When two queens met: Iconic exchange between Elizabeth II & Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe

Helen Mirren's acting career is as regal as they come; she has played several queens, including Elizabeth II on several occasions. The director of the film Stephen Frears is famous for depicting real-life stories. The most well-known example was in this 2006 biography, for which Mirren earned the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Streaming giant Netflix produced ‘The Royal House of Windsor’ in 2017. The docuseries traces the life of the British royal family over the last 100 years with highlights on power struggles, politics and more. The documentary which has six episodes is directed by Mark Petrie. The documentary received critical acclaim, however, many viewers and critics also panned it by calling it a ‘yet another reiteration of history’.

‘The Crown’ is one of the most popular shows on Netflix. The historical drama series traces the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the events that shook the royal family. The series was among the most watched shows in 2020 when the world underwent a lockdown owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The four-season-long series spans more or less Elizabeth's whole life, and was the subject of a media frenzy last season, with critics claiming that it veered dangerously from historical reality. Nonetheless, as far as royal dramas go, this is a winner — clever, glitzy, and far more astute than it could have been.

The show is directed by Stephen Daldry, Philip Martin, Julian Jarrold, and Benjamin Caron. Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay of ‘The Crown’. Morgan, who envisioned the Queen’s private life, has a long history of writing plays, television shows, and films about real-life heroes who are brought low by catastrophic flaws and this is evident from the show that portrays political chaos and the beginning of a new era. Apart from the historical accuracy, the show has been praised for its nuanced performances by acclaimed actors such as Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Josh O’Connor, Emma Corrin, and Emerald Fennell. The fifth season of the popular show is set to be aired in November.

Another Netflix original film focuses on the life of the late Prince Philip. While the film principally focuses on the life of Prince Philip, it also depicts the life and times of the Queen. The show was popular among the fans of the Royal family and those who wanted to know more about Prince Philip who the Queen had termed her ‘constant strength’. The film was released after the death of one on April 9, 2021. The film helmed by Adrian Munsey and Vance Goodwin was hailed for its intimate portrayal of the politics in the UK.

The British sitcom released in 2016 is considered to be one of the most outrageous shows about the royal family. The show which ran for three seasons is currently available on Netflix. It was produced by George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore and directed by Adam Miller. The series is a humorous take on every imperfection in the monarchy, be it the out-of-date social hegemony or Prince Andrew and the Queen beginning to face challenges in the kingdom when the marriage of Prince Diana starts to fall.

It is one of the famous documentaries about Queen Elizabeth directed by Jamie Muir with the help of Keeley Hawes. The documentary was aired on BBC on January 14, 2018, a year after the 65th anniversary of the Queen being on the throne. The ceremony took place at the age of 27 in 1953. Following the death of her father the year before, she was crowned in Westminster Abbey the following year. The coronation ceremony was broadcasted live on television for the first time in history. Philip and Elizabeth both agreed that this would help catapult the royal family into the hearts and homes of people all around the world.

The Queen's love for pooches is an open secret. Everywhere she went, she was accompanied by her little corgis. The late royal's father, King George VI, introduced the breed of corgis (herding dogs with tiny legs) in 1933. Her first pet was a male corgi, Dookie, from a local kennel. Her entire life, she has had more than 30 corgis. She has also owned two 'dorgis', a cross between a dachshund and a corgi.

The Queen was very close to her younger sister Margaret. The sisters spent most of their time together. During Princess Margaret's funeral in 2002, the Queen openly cried - one of the only times she showed her emotions - in a public setting.

The Queen, an equestrian, spent most of her leisure time horse-riding. From education to extra-curricular activities like riding, swiming and dancing, she learnt everything at home. She also studied fine art and music at home.

World War II was one of the defining moments for the Queen in 1939. She joined the women's army service in England - the Auxiliary Territorial Service. During her training, she spent her teenage years in the Army as a driver and a mechanic.

This year, the Queen became the oldest and longest-reigning monarch in British history. Over the years, the Queen never failed to keep a calm mind when dealing with public pressure and media scrutiny. 1992 was her worst year which she described as an “annus horribilis” (horrible year). It was the year the marriages for three of her four children ended.

From being tagged a 'pretty nice girl' by The Beatles in their song 'Her Majesty' to allowing televised royal events, the Queen revolutionised how the public viewed the monarchy. In 1970, she even broke the protocols and mixed with the crowds who were waiting to catch a glimpse of her. The royals continue to follow her tradition.

In 1947, the Queen married Prince Philip Mountbatten of Greece and Denmark when she was 21. She became the queen in 1952. With the responsibilities of the monarchy on her shoulders at the age of 26, she efficiently balanced her work and personal life.

The 1992 fire damaged Windsor Castle, the Queen's weekend residence. The repairs meant paying millions of pounds from taxpayers' money amid a recession. After public outcry, she volunteered to pay income taxes on her personal income. She said she would meet 70 per cent of the cost of restoration work, and she also decided to open her home at Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time to generate extra funds from admission fees.

Often perceived as a person of serious demeanour, the Queen was known to have a mischievous sense of humour and a talent for mimicry in private company. She was the glue that held the entire royal family together.