Between $3.4 to $5.7 billion Meanwhile, other experts are happy to give it a rough estimation, alleging it could be worth anywhere between $3.4 to $5.7 billion. ‘It can be quite hard to look at sometimes because of the sheer light that comes off them. It’s literally dazzling visually overpowering,’ says Anna Keay, author of The Crown Jewels.
Contents
How much does the Queens crown cost?
Imperial State Crown – Max Mumby/Getty Images A monarch will wear this crown—which was placed on the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II in tribute—when leaving Westminster Abbey after the coronation. It’s also appropriate for other state occasions, including the annual opening of Parliament.
- It remains to be seen whether Charles will use it for his own coronation.
- According to the Historic Royal Palaces charity, the Imperial State Crown is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and 4 rubies.
- It contains some of the most famous gems in the world, including the Black Prince’s Ruby, the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire and the 105.6-carat Cullinan II diamond.
It was made for the coronation of Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, in 1937, replacing the crown made for Queen Victoria in 1838. Today, jewelry experts estimate the crown is worth a stunning $3.4 to $5.7 billion.
How much is the royal crown worth?
How much are the Crown Jewels worth? – The Crown Jewels are considered priceless, due to their historic and cultural value. The has been estimated to be worth anywhere from £3bn-5bn by experts, however they have never been officially valued as the Crown has no intention of selling them off.
Why is the Queen’s crown worth so much?
How much is the Queen’s crown worth? – The actual value of the Imperial State Crown has been the subject of debate for years. It has never been officially appraised, making any estimates no more than guesswork by experts. Due to its historic and cultural value, it is said to be priceless.
How much is Charles crown worth?
The St Edward’s Crown – Made of solid 24-carat gold, the St Edward’s Crown is traditionally used at the moment of Coronation. It was created for Charles II in 1661 as a replacement for the one thought to have belonged to Saint Edward the Confessor. And it’s the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels.
- Standing over 30cm (1ft) tall, the crown weighs a whopping 2.3kg.
- That’s about as heavy as a large melon.
- The crown is decorated with 444 jewels and gemstones, including precious sapphires, rubies, amethysts and topaz, all set in enamel and gold mounts.
- It also features four cross-pattee and four fleurs-de-lis.
Overall, the crown is estimated to be worth £3 billion although estimates vary wildly.
Who owns the Crown Jewels?
Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
Crown Jewels | |
---|---|
Stones | 23,578 including Cullinan I, Cullinan II, Koh-i-Noor, Black Prince’s Ruby, Stuart Sapphire, St Edward’s Sapphire |
Owner | Charles III in right of the Crown |
Managers | Crown Jeweller Royal Collection Trust Historic Royal Palaces |
Website | hrp.org.uk rct.uk |
How old is the crown worth?
Some jewellery experts have estimated it to be worth between £3 billion and £5 billion, with the 317-carat Cullinan II (the diamond at the centre of the piece) alone being estimated at £400 million. That said, several specialists have decided that putting a price on the crown’s worth is ‘nigh on impossible’.
What is Queen’s most expensive jewel?
The most valuable royal piece is known as the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace. It was a wedding gift to the queen (then Princess Elizabeth) from the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1947, according to Regal Fille.
How much real is The Crown?
The arrival of The Crown ‘s fifth season couldn’t come at a more controversial time. Shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascension of her son Charles to the throne, Netflix has been accused of unleashing unto the masses a show that’s not only insensitive to historical accuracy but also damaging to the monarchy’s reputation.
But should viewers even think of the series as a factual piece of work? To keep the long answer short: no. Though The Crown is clearly based on real events involving the monarchy—especially the various scandals and rumors that have embroiled the royal family over the years, from Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s contentious marriage to Prince Philip’s alleged infidelity—the people behind the Emmy Award–winning show have made it clear that it’s also a work of fiction.
