Does The Crown really sound like Queen Elizabeth? | Improve Your Accent

Want to know if the accents in Netflix's The Crown sound like the real royal family? I've compared actress Claire Foy's accent with clips of Queen Elizabeth II from 1947.
Speak clearly and confidently with my course: improveyouraccent.co.uk/engli...
If you want more information on what's mentioned in the video, read my blog post here: improveyouraccent.co.uk/the-c...
Links
Instagram: / improveyouraccent
Twitter: / improveaccent
Facebook: / improveyouraccent
Free pronunciation learning resources: www.ImproveYourAccent.co.uk/L...

[@ImproveYourAccent]

Check out my Online English Pronunciation Course. It's tailored to your native language. Try a free lesson: improveyouraccent.co.uk/course/ If you want more information on accents and the Crown, read my blog post: improveyouraccent.co.uk/the-crown-accent/

[@stefaniariceputi4002]

Improve Your Accent

[@remio_o2025]

Apolline 26 c'est bien...

[@monroecorp9680]

Meeeeeeehh.... Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh...... Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhh...... Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

[@hamanh.hannahnguyen6288]

Monroe Corp leeeeeeee......lyyyyyyyyyyy.......leeeeeeeeeeeee......lyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[@america5803]

hahaha. they sound like cows :) hahaha funny!

Monroe Corp HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAA

[@a.s.l.4479]

Monroe Corp that part killed me😂😂😂

[@letsmakemusic7132]

Lol.. Sounded funny

[@alokinrainborn]

Im a linguistic but i must confess the “maaaaaaan meeeeeeeen” part hilarious 😂 but i know how the classes of phonetics can be fun and embarrassing, it’s an inevitable part of them

[@Quantiad]

I think you'll find you're a 'linguist'. Though, with a mistake of that magnitude, I have my doubts.

[@alokinrainborn]

Some people have autocorrect on. Keep your doubts, it's your right.

[@quitethecatnipindeed]

Nikola Novkovic it's not the only language mistake in that reply, though. I'd think a linguist might be more careful in writing.

[@duxnihilo]

@@quitethecatnipindeed Linguists are not grammarian and most linguists I know tend to not hold grammar in the highest regard.

[@alanwhite3154]

@@quitethecatnipindeed English may be his 7th language. How is your spelling in your 5th language?

[@mrengulfeddirector]

I need to get high and watch this again.

[@baronessvondengler]

mrengulfeddirector I’m already high from watching this 😩

[@elara8634]

mrengulfeddirector I'm doing that right now

[@JM-vs9wf]

thanks for leaving this comment

[@battleb0ng420]

mEEEEEN

[@voyance4elle]

😂

[@CurtisBooksMusic]

I'd like to see you compare the Queen's accent in the 40s and 50s to her accent now to see if RP itself has changed.

[@springdayisnottoday371]

I hear “meeww”

[@abenaappiah1512]

Spring Day Is Not Today 😂😂😂😂😂you’re hilarious

[@itsNobuo]

1:47 I NEVER LAUGH SO MUCH JUST BECAUSE OF A ACCENT in SLOW MOTION LMAO

[@agatap.7205]

Arthur Matos same

[@nunkatsu]

Arthur Matos It got me really irritated, actually. It annoys me.

[@fazxio.]

Same lol

[@billps34]

an accent

[@mayalarkins1334]

@@nunkatsu same

[@ArtificialPerson]

LMAO the comparison bits crack me up 😂😂😂. Excuse my weirdness, great video!!!

[@bianca4681]

Ashley Miranda Try watching it high 😆

[@brittanypolifka7100]

Ashley Miranda lol I had the same reaction. I was giddy the whole time...back and forth between “oh that’s so helpful!” And cackling at the comparison bit (which was still somehow interesting and helpful)

[@owlgirl2337]

Ashley Miranda is it wrong that im laughing so hard???

[@NostalgiCrazy]

@@owlgirl2337 Of course not! It's unintentionally hilarious 😂

[@shanedeleon5376]

I tend to notice that in the older style, it's not "happy," but "heppeh." Also, not "that," but "theht." "Thehn theht's theht."

