Five Famous Queens on the Small Screen

Scandal and intrigue, romance and drama: what else would you expect from life in a royal palace? The lives of monarchs continue to fascinate us, and none are more mysterious and glamourous than the famous queens who sat on the throne. Take a royal tour of Europe with your Passport member benefit, from Versailles to Buckingham Palace and beyond. 

You can find programs fit for a queen – and so much more – on the Cascade PBS app. Let’s meet the queens who are currently gracing us with their presence across our screens.

Elisabeth of Austria 
Elisabeth of Austria, known better by her nickname ‘Sisi,’ married into the Austrian royal family in 1854 when she was just 16. A shy, quiet girl, she did not adjust well to life at court – which earned her a good many enemies in the Viennese aristocracy. A progressive idealist and pacifist, Sisi would eventually help bring about the rise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 

Sisi: Austrian Empress follows the early days of Sisi’s life, from her betrothal and marriage to Franz Joseph I of Austria to her struggles within the Viennese court. You can stream seasons 1 and 2 on the Cascade PBS app, and don’t miss the broadcast premiere on Saturday, August 17 at 10:30 PM.

Marie Antoinette 
One of the most iconic characters of French history, Marie Antoinette is well known for her fashion, patronage of the arts, and the misattribution of the quote “Let them eat cake.” Her marriage to Louis XVI was part of a delicate alliance between France and Austria, and the two courts could not have been more different. Much as Sisi would struggle a century later, Marie Antoinette clashed with the rigid expectations of Versailles. Both inside and outside court, her reputation suffered, and the eventual downfall of the French monarchy resulted in her execution in 1793. 

Marie Antoinette takes a unique look at the life of the doomed French queen as she struggles to find her place at the court of Versailles, secure an heir to the throne, and most importantly, have a little fun. Stream the first season on the Cascade PBS app. 

Bonus: Explore the myths and secrets of Marie Antoinette with British historian Lucy Worsley on Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths and Secrets!

Queen Victoria 
Known as the “Grandmother of Europe,” Queen Victoria was the second-longest-reigning British monarch (her great-great-granddaughter, Elizabeth II, reigned for 70 years). During her 63 years on the throne, Victoria helped usher in radical social and industrial change, and even had an impact on the modern wedding. While much of her life was spent mourning her husband, Albert, Victoria’s early life as queen was spent traveling Britain, learning the ropes of the monarchy, and having children (nine, to be exact!). 

Victoria, starring Jenna Coleman, explores the early life of the spirited young queen, from her coronation to her marriage to Prince Albert, as well as the drama and intrigue of life in the British court. Stream all three seasons of the Masterpiece hit show on the Cascade PBS app. 

Bonus: Celebrate the love that melted the heart of a nation – and influenced countless weddings to come – with Lucy Worsley on Victoria and Albert: The Wedding.

Anne Boleyn 
Anne Boleyn is possibly the most famous of Henry VIII’s six wives. Before she was queen, she was an attendant in the household of Catherine of Aragon, where she quickly caught the eye of King Henry VIII – inconveniently, still married to Catherine. Beyond her role at court, Anne was a religious reformer who helped usher in the Church of England – conveniently helping her marry Henry. Three short years after giving birth to Elizabeth (the future queen of England), Anne met her downfall as Henry’s heart started wandering once again. She was executed at the Tower of London in May 1536. 

The Bolelyns: A Scandalous Family charts the rise – and inevitable fall – of the Boleyn family, whose ambition and lust for power put Anne on the throne and gave birth to the English Reformation. Stream the series on the Cascade PBS app (streaming in the U.S. and territories only). 

Bonus: Investigate the inside story of the English Reformation and the Boleyn’s influence on the Church of England on Lucy Worsley’s Royal Myths and Secrets; and for a dramatization of the life of Thomas Cromwell, be sure to check out Wolf Hall on Masterpiece.

Empress Maria Theresa 
Maria Theresa was the only woman to reign in the 650-year history of the Hapsburg dynasty. While her parents had hoped for a boy, Maria Theresa ruled the Austrian Empire from 1740 to her death in 1780 – and had her position challenged twice by outside monarchs hoping to capitalize on her inexperience. She bore many similarities to Queen Victoria: when her husband died in 1765, she wore black for the remainer of her life; and her ten children were almost all used as political pawns in royal alliances – including her youngest, Marie Antoinette. 

The Empress traces the early life of Maria Theresa, from her marriage to Francis I and her ascension to the throne, to earning the respect of her fellow royal heads of state. Stream the series on the Cascade PBS app.

Looking for more royal content? Lucy Worsley’s got you covered, with more episodes of Royal Myths and Secrets, Tales from the Royal Bedchamber, Royal Palace Secrets, and Royal Photo Album. Plus, on Lucy Worsley Investigates, the British historian uncovers the stories behind the Princes in the Tower and the madness of King George III. (Note: All Lucy Worsley programming is available for streaming in the U.S. and territories only.)