27 Jan Does York Minster feature in Netflix’s The Crown??

If you’ve watched The Crown you will know that plenty of fabulous locations have been used, but does York Minster (where I work when I’m not guiding) feature at all?

The answer is YES!  But you have to wait until the final scene of the final episode of the final series.

Only continue if you’ve already watched or don’t mind spoilers.

Back in April last year the Minster was shut for 5 days whilst filming took place.  I was working there on the first day and was able to watch the unbelievable effort and hard work that goes into transforming a location into a film set.   Dozens of people painting, building, assembling and arranging along with a lighting team that revealed parts of the Minster we’d never seen before.   A coffin amongst the hundreds of props gave us a clue as to what might be being filmed but we definitely had no idea that some of us would be lucky enough to see not 1, not 2, but 3 Queens on set!

Sadly, I wasn’t working the day of filming but two of my colleagues were and were lucky to play a very important role – as Imelda Staunton, playing Queen Elizabeth, leaves York Minster’s Quire and walks down an empty nave, the Great West Doors open for her to step out of – it’s my colleagues, Sam & Rebecca unseen opening the doors!

As a nice coincidence, if Imelda Staunton had glanced up to her left as she walked out of the building, she would have seen the brand new statue of Queen Elizabeth, installed on the side of the building in 2022 and unveiled by King Charles III!

Do get in touch if you’d like to see the wonderful building in person though I’m afraid I can’t guarantee any filming!

And you can click on this link to watch the final scene! https://youtu.be/8BLVsPGpx28?si=iTCjB11O2_YSg-DU