Showrunner Peter Morgan previously told The Hollywood Reporter, “I think when you’re doing a drama based on real people, real events, you have to constantly ask yourself where you stand in truth and accuracy, and what the responsibility of that is.” He added that the truth gets even more blurred depending on which perspective from which historian you’re relying on.
- I have to join the dots, and that’s where the act of imagination comes in,” he said.
- I think that there’s a covenant of trust with an audience where they think, I’m watching something.
- But too often I get shocked when people say, ‘Oh! But when that happened,’ and I go, ‘Well, no.
- Actually, I had to imagine that.'” In past seasons of The Crown, Morgan took creative liberties with history to tell a more compelling story onscreen.
For instance, Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s assistant, Venetia Scott, tragically dies after being struck by a bus in Season 1. But as it turns out, Venetia wasn’t a real person, And in Season 4, Charles and Diana’s first meeting —in which the prince happens upon a teenage Diana who’s dressed in a tree costume for A Midsummer Night’s Dream — was also an invented work of fiction, rather than a reflection of their real-life first encounter. Netflix “There are two sorts of truth. There’s historical truth and then there’s the larger truth about the past,” Robert Lacey, The Crown ‘s historical consultant, told Town and Country, “Peter is very, very insistent, and so am I, that this is not a history documentary.
- We’re not pretending this is a chronological record of those years.
- There are lots of documentaries that do that sort of thing.
- This is a drama which picks out particular objects.” Season 5 of The Crown delves ever deeper into the drama of Charles and Diana’s divorce, the queen’s infamous “annus horribilis” speech, Diana’s budding romance with Dodi Al Fayed, Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’s so-called Tampongate, and more.
Undoubtedly, the show will continue to take creative license with any and all of these affairs. To further drive home its lack of commitment to historical accuracy, Netflix released an updated logline for the new season ahead of Season 5’s drop: “Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.” Digital Associate Editor As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers’ rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.
How much is the Queen’s diamond worth?
Former colonies of the British Empire want diamonds worth $800 million back from the Crown Jewels Calls have been growing for some of the Queen’s crown jewels to be returned to India and Africa. While many have taken to the near Buckingham Palace, the area around Windsor Castle, as well as social media to pay their respects, others have spoken out about the colonial history of the country which the Queen served for 70 years.
- In particular, people have been calling for the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond which is currently set in the crown of and is part of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London and the Great Star of Africa set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre, which is also part of the Crown Jewels.
- The Koh-i-noor diamond from India sits atop the crown made for the Queen Mother in 1937 and the Great Star of Africa sits in the Queen’s scepter’ — Madam Capital (@CapitalMadam) The Koh-i-Noor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world coming in at just over 105 carats.
It is said to be worth between, but is also hailed as priceless. It is also known as one of the world’s most controversial diamonds too. While it is believed to have first been mentioned over 5,000 years ago in a Sanskrit script, the diamond was referred to as the Syamantaka and subsequently who actually had ownership of it was simply speculation. The Queen Mother’s crown with the Koh-i-noor Diamond. Credit: Tom Hanley / Alamy Stock Photo The Koh-i-Noor remained in India until 1849, when British forces conquered the Punjab and it became part of the British East India Company. It was then shipped back to Britain and, in July 1850, given to Queen Victoria.
The diamond was eventually cut and worn by the Queen, who stated in her will it should only ever be worn by a female monarch or carried by the wife of the head of state. The diamond became part of the crown jewels after Queen Victoria passed away. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran have all contested British Royalty’s ownership of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, stating it was looted from them despite the monarchy having claimed it was a ‘gift’.
The Tower of London website : “The Crown Jewels, part of the Royal Collection, are the most powerful symbols of the British Monarchy and hold deep religious and cultural significance in our nation’s history.” However, Indian politician and former international civil servant Shashi Tharoor has called out Britain as ‘ow its former colonies’. The Cullinan I diamond is set in the Sovereign Sceptre. Credit: The Print Collector / Alamy Stock Photo Africa Archives tweeted: “Queen Elizabeth II owns the largest clear-cut diamond in the world known as the Great Star of Africa. The 530-carat gem was mined in South Africa back in 1905.
