1Wolferton Splash
In 1947, Elizabeth turns 21 and marries Philip, but her honeymoon is interrupted when she learns her father, King George, is being operated on. While the king convalesces, Elizabeth takes his place on a tour of the Commonwealth. This is her first assignment in her role as future Queen Elizabeth II.
2Hyde Park Corner
With King George too ill to travel, Elizabeth and Phillip embark on a four-continent Commonwealth tour. Party leaders attempt to undermine Churchill.
3Windsor
George's funeral takes place with the arrival of his brother, Edward, Duke of Windsor, evoking Elizabeth's memory of the abdication. Her mother and especially grandmother. Queen Mary, are angered by his sarcastic presence and Mary has no compunction in telling him though Elizabeth is prepared to be conciliatory - to a point. She is also grateful to Churchill for his guidance to her in her new situation but annoys Philip when she refuses to let the royal house change its name from Windsor to Mountbatten. Unaware of his sister-in-law's involvement with a commoner on the brink of divorce Philip asks Townsend to give him flying lessons.
4Act of God
In December 1952 the country is in the grip of a deadly smog, which causes thousands of deaths, including that of Churchill's secretary Venetia Scott. Elizabeth confronts Churchill with the fact that the smog has been caused by chimney smoke from Conservative-built power stations, and his detractors seize upon this, calling for his resignation. However he rises to the occasion with hospital visits and the promise of a public enquiry, leading to the Clean Air Act, and Elizabeth decides against his dismissal. Afterwards Queen Mary tells her that it is not in the monarch's remit to engage in politics.
5Smoke and Mirrors
In 1953 Elizabeth recalls her father's words to her prior to his own coronation as she prepares for her own. Edward turns up for the occasion but declines to attend when his wife is refused admission. After Mary dies and her funeral is in the traditional old style Philip, feeling side-lined by his wife, decides to organize a down-sized coronation more acceptable to a country still hit by rationing and broadcast live on television. The Establishment is shocked but the occasion is a success.
6Gelignite
Whilst Philip is concerned about Nasser's overthrow of KIng Farouk in Egypt the affair between Margaret and Townsend has not escaped the attention of certain newspapers, who go to press with it. Margaret asks her sister to sanction their marriage and, despite Philip's disapproval, Elizabeth promises to help. However Lascelles and the queen mother point out to her that by law Margaret must wait a further two years until she is twenty-five. Consequently Townsend is posted to Brussels whilst Margaret is on a royal tour of Rhodesia and the romance is curtailed, the press being generally sympathetic to the lovers and perceiving the monarchy as being cruel.
7Scientia Potentia Est
Elizabeth feels that her education makes her inadequate to converse with clever statesmen so she enlists the aid of private tutor Professor Hogg. Following the Russians exploding the H-bomb Foreign Secretary Eden is sent to America to see President Eisenhower but he is not a well man and the talks do not go ahead whilst back home Churchill also suffers a stroke but keeps it from the queen, to stay in office. Learning the truth she is angry and rebukes him as well as standing up to the out-going Lascelles over the choice of his successor, having learnt self-confidence, rather than facts from her tutor.
8Pride & Joy
The queen and Philip embark on a six month Commonwealth tour which he dismisses as an absurd pantomime given that many of the countries desire independence, later accusing her of trying to live up to her father's image and persisting in his view that the itinerary is exhausting her. In her absence Margaret takes on many public appearances in the hopes that it will take her mind of Townsend but they still keep in touch. Furthermore she writes her own speeches, revelling in the publicity and hoping it will win popular support for herself and her lover. Churchill is disapproving and Elizabeth rebukes her on her return, accusing her of showing individuality, anathema to a royal's public image. Meanwhile the queen mother, dismayed at having to withdraw from the spotlight, buys the Castle of Mey in Scotland.
9Assassins
As Philip goes his own way, drinking with his friends Elizabeth turns to her love of horse racing, spending time at her stables with trainer Lord Porchington - Porchey. Philip is not interested and suggests that Porchey is more than a friend but Elizabeth refutes this, telling Philip he is the only man she ever loved. Churchill's eightieth birthday is cause for a public celebration and for his portrait to be painted by artist Graham Sutherland, but he rejects the finished product for portraying him as a vulnerable old man and his wife burns it. After consultation with the queen he also steps down as prime minister, giving way to Anthony Eden.
10Gloriana
In 1936, following his brother's abdication, the king tells his daughters always to put the country above personal interests and nineteen years later this comes back to haunt Elizabeth as, although Margaret is now twenty-five, parliament finds new objections to her marrying Townsend, chiefly because he is a divorcee, and the queen is put in the terrible position of having to break her promise to her sister and forbid the marriage. Margaret hates her but a surprisingly sympathetic phone call comes from the duke of Windsor. Another problem is Philip's continued view that he is always in his wife's shadow as he goes off to open the Melbourne Olympics - and in Egypt the Suez crisis looms.
