8 Lessons I Learned from The Crown
Beware: These do contain spoilers from Season 1 & 2.
#1 — The window of opportunity opens up at the most unexpected times
The most important thing is not the opening of the window, but what you do after the window is opened. Elizabeth did not want to be queen — at least, not right then. She was only 25 when King George passed away, and she had just been married for 5 years, adjusting to her new life as a wife and a mother.
But when it was her moment, she stepped up. She understood the duties and the responsibilities that comes with The Crown, and live with The Crown as her guiding principles. Even if it means making hard decisions time and time again, even if it mean alienating the people that means the most to her. All to protect the monarchy.
#2 — There are two parts to yourself — who you are and who you want to be
On her way back to England, her grandmother wrote Elizabeth a letter. In it, she said that today Elizabeth Mountbatten no longer exists — and Elizabeth Regina is born. The two personas will often come in conflict, but The Crown must always preside.
I think this is true not only in the instance of The Crown but also in the instance of our lives. Today, we have a set of beliefs and responsibilities, but we also have the desire to grow and expand our set of responsibilities in the future. For instance, today I want to spend my weekend binge-watching The Crown Season 2. But I also want to improve my writing skills. Which brought me to a compromise: this article.
#3 — Take the little things seriously, so that you can do the big things greatly
One of my favorite scene in Season 1 was when Elizabeth II was told by Tommy Lascelles that she can’t have Martin Charteris as her courtier. Instead, she had to go with Michael Aldean because he is the natural ‘heir’ for the position.
Elizabeth was not happy about the decision, but Tommy was able to persuade her otherwise. He said something along the lines of, it is in honoring these little things called tradition, that you’re able to take the big things called duties and responsibilities seriously.
#4 — With great responsibility, comes great power
Borrowing Mike Manson’s twist on the Spider-Man line. I thought Prince Phillip summarize this rather well when he said, “The dress use to wear you, now you wear the dress.” In that same sense, the title preceded Elizabeth II. But as time passed, she really did embody what it means to be a Queen. A title does not make a person great, but adhering to the duties and responsibilities that come with the title does.
#5 — It never hurts to be informed
It never hurts to read, put in the work and understand the situation, even if you can’t really do anything about the outcome. As a constitutional monarch — the queen does not have any political power. The most that she can do is advise.
But because she always strives to be informed (by hiring a private tutor to teach her, making sure she’s always on top of the documents that the government sent to her, among many other things) — she is able to keep her Prime Ministers in check.
#6 — Surround yourself with people whom you can trust
And have the courage to admit that you don’t always know or have the answer to everything. After all, context is important. In her heart, Elizabeth wanted to give her uncle what he desires and forgive him for the wrong that he’s done to his country. But instead of making rash decisions, she went to Tommy for advice and uncovered another side of the story.
#7 — As a leader, you are responsible not only for yourself
But also to the people who are working alongside you — and especially to the people who are working for you. I think this was especially apparent when the queen gave her speech to the workers of Jaguar, which had gotten a rather somber review.
At the same time, great leader does inspire people, and these people would know what is a good representation of who you are and who you want and/or need to be. And that’s how Martin Charteris comes in to play.
#8 — To love is not to always to agree
Lord Altrincham and his critic towards the queen was rooted from his love and respect towards monarchy — and it ended up saving the modern British monarchy.
Often times, when you love something or someone, it is in your instinctive nature to protect them. But to love is also to challenge each other and grow together.
NOTE: The portrayals in the TV series have definitely not been all true to reality, so fact-check before you say anything atrocious at the dinner table! The Washington Post just released their fact-checks on Netflix portrayal of Prince Philip and of the rivalry between Elizabeth II and Jackie Kennedy.
