User Reviews

Episode 3 of "The Crown" begins with a flashback to a public address on December 10, 1936, delivered by the former king Edward VIII (known in the royal family as "David," one of his middle names). David had abdicated the throne in order to marry an American divorcée, Wallis Simpson. After handing over power to his younger brother, David accepted the title of Duke of Windsor. The name Windsor is theme of this program.

The most surprising choice on the part of the filmmakers is to invest the disgraced Edward VIII with great dignity and sympathy when he returns to England for his brother's funeral. David is shunned by his mother, the formidable Queen Mary, who believes that David's abdication resulted in the death of her beloved son George VI, who overcame his stuttering and forced himself into the role of monarch through sheer will power. David spends his time lobbying both Churchill and the new queen Elizabeth II to maintain his 10,000-pound annual pension. To the court at large, David is described as a monster. But as depicted in the program, he receives adulation from the public and is treated virtually like a saint.

In one of the best scenes in the program, David meets with Churchill and agrees to use his influence on Elizabeth to renounce the Clarence House and move into the traditional home of the royal family in Buckingham Palace. In turn, David asks Churchill for a favor in exerting influence on the cabinet to restore David's pension and to lobby for granting a title to Wallis Simpson.

The filmmakers portray two warring sides in the interior life of the British royals. On the one hand, they live to the point of absurdity a pampered life with servants, special amenities, and the finest living accommodations in the British Empire. On the other hand, the unwritten rules demand a level of asceticism that approaches the strictures of a medieval monastery. David is scapegoated for reneging on his duties, leading to the long-suffering reign of his stuttering brother. Even Elizabeth confronts David by demanding an apology for indirectly forcing her into the role of England's monarch. There is no mention that as Edward VIII, David was a Nazi sympathizer during his one year as king. The filmmakers reserve that story for Season 2. But this facet of Edward VIII needs to be established here in program #3 of Season 1.

In the course of the episode, we learn that David has coined nicknames for the British royals, including "Cookie" for Queen Mary, "Cry Baby" for Churchill, and "Shirley Temple" for Elizabeth. But in part due to the persuasiveness of David, Elizabeth agrees not to pursue a name change to Mountbatten, the family name of her husband Philip. By the end of the program, she has agreed move into Buckingham Palace and to embrace the traditional family name: Windsor.

Margaret looks stunning with her black funeral outfit. She is pleased to find out that Peter Townsend's wife has left him.

Elizabeth's mother refuses to forgive her late husband's brother who gave up the throne. She says he passed on the duties to her husband and being king took a toll on his health.

The funeral takes place and ashes are scattered by Elizabeth.

Philip's father tells Philip to make sure the royal house's name is Manbatten. He wants his last name to be passed to the royal house's descendants.

Elizabeth speaks with her husband in the bedroom as a female attendant unzips her out of the black funeral dress. Accessories are taken off.

Margaret looks for Townsend and they kiss.

Elizabeth tells Winston Churchill his intentions - the longer length to coronation is so he will continue to have power until the coronation.

Elizabeth's father's mother hears about the choosing of the last name situation. She says Windsor is her son's last name and to be passed on.

Elizabeth announces in front of a large crowd with her husband at the front the chosen last name to be passed on to the sons and the sons' children - Windsor.

Elizabeth got a hard choice that involves her family and relatives, she has to think about her future reign and how can a princess can be became a Queen