- It was stolen from South Africa.
- It has an estimated worth of $400 million.
- The British claim that it was given to them as a symbol of friendship and peace yet it was during colonialism.
- The British then replaced the name “The Great Star of Africa” with name of Chairman of Mine “Thomas Cullinan”.
- Africa Archives ™ (@Africa_Archives) “The British claim that it was given to them as a symbol of friendship and peace yet it was during colonialism.
The British then replaced the name ‘The Great Star of Africa’ with name of Chairman of Mine ‘Thomas Cullinan’.” : Former colonies of the British Empire want diamonds worth $800 million back from the Crown Jewels
Can Camilla wear Queen Elizabeth’s crown?
Updated on: May 6, 2023 / 5:50 AM / CBS News Tina Brown on “Spare,” latest royal news Tina Brown reacts to Prince Harry’s book, latest royal news 05:23 The Royal Family will not use a controversial crown during King Charles’ coronation in May, according to BBC, Charles’ wife, Queen Consort Camilla will not wear the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and it will be the first time in history a crown will be “recycled” for a coronation. Camilla wore the Crown of Queen Elizabeth, which features the Koh-i-Noor diamond, to the funeral of her husband’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022. The crown was given to Queen Elizabeth II’s mother in 1937, according to the Historic Royal Palaces. The diamond was given to Queen Victoria as a condition of the Treaty of Lahore, which ended the first Anglo-Sikh War in 1849. The jewel is believed to have originated from the Golconda mines in central southern India. It has had many previous owners — heads of the Mughal empire on the Indian subcontinent, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan and Sikh Maharajas, according to Historic Royal Palaces. Many Indians believe the diamond still belongs to India and that the British stole it, BBC News reports. The Crown Of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1937) Made Of Platinum And Containing The Famous Koh-i-noor Diamond Along With Other Gems. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images The diamond was once larger, but was recut to weigh 105.6 carats. Koh-i-Noor means “Mountain of Light” in Persian and there are two legends surrounding the diamond – that it is both lucky and unlucky.
Unlike at the funeral, Camilla, who will also be crowned at the coronation, will no longer wear the crown with Koh-i-Noor diamond. Instead, she will wear Queen Mary’s Crown, which has been taken out of the Tower of London, where the crown jewels are normally on public display, to be resized for the coronation.
Diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s collection will be added to the crown. St. Edward’s Crown was moved from the display last year because it will be worn by King Charles for his coronation. St. Edward’s Crown was made for King Charles II and used at his coronation in 1661, according to Buckingham Palace. The Queen Mother’s crown, bearing the Koh-i-noor diamond, lies on the coffin of the Queen Mother as it lies in state April 5, 2002, in Westminster Hall, London. Getty Images St. Edward’s Crown is the final object presented the monarch — a sign of royal majesty and dignity.
King Charles III through the years 50 photos
In: King Charles III Britain The Royal Family United Kingdom
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Can Camilla wear the Crown Jewels?
Europe | Jewels in Camilla’s Crown Will Not Include Famed Diamond Claimed by India https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/world/europe/camilla-crown-koh-i-noor-diamond.html For the coronation of King Charles III and the queen consort, she will wear a century-old crown that does not include the storied Koh-i-Noor diamond, taken from India under British rule. Credit. Pool Photograph/Corbis, via Getty Images Published Feb.14, 2023 Updated May 6, 2023 LONDON — It is one of history’s most celebrated diamonds — and one of its most fiercely contested. Taken from an 11-year-old Indian prince in the 1840s and presented to Queen Victoria, the Koh-i-Noor has long been a glittering jewel in British crowns — and, to many, a lingering symbol of British colonial larceny.
- With Buckingham Palace dusting off its baubles for the coronation of King Charles III in May, the Koh-i-Noor seemed at risk of kicking off another dispute, this time over whether Camilla, the queen consort, would wear it in her crown.