[@ScottKnitter]

"The ket set on the met."

[@rozamunduszek4787]

Don't Canadians speak like theht?

[@mashayeb]

Crying 😭 😂😂😂😂

[@RealFarknMcCoy]

That's kind of Seth Efricen.

[@reellezahl]

interestingly, this is how younger Germans with no acquired English accent tend to speak English. Hmm… that have something to do with Britain… being European after all.

[@anna-agatakastilova6844]

Thank you, all I needed to cheer up my day was hearing the queen doing sheep noises :D

[@IbanBoi99]

The old accent sounds more imperialistic

[@samuelbcn]

Well obviously.

[@lubormrazek5545]

They sound bette

[@loveyaback123]

Not the heart 😭 imperialism isn’t good

[@tfh5575]

@@loveyaback123 😂😂 right?

[@goldenrules5697]

@@lubormrazek5545 😀

[@brookenjonas]

The pronunciation of the word “one” is quite different in old fashioned RP. The cast of The Crown often talks about it in interviews. Great video! Love from Pittsburgh 🇺🇸

[@odortecaresenhas9248]

Brooke Jonas yeeeeeesss, indeed! Claire always mentioned that... I love the way that she pronounced this word.

[@brookenjonas]

Odorteca Resenhas Right? And I’m American! (Ok during my theatre days I always played English people)

[@c0ronariu5]

It’s amusing watching Claire foy recount this anecdote: WUN! WUN! WUN!!

[@alanwhite3154]

one = won are homophones in standard SE English. My old enemy the STRUT vowel (sun = son).

[@kbaylor123]

@@c0ronariu5yes! I love that. Wan wan wan...

[@joryadamson7854]

Technically that's Princess Elizabeth in 1947

[@djollyrodjeur]

Give yourself a pat on the back while asking yourself why you felt the need to enlighten us with this pointless remark... Clever boy!

[@joryadamson7854]

djollyrodjeur I don't see it as a pointless remarks

[@CurtisBooksMusic]

Does watching the video on December 18th make her all the sudden not Queen anymore? I think the only way to know the answer is to ask Tommy Lascelles.

[@amysommerfield2069]

I say old boy, I say.......quite a pointless remark!

[@allatsarikova5180]

Wow! I love this vid! A non-native would never have noticed these tiny /I:/ differences.

[@joywatts4839]

Thank you from Joy in Sydney Australia. I have been fascinated by the accents in Series 1 and 2 of The Crown. I am also in great admiration of the acting skills of Claire and others, who have been able to master a different accent so well. Your video is timely for me and very interesting, informative and technically well produced. I enjoy listening to people who articulate well because ending words neatly is not always evident with some long time Australians, who tend to lazily swallow the endings so that words run together. Even though I am a long time Australian I often have to guess what these "ending swallowers" are saying! I can imagine how difficult it must be for new Australians.

[@BookFreakyTube]

The actors did a great job in the show.

[@hazween23]

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I needed this to start a hysterical fit of laughter.

[@MsJojo1412]

I, as a foreigner. I think this is very difficult to differentiate. Both cool.

[@loveandletlove8529]

This always interests me,how some people find it so hard to hear the difference/replicate ,some, even if they don't speak a language and not have some of the sounds in their fluent language/s or accent ,they can still here the difference between similar but still different sounds and imitate them well first try,while others have such a hard time after years and decades ,so do you mean to say you personally completely can't distinguish that one sounds is brighter and the other darker by ear,or do you mean to say it's hard for you to replicate it?Or can you replicate it and all but without wanting you slip and you say it close to an other sound you have in your fluent language/s?Is it all or a combination of the previous,please let me know I really like to see how different people approach language.

[@MilkLollipopShake]

Omg me too :(

[@depressedcockroach4045]

@@loveandletlove8529 for me, if i would be a beginner in english i wouldn't be able to differentiate it at all. And i cannot replicate the accent at all, i will be actively learning it, because i sound very russian when i speak, and i dont want that accent :D I think it has to do something with singing ability plus having "the ear" for music. I cannot hear when someone is off key or singing badly, if it's the right melody. It's impossible for me 😅

[@diegoyuiop]

@@loveandletlove8529 I could notice thhe difference if someone points that out, but in other circumstances I wouldn't

[@katehrap3867]

The way she says “thank you” is literally my favorite thing ever!

