The Crown – Windsor

By: Lindsay Flanagan

We left “The Crown” after Episode 2 when Elizabeth (Claire Foy) is left as Queen when King George (Jared Harris) unexpectedly passes. Episode Three opens to a flashback to 1936 when King Edward (Alex Jennings)—née David—addresses his people, explaining why his younger brother will be taking the throne. Between serving his country or marrying the woman he loves—Wallis Simpson (Lia Williams), an American and a three-time divorcée—Edward chooses to abdicate the throne.

This, of course, leaves Elizabeth as heir and now, upon her father’s passing, is the Queen. As she and her mother and grandmother are planning the funeral, the displeasure of the royal family regarding former King Edward (now the Duke of Windsor) is made clear. While trying to decide where to seat him for the funeral, the Queen Mother Elizabeth (Victoria Hamilton) says he could be seated on the steps outside the chapel. She immediately apologizes to Queen Mary (Eileen Atkins) saying, “I’m sorry, I know he’s your son.” Mary responds, “A son who gave up the throne and effectively killed my other son.”

The Duke is certainly more popular among the people of England, though. There are cheers and flashes of camera bulbs as he walks down the gangplank of the ship which carried him back to his homeland. He makes a quick speech regarding how his heart is with “the widowed Queen Mother and her two daughters,” earning him more cheers for his seemingly heartfelt support for the royal family. He then meets with his mother and the reception he receives from her is a stark contrast to the one he received from the people. Mary says, in response to the Duke’s “Poor Bertie” sentiment, “One can only be thankful for all the years one had him. So wonderfully thoughtful and caring. An angel to his mother, wife and children. I honestly believe he never thought of himself at all. He really was the perfect son.” Lest we feel sorry for the Duke, his conversation with his mother prompts him to write to his wife expressing his distaste for his own family.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth is beginning her queenly duties. She is seated at her father’s—her—desk, with the red box of official documents sitting in front of her. It is still stamped with “The King” and as she looks at it she says, “I had hoped this might all wait.” Of course, it cannot so Elizabeth opens the box. As she prepares for her first meeting with Winston Churchill (John Lithgow), Philip (Matt Smith) reminds her about the two most important things that will come from the meeting: that she and the children will keep his surname, Mountbatten, and they will keep their residence at Clarence House rather than moving to Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth agrees, but during their meeting the subject is never approached. Rather, they discuss the date of her impending coronation. Churchill proposes a date sixteen months in the future, insisting that it is for her benefit as time between ascension and coronation was important to her father. Elizabeth points out that he only had five months—so why the delay? Elizabeth will soon figure it out, but in the meantime she needs to meet with her uncle.

The Duke of Windsor faces the three women whom his brother loved best—his wife, the Queen Mother; Princess Margaret, his youngest daughter (Vanessa Kirby) and the Queen of England, Elizabeth. He tries to assuage the situation by admitting they’ve had their differences, but they share one thing in common—the loss of the same man. He suggests seeing one another after the funeral and Princess Margaret can be seen nodding in agreement, but the Queen Mother can barely contain herself. She merely breathes—seethes—while looking at her brother-in-law. Elizabeth is the one to speak, stating she’d “like that very much.” The meeting is broken by the arrival of Peter Townsend (Ben Miles), who is there to escort them to Westminster Hall where they will see the former King’s body.

When Princess Margaret asks her mother why she couldn’t be civil to their uncle, the Queen Mother responds that she cannot forgive the Duke’s selfishness at passing on the burden—one that she believes played a part in her husband’s death—of being king to his brother. She also says the Duke is only being civil to them because he wants to ensure his yearly allowance will still be coming. However, the Queen Mother will do everything she can to ensure that allowance will stop.

The scene changes to the home of Lord Mountbatten (Greg Wise), Philip’s uncle, who while hosting a dinner party, toasts to his future—that of being in the Royal House Mountbatten. The Prince of Hannover (Daniel Betts), Queen Mary’s nephew, is in attendance and he rushes to his aunt’s side to tell her that Mountbatten is already celebrating the naming of the Royal House. Although there was a Royal Warrant that kept the royal name as Windsor, it only took into account male descendants—not female. But the name of Windsor, it is expected, will not go down so easily.

Amidst the drama surrounding what name Elizabeth will take, her sister Margaret has drama of her own. She and Peter Townsend are still involved in an affair and he presents a letter to Margaret, written by his wife, who has left him. Although he is now free, he does not think he will be allowed to marry her. Their meeting is interrupted by none other than Philip (Matt Smith), who has become fascinated with the idea of flying and asks Townsend (who, we remember, was in the Royal Air Force) to teach him. Townsend hastily agrees, but not before Philip sees the purse Margaret left on Townsend’s desk.

Philip is involved in his own drama, though. The issue of Elizabeth and their children keeping his name is being taken into the hands of Queen Mary, who makes sure Churchill gets word that Elizabeth wants to keep Philip’s name. Churchill pays a visit to Elizabeth again who tells her it would be a “grave” mistake to keep the name Mountbatten. He reminds her it is an adoptive name, one given to Philip when he became a British citizen. His former name was Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg of the royal house of Denmark, Norway and Greece. As Elizabeth casts her eyes away, Churchill sighs and tells her that despite his being an “old man” and despite many questioning what he can still offer in public service his job is to prepare a sovereign who is ready to take on the great responsibility of being Queen. Elizabeth; however, tells Churchill that while being Queen she also wants to be in a successful marriage, which additionally is in the national interest. Churchill agrees to discuss it with the cabinet, but Elizabeth responds that he will inform the cabinet. Churchill owes her this favor she says, because she is doing one for him—allowing her coronation to be delayed for the sixteen months he had proposed earlier because the cabinet would not try to remove him from office while he is preparing for that ceremony.

It seems she has tied Churchill’s hands, but the cabinet refuses both the name and the home. Churchill meets with the Duke of Windsor who explains the issue to him. The Duke agrees that Elizabeth needs to keep the name Windsor and move to the palace. He also offers to break the news to Elizabeth. As a return favor, the Duke asks Churchill to help ensure that is allowance will stay in place. Churchill tells him the matter is already closed—the allowance will continue. The Duke seems to go too far though when he asks Churchill to fight for the title that Wallis Simpson has been denied—Duchess. Winston argues, stating that he has defended the Duke so many times, but in this matter he cannot.

The Duke doesn’t push the issue, and we see him next meeting for a private lunch with his niece. Elizabeth forwardly calls him out for never apologizing to her for placing her in this life. If he hadn’t abdicated, she would not have been the heir. He tells her he is sorry and she thanks him, telling him she’d accept his advice seeing as her father is no longer around to provide it. Seemingly humbled, the Duke offers his advice on the two issues that plagued this episode—her name and her residence.

Not surprisingly, Elizabeth breaks the news to Philip that the name will be—has to be—Windsor and they will move their home to Buckingham Palace because that is the home of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. “Says who?” asks Philip. “Me,” Elizabeth replies. Philip, obviously upset, says, “What kind of marriage is this? You’ve taken my career from me, you’ve taken my home, you’ve taken my name.”

The Duke of Windsor, who ensured the name, the residence and his own allowance were firmly instated boards a ship back to New York amidst the now-familiar cheers. Elizabeth and her family arrive at Buckingham Palace where, in a much more somber mood than the Duke, Elizabeth announces that she and her descendants will bear the name of Windsor.