The ten period pieces listed below are my personal favorites to depict the British monarchs! It is obvious that I am a lover of the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties, so the period pieces here are all from the late medieval period and the Tudor era!
Number 10: Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
~Margot Robbie played Elizabeth I to Saoirse Ronan’s Mary Stuart in this newest adaption of the life of Mary’s life. It was a well done, and very theatrical adaptation.
Number 9: Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1973)
~This adaption of the miniseries starred the same actor as the BBC miniseries, but with new actresses as the queens.
Number 7: Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (2005)
~This miniseries was beautiful and well acted, with great costumes!
Number 6:The Shadow of the Tower (1972)
~The story of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII is told in this miniseries that was made by the BBC as part of their 1970’s Tudor saga!
Number 5: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex & The Virgin Queen (1939 & 1955)
~These films both starred Bette Davis as the incomparable and mercurial queen! As a bonus The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex also starred the amazing Errol Flynn!
Number 4: Reign (2013-2018)
~Adelaide Kane starred as Mary Stuart in this four season long show that told the life of Mary from her years at the French court on through to her execution.
Number 3: Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
~My absolute favorite portrayal of Henry VIII is Richard Burton’s in this late sixties film! Genevieve Bujold played opposite him as his second wife Anne Boleyn.
Number 2: The White Princess (2017)
~The White Princess is the second miniseries based on Philippa Gregory books about the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties! This one is based on the story of Elizabeth of York!
Number 1: It’s a Tie! The Tudors (2007-2010) & The White Queen (2013)
~I could not choose one I loved above the other, so I decided to end it in a tie! The Tudors features my favorite portrayal of Anne Boleyn (Natalie Dormer is on point!). The White Queen is the story of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV and is the first of the Starz Philippa Gregory miniseries adaptions!
~I hope you enjoyed my opinions on British Royal period pieces! Let me know what your favorites are in the comments below!
White Rose of Avalon 