NO ONE gives a better dirty look than Vanessa Kirby in this part. She is a sulker par excellence. Maybe she's just bitter because that color isn't that great on her. A dusty rose is hard to pull off; it does, however, amuse me that she's wearing the same color to this wedding that the Duchess of Cambridge wore to Pippa's wedding.
Has anyone's body language ever screamed I'M BORED this eloquently? On BOTH their parts, honestly. Also: her gloves are amazing.
And this is a glorious hat. Say what you will about Margaret -- like, for example, that she makes REALLLLLLY bad life choices especially WRT to whom she chooses to marry -- but her taste is divine.
I feel like Margaret would be happier if she had SLIGHTLY less chintz in her bedroom, though, and I say that as a real lover of chintz.
Speaking of bedrooms. This bed is REALLY demanding a lot of its inhabitants. That bed requires PERFORMANCE. It appears to EXPECT PROPAGATION OF THE BLOODLINE and given that I think this is Balmoral, it's probably been doing that to Scottish brides for many hundreds of years. Elizabeth is even reading a book about breeding -- horses, but still.
It's sort of hard to see in this picture, but the sofa behind Prime Minister Macmillian and his bride (who led a rather dramatic life; this particular recap had a LOT of Wiki Deep Dives, if you're into that) is a fabulous plaid, and reminds me of one that Heather had for years and YEARS and years and which all her friends were devastated to say goodbye to, because we'd ALL slept off a night of boozing on it. This also seems like the best place for me to confess that I think this sort of decor is kind of my jam. It has so much STUFF in it. Photos! Paintings! Crystal! Mixed fabrics! I am not a minimalist.
HIDEOUS!
Hey, look! It's the Halo Tiara! (And it's way bigger on her that it was on Kate; all these tiaras have been recreated to be like 20% larger and I'm not totally sure why. Just...recreate them. It's not like they're not impressive at standard size.) I don't smoke, but I kind of want to make this photo my new online dating pic. It's so full of sexy irritation, and anyone willing to put up with me is going to have to accept some irritation. (The sexiness is less assured.)
I just noticed that the Queen Mum is drinking what appears to be a Bloody Mary in this scene. You might need a drink to get through an afternoon with Cecil Beaton and Margaret in a strop.
LOOK AT THESE WALLS. THEY ARE AMAZING. This scene was supposed to be set at Blenheim, and I've never been to Blenheim TO MY HUGE DISMAY, but I can certainly believe it has amazing wall murals, and if it does not, please not not tell me. Where is the amazng coffee table book, MURALS OF ENGLISH MANORS, I ask you?
Margaret's gown in this scene is extremely fantastic. It does only seem fair that you look amazing if you have to storm over to someone's house and scream at them for being a total drunken idiot who has ruined your life.
I enjoy how everyone on this show covers every possible surface with framed photos. They're also always drinking, which makes it problematic, I imagine, to find a place to put down their glass.
This dress ALSO gave her a great opportunity for a lot of HEAVING BOSOM as she berated Billy Wallace for fighting an ill-advised duel after cheating on her with some hot actress. (Definitely check out the recap for the deep dive on Colin Tennant, who is the friend who challenged Billy to the duel [which was fictional]. He lost all his money because he decided...to buy an island.)
Will someone also please write a book called ROYAL TABLESCAPES? Thank you.
This dress is divine on Elizabeth, but this tiara is also a little bigger than the actual one. And the actual one has nearly 500 diamonds in it.
Speaking of bling, I appreciate the Queen Mum's devotion to getting as much she can out of the jewel vault.
I originally grabbed this to see the back of Margaret's dress, and that amazing painting, and then noticed that the one person who seems to be applauding Elizabeth at what is ostensibly her anniversary party is sweet, devoted Porchey. I just want the two of them to get to make out in a stable JUST ONCE.
Oh, Margaret. I know you're profoundly miserable, but at least your dressing gown is divine. That can get a girl through a lot -- just ask Lady Mary.
And also, honey, I know you're sad, but you need to take better care of your skin and wash your face before bed. You'll thank me when you're older!
I just felt you should know that Margaret's Lady in Waiting, Elizabeth Cavendish, has an amazing door knocker.
And, indeed, her entire flat is STUPENDOUSLY decorated.
That coffee table! That LAMP!
I appreciate the giant crystal testicles on the lamp behind her, clearly communicating to us that TONY ARMSTRONG-JONES HAS BALLS.
Just thought you might want the full-length gander at this gown on Margaret, which I think any celeb could wear on a red carpet today, no prob.
This is a rather subdued pattern on Margaret -- the only person on this show who ever wears a pattern -- but I appreciate the greenery behind her. Lush and alive, LIKE SHE FINALLY IS. (I've decided that whatever is behind Margaret at any given moment is Symbolic.) This also seems like the right place to note that my current manicure is literally inspired by Marg's nails. I'll also blame her when I take up smoking.
I appreciate that Liz, like myself, enjoys a spot of Tatler in the afternoon.
You know what they say about sunglasses. Here, they are making Margaret glamorous but she also vaguely resembles like my grandmother.
I would watch a supercut of this show that is just Vanessa Kirby being skeptical.
And there he is, you pretentious sexy old dirt bag. (One of you tweeted us to ask why Tony is such a dirt bag and now I can only think of him thusly. He WAS a dirt bag. He was SO mean to Margaret. However, also he was hot. So. I mean, she's an emotionally bereft woman who is also a living human. I cannot blame her for tapping this. AT ALL. But choosing to tap that for all time was a recipe for tears.)
The dirt bag also has an amazing loft. Yes, it's very dark up there and it kind of looks like the most extra Restoration Hardware the world has ever seen, but it really works.
That bookshelf as a room divider? Inspired.
That card catalog? Sure, probably actually needed for a photographer, but also so chic!
The many many many photos on the desk? Apparently required by law.
Behold! The first time this show has ever been actually, properly sexy.
(Margaret agrees.)
She REALLY agrees.
There is something brilliant to me about juxtaposing Philip and Elizabeth being gently placed into their boring nightwear by servants with Margaret dancing around in her room in her bra. I would NOT want my servants to place my nightgown on my person for a lot of reasons, not least of which is that I feel like the Buckingham Palace servants have a LOT of intel about when their queen and her consort are getting it on and when they are not and frankly that's none of their beeswax..
Matthew Goode is a very sexy smoker.
ALL the sets and costuming for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor are so great. This Mandarin-collared shirt is so delicate and beautiful and EXPENSIVE-seeming.
And, finally, here's this episode's toast rack. (I like that the Queen Mum's bedside photo of her child is...her coronation photo. I also like that she's opted for like Medieval Religious Items over her bed; the best part of marrying into this family might be getting to pick the art for your house from its collection.)