- On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace sidestepped a diplomatic clash with the Indian government by announcing that Camilla would not wear the 105.6-carat Koh-i-Noor, one of the world’s largest cut diamonds.
That diamond is set in a crown made for Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, who used it for her coronation in 1937 as queen consort to King George VI, though it had previously been used in other settings. At King Charles’s coronation, the palace said, Camilla will wear a crown that belonged to Queen Mary, the queen consort from 1910 to 1936, which does not feature the Koh-i-Noor.
- After the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September, social media accounts in India raised the prospect of the Koh-i-Noor diamond figuring in another coronation ceremony.
- A spokesman for the political party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Daily Telegraph that the “coronation of Camilla and the use of the crown jewel Koh-i-Noor brings back painful memories of the colonial past.” Previous Indian governments have lobbied for the return of the diamond, which is kept, along with other crown jewels, in the Tower of London.
Visitors from India and Pakistan are known to mutter about it being stolen as they view it behind glass. But in 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron vowed that the Koh-i-Noor, which translates as Mountain of Light, would “stay put” in Britain. Still, Buckingham Palace is showing sensitivity about a range of other issues surrounding the coronation, from the extravagance of the festivities during a cost-of-living crisis, to the role of Charles as the defender of the Church of England when he is interested in protecting freedom of worship for people of many faiths.
“The Koh-i-Noor is a real, serious sticking point,” Lauren Kiehna, a writer and historian on royal jewelry, wrote in October on her blog, the Court Jeweller. “I would imagine that Charles and Camilla would be keen to avoid additional criticism when possible, and Charles particularly has always seemed sensitive to the fact that jewels can carry significant symbolism.” In its announcement, the palace cast the selection of crowns for Camilla in economic, rather than cultural, terms.
“The choice of Queen Mary’s crown by her majesty is the first time in recent history that an existing crown will be used for the coronation of a consort instead of a new commission being made, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” the palace said, making no direct reference to the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Queen Mary’s crown, the palace said, has been removed from the Tower to be refurbished for the coronation. It will be reset with three Cullinan diamonds — somewhat less enormous gems cut from a stone mined in South Africa — that were part of the collection of Queen Elizabeth, who often wore them as brooches.
Even beyond the Koh-i-Noor, relations between Britain and India have been tricky in recent weeks. India recently overtook Britain as the world’s fifth-largest economy. The two governments are in intense negotiations over a trade agreement, which British officials said they hope to conclude in 2023.
- But Indian tax authorities recently searched the offices of the BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai, a few weeks after it aired a documentary in Britain that was critical of Mr. Modi.
- Indian officials condemned the film, which explored Mr.
- Modi’s role in violent outbreaks in Gujarat Province in 2002, as “hostile propaganda.” Mark Landler is the London bureau chief.
In three decades at The Times, he has been bureau chief in Hong Kong and Frankfurt, White House correspondent, diplomatic correspondent, European economic correspondent, and a business reporter in New York. More about Mark Landler A version of this article appears in print on, Section A, Page 5 of the New York edition with the headline: Celebration For Charles Will Exclude Indian Jewel,
Who owns Buckingham Palace?
Who actually owns Buckingham Palace? It was purchased by King George III in 1761 and passed to his son, George IV. But I have been told that the wills of George III and George IV have never been settled. | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk Who actually owns Buckingham Palace? It was purchased by King George III in 1761 and passed to his son, George IV.
- UNDER the Land Registration Act 1988, anyone is entitled to find out the ownership of registered land in England and Wales. Of some 22 million properties and plots of land in England and Wales, more than 13 million are registered – although the remaining nine million are not. Assuming that Buckingham Palace is registered, then you can find out the identity of the freeholder for a fee of #12. A leaflet on the procedure is available from HM Land Registry, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PH.
- David Northmore (author, The Freedom Of Information Handbook), London W1.
