How The Crown’s Actors Compare to Their Real-Life Royal Counterparts

King George VI wasn’t supposed to be king at all. His brother, Edward VIII, was destined for the throne, until he abdicated the crown in order to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. George famously had a stammer and was terrified of public speaking, but eventually overcame it with the help of his speech therapist and friend Lionel Logue.

John Lithgow as Winston Churchill

Photos: 1) Getty Images 2) Netflix

It was an interesting choice to cast an American actor to play Britain’s most memorable statesman, Prime Minister Winston Churchill. But Lithgow delivers a captivating performance of the British bulldog during his last years in office.

Victoria Hamilton as the Queen Mother

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Queen Elizabeth II’s mother was one of the most popular royals in British history. In fact, she was so beloved by the people that Adolf Hitler once described her as “the most dangerous woman in Europe.” She lived to be 101 years old before peacefully dying in her sleep, her eldest daughter by her side.

Ben Miles as Group Captain Peter Townsend

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A war hero and equerry to King George VI, Townsend became a scandalous figure in Britain after falling in love with Princess Margaret.

Alex Jennings as the Duke of Windsor

Photos: 1) Getty Images 2) Netflix

King Edward VIII is best known for almost destroying the monarchy after proposing to the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. His decision to marry a woman with two living ex-husbands would have created a constitutional crisis in Britain, so Edward renounced the throne in order to wed Simpson. The couple later went into exile in France, where they spent much of the rest of their lives.