'The Favourite' - great fiction, questionable history.

First of all apologies for the radio silence, I’m three weeks into a new job which has been a bit of a shock to the system, after 6 years of having a 10 minute commute I now have a 2 hour round trip every day on the train to Birmingham and back. I can’t complain though as I’m really enjoying the job and it was definitely the change I needed, I’m also enjoying the commute (for the most part) as it’s an opportunity to catch up on TV I don’t usually get to watch. Unfortunately, it has meant that my history work has taken a bit of a back seat but I’m slowly starting to rectify that and a few days ago I watched ‘The Favourite’. I can sum my review in four words; great fiction, questionable history.

For those of who haven’t watched it (spoilers) it chronicles the life of Queen Anne and her relationship with two of her confidants Sarah Churchill and Abigail Marshall. Despite being the first Queen of Great Britain following the 1707 Act of Union and the last Stuart monarch Anne holds a relatively obscure place in our history and she is not widely known amongst the public or the national consciousness. While this film might do something to change that thanks to its witty script and superb acting, I fear that the Anne which is portrayed is far from an accurate reflection of the real Anne. Before I go into some of the historical issues which I have I want to point out that I thought the film was brilliant, the acting was incredible and Olivia Coleman deserved her Oscar, the story was funny and overall it was an enjoyable experience, which at the end of the day is why we watch films.

However, the historical accuracy of the film is somewhat dubious, while there are elements of the story which were correct there was a lot of speculation and which meant that 'The Favourite' is not an objective view of Anne's. In many ways the film mirrored traditional views of Anne which were established from the memoirs of Sarah Churchill the Duchess of Marlborough. Churchill was rather scathing of Anne criticising her intelligence, lack of interest in state affairs and indulgent lifestyle. While the latter might be true there is little evidence to support the other views, it could be argued that these views were the result of the bitterness which Churchill felt towards the Queen due to her fall from grace and favour. Contrary to this perspective, historians of the late the Stuart period have actually highlighted that Anne was deeply invested in state affairs and was a force to be a reckoned with.

Unfortunately, the Churchill version of Anne is the one that is seen throughout the film. For example, she is constantly controlled by the whims of Churchill and Marshall, a mere pawn in their struggle for influence and power. She is portrayed as having little knowledge or interest of politics at a national and international level. Coleman's portrayal of Anne is a of an emotional, stupid and overeating Queen who is unaware of the civil unrest in her country. However, the opposite is the case, when compared to the rest of the Stuart period Anne's reign is unique for its stability and the collaborative relationship between crown and parliament which is a testament to Anne's diplomatic skills.

As to the sexual nature of Anne's relationships with Churchill and Marshall, which had a prominent role in the film, this is something which we'll probably never know. It is true that Churchill did try to blackmail Anne, as to the content of the letters this is unknown. One thing we do know and is missing from the film was Anne's husband, Prince George of Denmark to whom the Queen was devoted. He is nowhere to be seen which is odd considering his prominent role in Anne's life and the strength of their marriage. A strength which was intensified by the tragic loss of their 17 children, while this is represented in the film through her colony of rabbits - the film shows her struggling with her loss alone. So, in summary, I would definitely recommend 'The Favourite' as a brilliant fictional film, but if you're looking for an accurate portrayal of Anne's reign I would suggest you read Edward Gregg's Queen Anne.