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Royalty

Around the world, people have a fascination for those born into privilege. And at the top of the heap are those born into royalty, groomed from a young age to take on the responsibilities, and perks, of leadership. From Queen Cleopatra to King Henry VIII to the current Queen of England, filmmakers, like their audiences, have taken a keen interest in what makes these people tick, always trying to expose something of their private lives and challenges, and perhaps even making them seem as human as the rest of us. Pictured: Queen Bette in 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex'.

Elizabeth ( Blu-ray ) (1998)

7.5/10
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Christopher Eccleston, Geoffrey Rush, John Gielgud, Joseph Fienn...

Before the Golden Age, Elizabeth was a passionate and naive girl who came to reign over a land divided by bloody turmoil. Amid palace intrigue and att... Read more

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

6.9/10
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Rhys Ifans, Samantha Morton, Jordi Mo...

The second installment in a proposed trilogy of the most momentous points of Elizabeth I's life, we now see Blanchett play her as a queen experienced... Read more

Fire Over England (1937)

6.7/10
Director: William Howard
Starring: Leslie Banks, Laurence Olivier, Fiora Robson, Vivien Leigh, Raymond Massey

Superb British historical drama as Elizabethan England is under attack by the Spanish Armada. Flora Robson is magnificent as Queen Elizabeth, who send... Read more

Grace of Monaco (2014)

5.7/10
Director: Olivier Dahan
Starring: Frank Langella, Nicole Kidman, Parker Posey, Tim Roth, Paz Vega, Milo Ventimigli...

Grace Of Monaco is set in 1962 and showcases 12 months in the life of iconic princess Grace Kelly, 6 years after she married Prince Rainier of Monaco... Read more

Hamlet (Gibson) (1990)

7.8/10
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Alan Bates, Glenn Close, Mel Gibson, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Cart...

'God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another' wrote William Shakespeare in his classic tale of vengeance and obsession. Franco Zeffire... Read more

Henry V (Branagh) (1989)

7.7/10
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Paul Scofield, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, Alec McCo...

An energetic, extraordinarily well-acted and perfectly cast version of Shakespeare's play adapted and directed by tyro-star Kenneth Branagh. Henry V i... Read more

Henry V (Olivier) (1944)

7.7/10
Director: Laurence Olivier
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Leslie Banks, Robert Newton, Esmond Knight, Renee Asherson, Fe...

'Henry V' is one of Shakespeare's most compelling historical plays. Laurence Olivier won a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as an actor, prod... Read more

Henry V (Olivier) ( Blu-ray ) (1944)

7.7/10
Director: Laurence Olivier
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Leslie Banks, Robert Newton, Esmond Knight, Renee Asherson, Fe...

'Henry V' is one of Shakespeare's most compelling historical plays. Laurence Olivier won a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as an actor, prod... Read more

Her Majesty Mrs Brown (1997)

Director: John Madden
Starring: Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer

Dame Judi Dench is flawless as the morose Queen Victoria mourning the death of spouse Albert. Billy Connelly plays the plain-speaking John Brown, the... Read more

Lady Jane (1985)

7.2/10
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood

An excellent costume drama about Lady Jane Grey, accidental successor to the British throne after the deaths of Henry VIII and his son, Edward VI. A w... Read more