Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Season two opens with Queen Elizabeth facing the Suez confrontation and strain in her marriage to Philip. After President Nasser takes control of the canal, Prime Minister Anthony Eden joins France and Israel in a secret invasion. International condemnation forces Britain to withdraw, and Eden’s political standing collapses; he leaves office and Harold Macmillan takes over. The failure exposes Britain’s reduced influence abroad while Elizabeth manages the public consequences of her government’s decisions.
Philip spends months away on a Commonwealth tour with private secretary Mike Parker. When Parker’s wife files for divorce, the press scrutinizes Philip by association and rumours about the prince return to the palace. Elizabeth makes a concession to his status and names him a prince. After a damaging magazine article questions her connection with the public, Elizabeth works on her televised Christmas address in 1957. Jacqueline Kennedy’s visit comes later, in 1961, as the queen continues adapting to public expectations.
Margaret, still hurt by Elizabeth’s refusal to let her marry Peter Townsend, begins seeing photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones. After Townsend announces plans to marry, Margaret raises the idea of marriage with Tony. He later proposes, she accepts, and they wed. Later, the Profumo affair destabilizes Macmillan’s government and he resigns. The finale returns to the royal marriage. While pregnant with Edward, Elizabeth confronts Philip over rumours about his tour and their time apart. He offers his support, and Edward is born later, with Philip present.