- I DOUBT very much that the Land Register will answer the question. While land in Central London has been subject to registration since the end of the 19th century, registration is only effective if there is a ‘dealing’ with the land within the meaning of the various Land Registration Acts. By and large, this means that there has to have been a sale of the land, for a transmission on death effective by a ‘assent’ does not need to be registered. I suspect that the title to Buckingham Palace is not registered, for it has apparently been in the ownership of the same family for nearly 23O years. This is always assuming that the family has not sold the palace, say, to the Property Services Agency or one of its predecessors in recent years. For this reason, the register is unlikely to reveal the ownership of property belonging to old landed families generally.
- Thomas C Sutton & Co, Solicitors, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.
THERE IS an important distinction between property which belongs to the Royal Family and property which belongs to the State and is made available to Head of State in the way that 10 Downing Street is available to the Head of Government. The distinction is not obvious because both the personal property of the monarch and the job of Head of State pass through the same line. But the distinction was made in 1936. I am not sure of the details – perhaps someone else can enlighten us. Quentin Langley, Woking ([email protected])
- Occupied Royal Palaces, such as Buckingham Palace, are not the private property of The Queen. They are occupied by the Sovereign and held in trust by Crown Estates for future generations. The Queen privately owns two properties, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, which are not publicly funded.
- Mark, Ramsgate UK
Buckingham House (now Palace) was purchased by Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg and immediately called her house, or “the Queen’s house”. She, with the aid of O’Gorman, hired an Irish Guard to protect herself from mad George III, who continued to live in St. James Court. It has remained in Charlotte’s family for many years, and only in recent years, been quietly bought by the royal family.L.J. d’Eon, Boston U.S.A.
: Who actually owns Buckingham Palace? It was purchased by King George III in 1761 and passed to his son, George IV. But I have been told that the wills of George III and George IV have never been settled. | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk
What happens to the Queen’s jewels when she dies?
What will happen to the Queen’s jewellery collection now When most people die, their loved ones have to begin the painful process of sorting through their things. It’s a grim process, but it has to be done, and everything from odd socks to old CDs must be dealt with.
For the family of Her Majesty The though, this process involves significantly less old CDs and substantially more jewels, tiaras and precious gems. The Queen was buried in a private ceremony following on Monday, 19 September, and while her reign and royal presence was marked with fantastic displays of jewellery, the monarch is unlikely to have been buried in full regalia — leaving much of her jewellery to be passed on to her next of kin.
But who gets what, and why? Queen Elizabeth II walks behind the Imperial State Crown as they process through the Royal Gallery, before delivering the Queen’s Speech, during the State Opening of Parliament at the Houses of Parliament in London on May 11, 2021 / POOL/AFP via Getty Images Firstly, it is important to remember that the crown jewels do not technically belong to the Queen: “They are handed from monarch to monarch in trust for the nation,” royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight.
- So, technically, they belong to the monarch, but the monarch isn’t allowed to run off with the crown jewels.
- They stay safeguarded at the Tower of London in safekeeping for the nation, and when one monarch dies, the crown jewels are immediately passed to their heir.” So the Queen’s former crown, sceptre and orb now belong to her son, King Charles III.
The Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Imperial State Crown, and the Duke of Edinburgh, dressed in uniform of Admiral of the Fleet on Coronation Day (PA) / PA Wire In fact, royal commentators and jewellery experts suspect the Queen is likely to have been buried in very minimal jewellery.
Jewellery expert Josie Goodbody, who has been studying jewellery for over 20 years, believes the Queen has been buried with just two significant pieces. “Her wedding band, which is made from Welsh gold, is just such a personal item. I believe she would definitely be wearing that in the coffin,” she told the Evening Standard.
“And if she was wearing a pair of earrings it would be a pair of pearl earrings, as that’s what she always wore. In mourning, the Royals don’t wear colour, so pearls are pure, white, and unflashy. This comes from Queen Victoria, who, as we know, didn’t want to wear any colour after the death of her husband Prince Albert.” / AP The Queen’s engagement ring also happens to be a colourless stone — a large diamond flanked by eight smaller diamonds, set in a platinum band — but Goodbody thinks it is unlikely she will be buried with this.