[@DAVE1R1111]

i always noticed my coworkers who are born + raised here in PHILADELPHIA , always say "thank you" the Exact Same way Elizabeth + princess Margaret say "thank you" in The Crown . must be the one of the many accent Leftovers from our English Colonies days ! thenk yeu .

[@CDS-pb4ng]

Thank you so much for posting this! I’m an Italian native speaker and this is just so interesting and useful!

[@YarntoTablePodcast]

Obsessed with you she says “thank you.”

[@sebastianpinto8113]

Meeeh maaaaah meeeh maaah The queen sounds like a sheep 😂

[@pix_d20]

it's funny because she actually is a sheep

[@sophiatace5918]

So sad... people forget that sheeps go *BAA* and goats go *MEEH* these days😕

[@fatimamohammad6358]

Maaàn your work in this video is beyond genius ...good job...must be a hard work... we really appreciate that...keep it up

[@georgeabraham6550]

Your accent is a good model worthy of emulation for those who wish to learn modern standard British accent . Please carry on your good work .

[@VoteforAndrewYang]

I m learning English. You are a big help for me. Please keep up with your amazing good work. Thanks.😌

[@manonk.7952]

thanks for your videos this is very interesting and I'm sure this is gonna help me improve my English accent (I'm French and trying to sound the less French possible haha) !

[@monmothma3358]

The *least* ;)

[@AZ-iv2xy]

'leh' 'lee' 'leh' 'lee'

[@kevinking7991]

I've always noticed how much the Queen's speech has changed with time. I sort of miss that "official speak" that everyone in England seemed to use back in the day. Media people all sounded the same. I have trouble understanding many UK folk that I see today. Need subtitles.

[@daisukeds85]

Brittish accents also vary greatly by region and by social class.

[@agustinbaletti]

I didn't realize this would be so funny. I cannot believe how was it to edit this😂

[@nicerod3122]

I'd love to ear a bit more about how and why these sounds change over time

[@ifeanyianene6770]

gotta blame the foreigners for that mate.

[@corywoomert5517]

I also noticed the word “that” is being pronounced “thet”, with an ‘eh’ sound. I’ve done many plays set in early 19th century Britain and these old vowel pronunciations were drilled into me. I definitely took notice of the changes the actors in The Crown made. Fascinating!

[@Taric25]

I'm American, and I've always thought that "that" and "that" should be spelled "that" and "thet", because they're pronounced like that and mean two different things.

[@earlofleicester4604]

Quite informative as one thought. A feature that could have also been discussed is the “r tapping” in words with final vowel sounds or words that are followed by a vowel sound. It is done by placing the tip of the tongue at the roof of the mouth to produce a “tapped r” sound. Notice how the Queen says “very” (verry), “that my whole life, whether (whetherr) it be long or short,...” However, younger members of the Royal Family and younger speakers of the Received Pronunciation do not use the “r tapping” feature.

[@scott0001]

I can't stop laughing while listening to the maaaaaaaahhhhh, meeeeeeeehhh, maaaaaaaaaaahhh, meeeeeeeehh

[@DarioMagno]

Really a good job. Thank you

[@mashayeb]

This video is very good. I’m going to go through your others rn, but if you haven’t made one could you please make about the trilled “R”?

[@aarond9563]

"You may have heard of the term goose-fronting" haha no I actually haven't.

[@kbaylor123]

It’s big among linguists I guess 😂

[@Jeff1999100]

I do very much hope that people would use this accent. It just sounds terrific and very regal.

[@clairesarah100]

This is great! Thanks!

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

Thanks for the video....I have a Canadian accent and I can now tell that my vowels are mostly formed further back in the mouth than current RP.

[@danielgarner9051]

My British mate you have a good content you are the best KZbinr I am British too from Liverpool keep up the good work you are the best KZbinr♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@javan5938]

I ❤ your personality!