1Misadventure
As Philip leaves for a long tour, Elizabeth makes an upsetting discovery. Prime Minister Eden wants to strike back after Egypt seizes the Suez Canal.
2A Company of Men
Elizabeth feels disconnected from Philip. Eden copes with international pressure and ill health. An interview stirs up harrowing memories for Philip.
3Lisbon
Palace insiders try to prevent a scandal that could reflect poorly on Philip. Eden faces censure from his cabinet and the press.
4Beryl
When Elizabeth and Philip throw a grand party for their 10th anniversary, both Margaret and the new Prime Minister experience romantic tribulations.
5Marionettes
After Elizabeth makes a tone-deaf speech at a Jaguar factory, she and the monarchy come under public attack by an outspoken lord.
6Vergangenheit
A secret World War II document opens Elizabeth's eyes to grim realities about a family member. The Duke of Windsor campaigns to re-enter public life.
7Matrimonium
A letter from Peter Townsend spurs Margaret to make a bold proposal. Elizabeth has good news that causes complications for Margaret.
8Dear Mrs. Kennedy
Inspired by Jackie Kennedy and against her government's wishes, Elizabeth takes an unconventional approach to resolving an issue in Ghana.
9Paterfamilias
Philip insist that Prince Charles attend his alma mater in Scotland and reminisces about the life-changing difficulties he experienced there.
10Mystery Man
A salacious government scandal hits close to home for Elizabeth and Philip. Elizabeth retreats to Scotland for the rest of a difficult pregnancy.
1Olding
The royal family mourns the passing of Winston Churchill. The United Kingdom ushers in a new prime minister, the Labour Party's Harold Wilson whom Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth hear might be a Soviet spy.
2Margaretology
While Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon visit the USA, the queen, at the bidding of Harold Wilson, asks them to make a side trip to Washington, D.C. to ask President Johnson for financial assistance for the United Kingdom.
3Aberfan
A horrible disaster in the Welsh town of Aberfan leaves scores of children dead, but when the Queen takes a week to decide to visit the town to offer solace to its people, she must confront her reasons for postponing the trip.
4Bubbikins
Left without a home by a political coup in Athens, Philip's eccentric mother, Princess Alice of Greece, is invited to live in Buckingham Palace by the Queen.
5Coup
While the Queen travels abroad to learn about horse training, unhappiness among the British elite with the devaluation of the pound involves Lord Mountbatten in a plan to oust Harold Wilson.
6Tywysog Cymru
Prince Charles is sent to Aberystwyth to learn Welsh from an ardent nationalist in preparation for the ceremony for his investiture as Prince of Wales.
7Moondust
The 1969 moon landing occasions a mid-life crisis in Prince Philip, who thinks of the adventures he has missed as the Queen's consort.
8Dangling Man
Charles visits the exiled Duke of Windsor in his Paris chateau, only to find him very ill. But will the Queen make peace with her uncle before he dies?
9Imbroglio
While Princess Anne dates her elder brother's polo rival Andrew Parker Bowles, Prince Charles falls deeply in love with Camilla Shand causing the Queen Mother and Lord Mountbatten to interfere.
10Cri de Coeur
As her marriage falls apart, Princess Margaret finds solace in the arms of a much younger landscape gardener. The Queen and the nation celebrate Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.
1Gold Stick
As Elizabeth welcomes Britain's first woman prime minister and Charles meets a young Diana Spencer, an IRA attack brings tragedy to the royal family.
2The Balmoral Test
Margaret Thatcher visits Balmoral but has trouble fitting in with the royal family, while Charles finds himself torn between his heart and family duty.
3Fairytale
After Charles proposes, Diana moves into Buckingham Palace and finds her life filled with princess training, loneliness and Camilla Parker Bowles.
4Favourites
While Margaret Thatcher struggles with the disappearance of her favorite child, Elizabeth reexamines her relationships with her four children.
5Fagan
As Thatcher's policies create rising unemployment, a desperate man breaks into the palace, where he finds Elizabeth's bedroom and awakens her for a talk.
6Terra Nullius
On a tour of Australia, Diana struggles to balance motherhood with her royal duties while both she and Charles cope with their marriage difficulties.
7The Hereditary Principle
Grappling with mental health issues, Margaret seeks help and discovers an appalling secret about estranged relatives of the royal family.
848:1
As many nations condemn apartheid in South Africa, tensions mounts between Thatcher and Elizabeth about their clashing opinions on applying sanctions.
9Avalanche
Charles is caught in a deadly avalanche, prompting both him and Diana to reevaluate their commitment to their troubled marriage.
10War
Amid a growing challenge to her power, Thatcher fights for her position. Charles grows more determined to separate from Diana as their marriage unravels.