While Diana, Princess of Wales after Emma Corrin debuted the role.
The Crown's first two seasons were about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's (Claire Foy) reign, bringing her and the Royal Family from the late 1940s to 1964. In that era, Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) was the Queen's first Prime Minister and mentor, and Elizabeth was plunged into her role as the Sovereign after the death of her father, King George VI (Jared Harris). The Crown seasons 1 and 2 also focused on the Queen's tumultuous marriage to Prince Philip, and Princess Margaret's (Vanessa Kirby) romances with Peter Townsend (Greg Wise) and Antony Armstrong-Jones (Matthew Goode). In The Crown seasons 3 and 4, the scope of the series broadened to include the now adult Prince Charles, who held a lifelong torch for his true love, Camilla Shand (Emerald Fennel), even as the Royal Family pressured him into marrying Lady Diana Spencer. The Crown season 4 also focused on the Queen's thorny relationship with Great Britain's First Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson).
However, The Crown's characters made a number of visits to the United States in the decades of Queen Elizabeth's reign depicted by the series, and vice versa. The Crown has also introduced three U.S. Presidents thus far, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Matthew Marsh), John F. Kennedy (Michael C. Hall), and Lyndon B. Johnson (Clancy Brown). Although a few characters from The Crown have visited the White House and Washington DC, it's notable that Queen Elizabeth herself has not. The Queen does travel to the United States in The Crown but only to Kentucky, not to meet with her fellow head of state. Certainly, a "special relationship" exists between the US and the UK in The Crown, and here is each time Americans have impacted Netflix's series about the Royal Family.
Anthony Eden Visits Washington D.C. And Boston In The Crown Season 1
In The Crown season 1, episode 7, "Scentia Potentia Est," the Russians' testing of atomic weapons provokes Churchill to send the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden (Jeremy Northam), to Washington DC to "educate" the Americans on Khrushchev and the Soviets. However, Eden was in terrible health due to gall bladder issues, and he embarrassed himself in front of President Eisenhower. Eden then phoned Churchill, who was himself recovering from a stroke that the Prime Minister never informed the young Queen Elizabeth about, to say that he was traveling to Boston for emergency gall bladder surgery. An event to bring President Eisenhower to Buckingham Palace was quickly thrown together, but Ike backed out at the last moment. It wouldn't be until The Crown season 2 when a US President comes face-to-face with the Queen.
Reverend Billy Graham Meets Queen Elizabeth In The Crown Season 2
The Reverend Billy Graham (Paul Sparks) gives speaking engagements in London in The Crown season 2, episode 6, “Vergangenheit.” As a fellow Christian, Queen Elizabeth was intrigued by Graham and granted him an audience. At the same time, the Queen learned of secret documents that reveal her uncle David, the Duke of Windsor's (Alex Jennings) sympathies toward the Nazis during World War II. The Queen consults Reverend Graham about whether she can forgive her uncle, the former King Edward VIII, as her niece and as the sovereign.
Jackie & President John F. Kennedy Visit Buckingham Palace In The Crown Season 2
A United States President finally graced Buckingham Palace in The Crown season 2, episode 8, "Dear Mrs. Kennedy," which depicted John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie Kennedy (Jodi Balfour), meeting the Queen and Prince Philip. As all of London goes gaga over the glamorous young American President and his First Lady, Jackie ends up insulting the Queen, who also learns of the Kennedys' not-so-secret marital problems. Jackie apologizes to Elizabeth for speaking about her publicly and reveals that she was prescribed medication to deal with the stresses of her new high-profile lifestyle. The Crown shows both Jackie and JFK's reliance on this "medication."
Princess Margaret & Lord Snowdon Tour The United States In The Crown Season 3
In The Crown season 3, episode 2, "Margaretology," Margaret, the Princess Royal (Helena Bonham Carter), and her husband, Lord Snowdon (Ben Daniels), go on a whirlwind promotional tour of the United States. As Margaret dazzles on the West Coast, the UK's financial crisis necessitates a bailout from the US, which President Lyndon Johnson objects to in spite of several appeals from Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth finally sends Margaret to the White House, and the randy princess manages to charm LBJ and get the bailout. "Margaretology" is, thus far, the only time a member of the Royal Family visits the White House in The Crown.
Prince Philip Appears On Meet The Press In The Crown Season 3
While touring the United States and Canada, Prince Philip appears on Meet The Press in The Crown season 3, episode 4, "Bubbkins." The Duke of Edinburgh discusses the financial difficulties of the Royal Family, which ends up creating a public uproar. In response, Prince Philip spearheads the making of an ill-dated documentary about the Royal Family, while his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg (Jane Lapotaire), comes to live with them at Buckingham Palace for her remaining years. "Bubbikins" is the only time in The Crown Prince Philip is seen in the United States.
Queen Elizabeth II Visits Kentucky In The Crown Season 3
In The Crown season 3, episode 5, "Coup," Queen Elizabeth and her lifelong friend, Lord "Porchey" Porchester (John Hollingsworth), travel to to learn about the newest horse breeding and training techniques. The Queen decides to continue their research by traveling to the United States, and she and the Earl of Carnarvon arrive in "the republic of Kentucky" to learn from the American horse breeders. While the Queen laments the quiet life of breeding horses being the sovereign has denied her, she has to abruptly end her trip and return to the UK after learning that Lord Mountbatten (Charles Dance) is involved in a plot to overthrow the British government.
The Apollo 11 Astronauts Visit Buckingham Palace In The Crown Season 3
The Crown season 3, episode 7, "Moonshot," is one of the series' most remarkable episodes. Prince Philip becomes obsessed with the Apollo 11 moon landing, which represents his midlife crisis and his own regrets about the course his life has taken. When the Apollo 11 astronauts go on an international victory tour and visit Buckingham Palace, the Duke of Edinburgh arranges a private meeting where he hopes the space-faring heroes can answer the bigger questions about life Philip is grappling with. Unfortunately, the astronauts prove to be disappointments to Philip, who realizes they hold no secrets about the meaning of life. Instead, Philip finds his solace when he reclaims his own religious faith.
Princess Diana Visits New York City In The Crown Season 4
The only member of the Royal Family to visit the United States in The Crown season 4 is Diana, Princess of Wales. While Diana's marriage to Prince Charles rapidly deteriorates, she is called upon to make a solo whirlwind visit to New York City in The Crown season 4's finale, "War." Defying Charles' expectations that she would fall flat on her face, Diana was a sensation in New York City, where she famously hugged a child with AIDS during a visit to a Harlem pediatric AIDS center. However, Diana's success abroad only deepened the chasm between her, Prince Charles, and the Royal Family as The Crown season 4 concluded.
The Crown Seasons 1-4 are streaming on Netflix. Season 5 is coming soon to Netflix.