Personally, I think that will likely go to her daughter, Princess Anne. Lots of people give engagement rings to their daughters, or their sons to propose with,” she says. But, of course, all the Queen’s sons have all already married. For that reason, Goodbody expects the Princess Royal will receive the important gem.
Prince Charles, Prince Edward, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace in 197 / PA Archive There is also a ranking process in what will happen to the rest of the jewellery. As royal commentator Katie Nicholl : “There is a hierarchy in all of this.
The Queen Consort, really, gets the first choice of the queen’s jewellery. “And after that is, of course, Kate, The Duchess of Sussex, I’m sure, will come in for some jewellery at some point, but she is much further down the pecking order.” Goodbody agrees, but notes this hierarchy may have already been established, with the jewellery bestowed upon its new owners before the Queen’s death.
“The Queen has already passed certain tiaras onto Camilla and Kate. The Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, for example, was lent to Diana for her life, then went back to the Queen when she died, but is now worn by Kate.” Catherine, Princess of Wales, wearing the Lover’s Knot Tiara / Getty Images As well as the gifts already received by the Queen, Goodbody expects that members of will wear items of her personal jewellery collection “on loan” for certain occasions.
Is King Charles 111 a billionaire?
Queen Elizabeth and The Firm – The wealth of the royal family, which is also known as “The Firm,” is estimated at $28 billion (£21.3 billion), according to Forbes, This is separate from Queen Elizabeth’s personal fortune and assets. The Firm includes King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William and his wife, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, as well as the late Queen’s daughter Princess Anne, her youngest son, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie.
Queen Elizabeth II, the British monarchy’s longest-reigning ruler, had a personal fortune of $500 million (about £380.7 million) according to an estimate by Forbes. Her personal assets were made up of her vast jewelry and art collection, property, and other personal investments. King Charles, inherited her $500 million per Forbes.
Charles’ inheritance has reportedly made his wealth total over $2 billion (£1.8 billion), according to The Guardian, and includes assets ranging from estates and artwork, to jewels, racehorses, stamps and cars. Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, now has the Duchy of Cornwall—a large, lucrative estate—in his possession, along with $1.2 billion in net assets that include the Oval cricket ground in London, Charles’ former residence at Highgrove House, and the Isles of Scilly, according to Forbes.
How much are the royal family jewels worth?
The crown jewels of the British monarch – Shutterstock Officially, the crown jewels are priceless. They are not insured either, which means they’ve likely never been appraised. However, estimates put the entire collection at almost $6 billion. At her coronation on June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth wore both the St Edward’s crown and the imperial state crown.
How much did the set of the crown cost?
Sony Spends A Record $140 Million On The Crown An advertising billboard promoting Season 5 of Netflix’s The Crown (Photo by Richard Baker / In, Pictures via Getty Images) In Pictures via Getty Images The latest series of royal docudrama The Crown has taken the throne of being the most expensive instalment in the history of the show with its production cost hitting $143.3 million (£115.7 million) according to recently-filed financial statements.
- It brings the total that Sony’s Left Bank Pictures (LBP) division has spent on The Crown to $504 million (£407.1 million) since it premiered on Netflix in 2016.
- The series was the brainchild of British screenwriter Peter Morgan who penned the 2007 Oscar-winning biopic The Queen which starred Helen Mirren in the title role.
It was such a success that Morgan wrote a play about the late monarch and The Crown was based on it. According to Netflix, the show has been watched by more than 73 million households worldwide since then and it has been credited with giving the British monarchy a new generation of followers.
- They were attracted by the spicy storylines and all-star cast including British actress Claire Foy who played a youthful version of the Queen in the first two seasons of The Crown before being recast with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman.
- The fifth season was released in November and follows the royal family through the 1990s.
