The 4 Best Prince Philip Documentaries to Watch Ahead of ‘The Crown’ Season 5
A lot has happened with the British royal family since Netflix’s hit series The Crown last aired. One major thing the royals had to deal with is the loss of Queen Elizabeth II‘s husband, Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021. Although the Duke of Edinburgh is gone, his story will continue in the upcoming season of the show.
Season 4 of The Crown ended with Philip (Tobias Menzies) speaking to Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) while the family was gathered to celebrate the Christmas holiday in 1990. While we await Season 5 of the historical drama, there are a few documentaries you can watch right now about the late Prince Philip. Here are four picks to check out before the new season of The Crown is released in November 2022.
‘Prince Philip: An Extraordinary Life’
Prince Philip: An Extraordinary Life aired shortly after the duke’s death was announced.
The documentary takes a deep dive into the remarkable life of Britain’s longest-serving royal consort. The program details some of the prince’s work in public service including establishing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. It also takes a look at a few of his public appearances when he put his foot in his mouth, which have often been referred to as “gaffes.” It reveals a side of Philip that many viewers (even avid fans of The Crown) may not have known about.
The program is available to stream now on Tubi.
‘Prince Philip, A Royal Life’
Prince Philip: A Royal Life is another documentary that was released soon after the duke’s death.
The PBS NEWSHOUR special examines Philip’s life and his legacy with numerous clips and interviews from several royal authors, commentators, and those who knew the prince.
It’s narrated by Welsh journalist Sian Williams and can be viewed now on YouTube (above).
‘Prince Philip: The Plot to Make a King’
Prince Philip: The Plot To Make A King originally aired in 2015.
It tells the story some fans may not have heard about why Prince Philip and his bride’s union was controversial among members of the British monarchy. The description for the documentary reads: “This is the inside story of dynastic tensions that were unleashed when Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, fell in love with Prince Philip. Witness the complexities and frustrations of the royal marriage, as the monarch struggled to reconcile the love of her husband with the suspicions of her family and her government.”
The documentary is available to watch now via Amazon Prime.
‘Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers’
Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers aired in the U.K. and the U.S several months after the family patriarch’s death.
In the documentary, a number of royals including Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince William, and Prince Harry shared their candid memories of the Duke of Edinburgh.
You can see Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers here via Facebook Watch.
