSIONAL.
No surprise that girlfriend uses cold cream. Poor Elizabeth has VERY sedate nightwear. Borrow a kimono from your sister!
On to episode two, wherein Philip is UNBEARABLE and DUMB the whole time, as I screeched about at length in my recap.
I understand this is the casual uniform of the Royal Navy but IT IS NOT SEXY.
I dislike Philip profoundly, but he ALSO looks hotter in sunglasses.
I just thought you might want to see this glam stationary on the Royal Yacht.
She is obsessed with this cardigan. It's interesting to see this version of QE2 and her commitment to neutrals; I'm so used to seeing her in jewel tones now.
This dress is very nearly a formal tennis front, but really I just wanted to express how much I LONG for those bookcases.
Sure. Make sex-eyes at a reporter. You're a GENIUS, Philip.
Said reporter IS very dishy, though. Doesn't she look like Cate Blanchett?
And her sailor dress is CHARMING. And very appropriately nautical. (FWIW, Heather and I got to visit the Royal Yacht when we were in Scotland last year, and it was FASCINATING and neat and you should go if you get a chance, and it's also MUCH smaller than this.)
And herein I enjoy her Gallery Wall of Racehouses. THAT seems based in fact.
As I said in my recap: This beard is real dumb.
CHRISTMAS AT SANDRINGHAM! Just imagine Meghan Markle there this year!
I know fur is bad, but I'm kinda into this look. I'M SORRY.
CORGIS!
I enjoy seeing Margaret and Anne hanging out. I STRONGLY doubt this show will be able to do anything as interesting with Anne as she deserves, when she's older, but I guess we'll find out. All I know is, this is FESTIVE.
And while I hate Philip's guts, I do love his sweater.
And while his speech is rotten, Elizabeth should take comfort in the fact that she's got some GORGEOUS throw pillows.
And her lipstick? Top-notch. Priorities, you know.