It features an entirely new cast including Imelda Staunton as the Queen, Dominic West as Prince Charles and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana. The series benefited from the royal family being thrust into the spotlight following the death of the Queen in September and the publicity blitz in the run up to the release of Prince Harry’s explosive autobiography, ‘Spare’.
- This contributed to the fifth season being watched for a total of 107.4 million hours in its first five days propelling it to the top of the Netflix charts in 37 countries.
- It was filmed just outside London at Elstree Studios and on location throughout the UK which shines a spotlight on its finances.
Budgets of television shows are usually a closely-guarded secret as studios tend to absorb the cost of individual programmes in their overall expenses. However, the costs of shows made in the UK are consolidated in single companies which file annual financial statements.
- This helps them benefit from the government’s Television Tax Relief scheme which allows production companies to claim a cash credit of up to 25% of the costs they incur in the UK.
- The key condition is that they must spend at least $1.2 million (£1 million) per broadcast hour which is small beer for The Crown.
Financial statements for LBP The Crown 5 reveal that each of the ten episodes in series five cost the princely price of around $14.4 million (£11.6 million) per hour and there is good reason for this. The producers had a firm rule that no more than one-third of any shot could be created digitally and this led to them building a life-size replica of the central section of Buckingham Palace.
It came complete with its gates, gate posts, and famous balcony but it doesn’t stop there. Although some stock inside the building was sourced from the period, the other items were made from scratch and the props department even hired an expert in period packaging to ensure continuity. The spending rose as the show became more popular and the latest series cost 32% more to make than its predecessor and more than double the $70.5 million (£56.9 million) spent on the first season as shown in the graph below.
The costs of making Seasons 1-5 of Netflix’s The Crown Caroline Reid using Flourish The financial statements reveal that LBP has received a total tax credit of $98.8 million (£79.8 million) for making all five seasons of The Crown, bringing the net production cost to $405.2 million.
It has paid off. LBP was founded in 2007 by UK television executives Andy Harries, Marigo Kehoe and Francis Hopkinson. It was the first British production company to receive investment from BBC Worldwide, the former commercial arm of the BBC, which paid $1.2 million (£1 million) for a 25% stake and also got distribution rights to all of LBP’s productions.
BBC Worldwide began to exit in 2012 when Sony bought a majority stake in LBP. It paid $6.8 million (£5.5 million) for a further 5.32% stake in June last year valuing the company at $129 million (£104.2 million). Although The Crown has put LBP on the media map it has also put it in the crosshairs of high-profile personalities who have slammed the show for its inaccuracy.
- Fiction should not be paraded as fact,” said former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major who announced the separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Houses of Parliament in 1992.
- A spokesperson for his successor Tony Blair, who was Prime Minister when Princess Diana died, called The Crown “complete and utter rubbish”.
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith added that it is “doing significant damage to people’s perception of history and their perception of the royal family”. LBP appears to have listened to the criticism as a disclaimer was added to the latest season describing it as a “fictional dramatization” which is “inspired by real events”.
It hasn’t taken the shine off The Crown’s appeal and a sixth, and final, series is currently in production. It is expected to cover the period up to the present day which has been one of the most tumultuous times in the history of the royal family. So although the curtain is finally coming down on The Crown, it seems set to go out on a high note.
: Sony Spends A Record $140 Million On The Crown
How much is the British crown budget?
How much does the Royal Family cost the British taxpayer? Princess Kate, Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral on July 5, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Getty Images The newest financial report reveals the Royal Household’s spending from 2022-2023.
- Ever wondered how much the Royal Family cost the taxpayer? released at the end of June 2023 show that in total, the Royal Household’s net expenditure was reported to be £107.5 million ($136 million).
- This compares to the total Sovereign Grant of £86.3 million ($109.1 million) and the additional income of £9.8 million ($12.4 million).
The Sovereign Grant is an annual lump sum from the British government that funds the Monarchy’s household’s official expenses, such as covering the costs of travel, security, staff, and the upkeep of royal palaces.