A Night at the Palace (Television Series)

A Night at the Palace is a British drama television series created by Ifan Barber, that airs on Channel 4. Rather than conventionally airing on a weekly serial basis, A Night at the Palace airs periodically in a 90-minute time slot.

7 episodes of the series have aired since its premiere in 2016, all focusing on a fictional British royal family. The first episode aired following the real-time format, a storytelling device that was only repeated in the third, fourth and sixth instalments. The most recent instalment aired on July 21st 2019, with an eighth instalment scheduled to air on December 22nd 2019.

The series has received critical acclaim for its dark dramatic storylines, while maintaining authentic humour and character development. The series' characters bare almost no resemblance to the actual British royal family, with writers stating that the show's ensemble is based on royal character archetypes, as opposed to specific people.

A further 3 episodes have been commissioned by Channel 4, reportedly set to air across 2020 and 2021.

Cast

 * Harriet Walter as Queen Charlotte, the harsh matriarch of the royal family, and Britain's head of state. (1 - 8)
 * Kate Winslet as Princess Victoria, Queen Charlotte's eldest child, quiet and proper, she disapproves of the family's lavish lifestyle. (1 - 8)
 * Keeley Hawes as Catherine, Duchess of Norfolk, Charlotte's second daughter who enjoys her life of luxury and is care-free knowing she'll never be queen. (1 - 8)
 * Dan Stevens as Samuel, Prince of Wales. Charlotte's youngest child and only son, thus the heir to her throne. He is known for his nasty behaviour, and is eventually caught out by his mother. (1 - 2, 6)
 * Jonathan Pryce as Prince Sebastian, Charlotte's husband and the prince-consort. He does not interfere with official royal business, and is firmly retired from public life.
 * Preston Nyman as Prince Xavier, Victoria's only child and Charlotte's only known grandchild, much like his mother, he is mild-mannered and weary of public life. (1 - 6)
 * Kristin Scott-Thomas as Camille, Duchess of Pembroke, Charlotte's younger sister who detests her and frequently sells stories of her to the press. (1 - 3, 6 - 7)
 * Claire Bloom as Helena, the Queen Mother, Charlotte and Camille's frail mother, who hates the fact that the nation celebrates the jubilee, which she sees as a celebration of her husband's death. (1 - 4, 6 - 7)
 * Tilda Swinton as Beatrice Wandsworth, the Prime Minister of the UK until the 2018 general election. (1 - 5)
 * Miranda Richardson as Hillary Banks, Queen Charlotte's friend and confidante for over three decades, she is her eyes and ears on the ground in the press room of every news outlet. (1 - 8)
 * Bill Nighy as Frank Millard, the Prime Minister of the UK after the 2018 general election. (5 - 8)

Premise
Each episode follows a different significant event or notable occurrence in the life of the British royal family, headed by the Queen, Charlotte.The first episode unfolds entirely in one evening and focuses on a scandal unfolding behind the scenes of a royal banquet to mark Queen Charlotte's 25 years on the throne. The second episode focuses on the aftermath of the death of a member of the family. The third instalment takes place on the eve of a royal wedding. The fourth takes place during a state banquet for the President of the United States of America. The fifth focuses on the events unfolding in the run up to a general election. The sixth unfolds on the night the Queen's husband dies. The seventh focused on the relationship between The Queen and her sister, and how it impacts the family and its future in British society. The eighth, set to air over the festive period, will focus on Christmas night with the royal family, and the consequences of the Queen's controversial Christmas address.

Episodes
The episodes have aired periodically between February 2016 and July 2019. A further 3 episodes are currently in pre-production and are set to air in 2020 and 2021, with several major cast members set to return.