The new Netflix series The Crown will excite history buffs by providing insight on Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.

The story takes place in the 1940s and ‘50s, when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne after her father, King George VI, passed. With the new responsibility of being queen, she often has to choose between the country and her personal life.

The series covers the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s rocky relationship with the royal family after the Duke surrenders the throne to his brother, King George VI, as well as George VI’s death, Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the Great Smog that shrouded London in pollution, Princess Margaret and military officer Peter Townsend’s romance, and more. Surprisingly, most of the show is historically accurate, with some embellishments to create more drama.

The dialogue between the members of the royal family in Buckingham Palace, however, is completely imagined, based on each person’s personality and behavior in public.

Everything from the casting and the costumes to the sets feels authentic and contributes to the overall experience of living as a royal in the 1940s and ‘50s.The writing, along with the acting, creates an interesting insight on historical events through the perspective of the royal family and also makes for entertaining drama.

The Queen’s constant inner conflicts over sacrificing herself and her family for the country, and the pressure she faces in maintaining the reputation of the royal family demonstrate how difficult it can be to be a royal.

But the crown always wins, and that is what captivates audiences.

The Crown’s first season is currently streaming on Netflix and the release of the second season is coming soon.