[@danepayens7716]

Queen Elizabeth meowing ^^

[@meganchristinevincencciaki5081]

Queen Elizabeth saying 'MAYNNNN' is so meme-able 😂😂😂

[@kristiLB93]

So interesting. I love stuff like this! Details. Details.

[@jamesmacgregor3911]

The reason the vowels are different is because The Queen is royal. She continues to speak this way - her accent hasn't changed. It's not simply a contrast between 1947 and today because The Queen was brought up to speak in this manner. It's not as if this accent and the way in which she pronounces words is solely based in this way during the early years of her reign. This is how she talked, it is still how she talks. Each the other two actressess who will play The Queen in The Crown will have to adjust and modify their voice in the same way.

[@ImproveYourAccent]

I'm afraid this isn't 100% true. Linguists have analysed the Queen's vowel sounds during every single Christmas Day speech and shown that her vowels have changed over the years.

[@rereandhermom9872]

I was going to ask this exact question. Also, what factors contribute to the change in pronunciation? Does globalization have anything to do with it, i.e. through the 20th century with movies, television and internet making the accents of other English speakers more accessible?

[@szabados1980]

The Queen's own English has changed a whole lot in fact. And not only because of her age and natural changes to her sound making organs but because not even she is immune to peer pressure.

[@djollyrodjeur]

It may have evolved but she's still speaking with what can only be described as THE aristocrat English accent. She still has work to do before reaching the perfection of the Cockney accent, though! :D

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

Yeah, watch this years Christmas speech, she doesn't sound like that anymore, but she doesn't sound like regular people either. Look up the received pronunciation, and how other (rich) people spoke back in the early 1900's up until the 60's.

[@LeungMac]

your replay and comparison is so funny...

[@alyssanicole8559]

anyone else saying the words in the accents as the video goes on? lol

[@pinklavender12]

Lots of 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 goes to show Claire is really amazing.

[@Enidan1111]

Lol, as a non native english speaker, I am happy if I can distinguish an English from a Scottish or an American accent, at least. :) But it is interesting in general, how languages and dialects change as time goes by. Thank you for this vid.

[@JFish-df2ep]

Very nicely done

[@chanchan631]

Very good Video!

[@log7828]

Hello i'm a latin english learner and i feel happy because i've found your channel and i wonder if i can get the british accent

[@xilingsinqueso]

Great vid. I did noticed the differences for /æ/ and /u:/ while watching the show. The /æ/ in the show sounds really weird!

[@antibigotry123]

@improve your accent -- thanks for this video. i find this whole topic fascinating. i've heard this accent referred to as 'heightened RP' -- is that the correct name for it? ¶ also, would it be correct to say that one finds it used across the upper aristocracy [or at least the older members of the upper aristocracy], or really only in the royal family itself?

[@user-bb8vf3tq6l]

Great video.👍👍👍

[@desmorgens3120]

I learn the type of "Received Pronunciation" which has been introduced by A.C.Gimson in his 1977's "English Pronouncing Dictionary" (Dent). It is easy to undestand it and to apply it in spoken English.

[@jeandupont8501]

Impressive how good looking Elizabeth was in her youth !

[@DeborahWalkerXOXO]

I'm finished 😂😂😂 Love this👏👏👏

[@ramonawrr]

Amazing!!

[@brianferguson-connor2460]

Thank you for the linguist's approach. May I just add that is fortunate in the show that nobody rolls their "r"s :)

[@InfinitelyASMR]

This is fascinating

[@JesusMartinez-iq3to]

Love how you cut the clips in the most awkward frame

[@rah62]

"Listen to the real Queen in 1947". The problem is, the real Queen in 1947 was the consort of George VI.

[@kbaylor123]

Not THE Queen 👑

[@brianmiller9382]

The video clip shows the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. She did not become Queen Elizabeth II until February of 1952 when her father King George VI died.

[@mikezinn7212]

brilliantly done..... thenk you!

[@ulrikek359]

As a german, it's pretty obvious the real queen has a rolling R, in modern english the sound moved forward to something formed with your tounge...

