A Royal Night Out (2015)

On V.E. Day in 1945, as peace extends across Europe, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed out to join the celebrations. It is a night full of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Director:

Julian Jarrold

Writers:

Trevor De Silva, Kevin Hood

Stars:

Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Emily Watson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Gadon	...	Elizabeth
Bel Powley	...	Margaret
Emily Watson	...	Queen
Rupert Everett	...	King
Mark Hadfield	...	Mickey
Jack Laskey	...	Lieutenant Pryce
Jack Gordon	...	Lieutenant Burridge
Tim Potter	...	Duty Manager
Annabel Leventon	...	Lady MacCloud
Geoffrey Streatfeild	...	Jeffers
Jack Reynor	...	Jack Hodges
Debra Penny	...	Clippie
Ricky Champ	...	Tough Soldier
Jack Brady	...	Pub Landlord
Jessica Jay	...	Girl at Trafalgar Square

Storyline

On VE Day in May 1945, as peace is declared across Europe and London is celebrating, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed to join the celebrations, against the Queen's wishes. The King, impressed by Elizabeth's pleading, asks her to report back on the people's feelings towards him and his midnight speech on the radio. Each girl, incognito, is chaperoned by a Royal Army officer with an itinerary to be back at Buckingham Palace by 1:00 a.m. Soon realizing the Queen's planned itinerary does not fulfill their expectations of fun and meeting the ordinary people, Margaret is the first to slip away from her escort, followed by Elizabeth. Both princesses are separated on two different buses and have their own night-long adventure. Margaret is befriended by a Royal Naval officer seeking to take advantage of what he believes is just an ordinary girl. Elizabeth meets and becomes acquainted with an airman who is AWOL (absent without leave). Margaret is led by her naval officer into a ...

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | king george vi character | queen elizabeth ii | no opening credits | year 1945 | 

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Taglines:

V-E Day, 1945. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret escape the palace for...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and brief drug elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

Queen Elizabeth did join the crowds in London to celebrate VE day on May 8, 1945. In her diary she wrote: "Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, walked simply miles. Saw parents on balcony at 12.30am - ate, partied, bed 3am!". However, her sister Margaret was only 14 and did not join her.

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Goofs

The King tells Elizabeth "This never happened" and "You were at the Ritz all night" when hundreds of people saw her identify herself and Margaret at the Chelsea Barracks. In real life, princesses Elizabeth and Margaret did go out of the palace into the crowds in front of Buckingham Palace that evening and they walked the streets for hours taking part in the celebrations, but they were never recognized. Elizabeth was in her Royal Army uniform and Margaret was only age 14. Elizabeth was a truck driver and mechanic in the Army who actually worked on engines. When they went out that night they were in a party of 16 including several military officers. Elizabeth said later she was terrified of being recognized but they never were and spent hours on the streets. They went out at 10:00 pm and returned to Buckingham Palace at 1:00 am as planned without any incident.

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Quotes

Margaret: What's a knocking shop?

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits play over clips of stock-footage from the time-period, including a short clip of Winston Churchill giving a speech.

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Connections

Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Rupert Everett/Miranda Hart/Greg Davies/Electro Velvet (2015)

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Soundtracks

Tuxedo Junction
Written by Buddy Feyne (uncredited), William Johnson (uncredited), Julian Dash (uncredited) and Erskine Hawkins (uncredited)
Performed by Paul Englishby

User Reviews

A Pleasurable Historical Fantasy

This period piece is about one magical night in the lives of Princesses Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) and Margaret (Bel Powley). It is a fantasy that really captures the imagination. The two royals surely must have been overly protected---from danger, from scandal, from their own teenage whims. But "A Royal Night Out" imagines an adventure on VE Day, when all of London was celebrating and the girls might have yearned to be common enough to join in.

The era is certainly captured by costumes, manners and scenery, allowing the viewer to indulge freely in the illusion. The two young women are delightful. And the general tone of the scenes carries the emotions along, feeling exactly like the overwhelming release that came with victory after years of sacrifice, fear, and stiff upper lips. The scene when the king appears at Buckingham Palace is stirring.

Recommended for history buffs, fans of period pieces and those who might find romance in a childish fantasy that--though it is only about one night--is also a coming of age story. I saw this film before its general release with no knowledge of its subject, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Royal Night Out

Filming Locations:

Hull, East Riding, Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$100,847, 6 December 2015

Gross USA:

$228,136

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,779,170

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ecosse Films, Film i Väst, Film i Väst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1