[@kbaylor123]

I will definitely be adding “goose-fronting” to my vocabulary

[@desertrose4597]

That's really interesting!

[@TheDeathKiller007]

good shit mate!

[@SleepyAtTemuco]

Thanks a lot! I am a native Spanish speaker, and this is interrsting and quite funny to my ears! Professor Higgins (My fair lady) would have said: "Delightful!"

[@Julie_Rios]

Not that it was something I was paying attention to when watching The Crown, and after watching, yes, of course. I think Matt Smith/Prince Phillip is the biggest standout for me. Always fascinated by different accents/dialects.

[@ub69hs]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 this is soooooo hilarious....I just can’t take this seriously meeeeeeeehnnnnn maaaaaaaahhhhm

[@pokare]

I’m from Hong Kong and interestingly I’d say the English we learn and speak here resembles more of the Queen’s in your comparison

[@cbrtdgh4210]

I love the way the Queen says "often" in her Christmas Broadcast in 1957 (at 00:54). "My own family aww-fen gather round to watch television".

[@scarletjy]

I just realised the English pronunciation that we learnt here in Singapore, is largely based on the old English pronunciation. Interesting

[@swervin79]

One I always notice is how Queen Elizabeth and Claire Foy as her say "heppy" instead of "happy".

[@marxalenina]

Interesting! Thanks

[@caroline26071]

well done! :)

[@cubeweaver]

Excellent!

[@fatimamohammad6358]

I like to learn british accent n trying to improve in it... I have a difficulty to recognize different british accent...n also wich one is preferable to use now days ...any help will be appreciated......

[@1992cduffy]

The “ly” in family sounding like an “li” and differing to “ly” in family sounding like “lee” is actually a Scottish accent as the “i” sound is still used but may not be used in England and Wales.

[@dangoat2009]

"Oh yess, veddy heppi" said Gertrude Lawrence to Noel Coward.

[@Edubarca46]

How interesting thanks!!!!

[@loveandletlove8529]

In Danish many pronounce their vowels similar to the way the queen did back in the 40s till this day,it is a higher resonance placed accent which makes all the vowels brighter,and I am not talking about the formal Danish,All sorts of Danish have the accent more flattened and brighter.

[@gatt1608]

Wow I'am from Mexico and I undestand english but the Claire Foy's accent in The Crown was a little difficult to me. I thing she did a great job. Bravo!! Claire Foy is the best Queen Elizabeth II ever

[@Rudel23]

Interesting, bravo

[@AnaDiasTrad]

According to Claire Foy herself, the word "one". And Matt Smith mentioned the word "what".

[@merlinssassybeard]

1:47 goat and cow

[@slfanta]

Subtle but you can tell that there indeed are differences. The goose fronting phenomenon is quite interesting. I think that's what makes the oo sound and the you sound merge into one vowel. Who becomes hue, and meanwhile, the word news is pronounced more and more like nooz.

[@Ingrid0410]

Fabulous~ It's amazing I've found this today, as yesterday I was just noticing this while watching The Crown, in the scene where Princess Margaret says to her sister, "Tony proposed and I accepted." It was like she was saying I ex-sip-ted. And Phillip was pronounced Pheeeelip. Love linguistics and languages~ Was that the way they were taught in the olden days then?

[@doriszhao9284]

Subscribed right after the meeeeh maaah meeeeeeeehhhh!

[@doriszhao9284]

Omg this makes me feel life is still worth living

[@prowlwithpoppy7648]

Ooo please do one on Victorian era !

[@ddgnails6570]

i luv the crown!

[@NN-br2xh]

wow, I must say I had to really listen to get the difference!

[@Lia-uf1ir]

Isn't the happy vowel also used in the Yorkshire accent?

[@janco3464]

You missed that very distinctive tapped R of Her Majesty.

[@TheCrazykittygirl]

My accident is a cross between the two lol it's Harry Potter/ chilled out queen apparently

[@sophiusdynami3401]

Oh my god you are gorgeous!

[@Marcus51090]

My favourite is “WHAT BEYBEY” lol

[@1029eddy]

Thanks Alot