Skip to main content
PBS.org
PBS KIDS Shop
Education Shop
Digital Catalog
Contact Us
Quick Order
Order Status
1-800-531-4727
Cart (0)
CART (0)
Mother's Day Gift Ideas. Shop Now!
Up to 75% off Clearance. 300+ Items to Choose From!
Every purchase at ShopPBS supports public television
Back

Masterpiece: King Charles III DVD

$29.99
12 Reviews Write a Review
Item #: WB7212
Adapted from the Tony-nominated stage play, this is an examination of contemporary Britain-part political thriller, part family drama. After the Queen's death, Prince Charles finds himself wrestling his conscience over a bill to sign into law, resulting in a constitutional and political crisis.
See options for availability
Select Format:
Quantity:
Add to Wish List

Adapted from the Tony-nominated stage play, this is an examination of contemporary Britain-part political thriller, part family drama. After the Queen's death, Prince Charles finds himself wrestling his conscience over a bill to sign into law, resulting in a constitutional and political crisis.

Masterpiece: King Charles III Adapted by Mike Bartlett from his Tony-nominated stage play, and with Tim Pigott-Smith (Jewel in the Crown, The Hour) reprising the title role, King Charles III is a timely examination of contemporary Britain - part political thriller, part family drama.

Prince Charles has waited his entire life to ascend to the British throne. But after the Queen's death, he immediately finds himself wrestling his conscience over a bill to sign into law. His hesitation detonates a constitutional and political crisis and William (Oliver Chris, Breathless) and Kate (Charlotte Riley, Close to the Enemy) start to worry. With the future of the monarchy under threat, protests on the streets, and his family in disarray, Charles must grapple with his own identity and purpose to decide whether or not, in the twenty-first century, the British crown still has any real power.

This adaptation retains the daring verse of the original text while director Rupert Goold (The Hollow Crown) creates the ambitious scale and spectacle suggested by the play - from Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace to the restless streets of London.

Producer: Simon Maloney
Production Company: Drama Republic production
Production Year: 2017
Copyright Year: 2017
Rating: TV-14
Actors: Adam James, Oliver Chris, Tim Pigott-Smith, Richard Goulding, Charlotte Riley, Margot Leicester, Tamara Lawrance
Writers: Mike Barlett
Number of Discs: 1
Length: 90 minutes
Subtitled: Y
Subtitle Languages: English (SDH)
Language Track: English
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen

12 Reviews
S
Shakespeare R.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
05/15/22
Shakespeare Come Back to Life
Review by Shakespeare R. on 05/15/22 review stating Shakespeare Come Back to Life
The blank verse employed immediately establishes a distance from reality and its complicated motives, familial betrayal and tragedy quickly show its Shakespearean roots. There are multiple incidents which might recall scenes familiar to readers of Richard II, Henry IV and Hamlet. It portrays the current members of Britains royal family as fictional characters representing the conflict between traditional moral values and todays realpolitik. They are definitely not the characters that populate the glossy magazines at the checkout counter, This is a cinematic setting of the stage play which was done in London, New York and in Washington DC by its Shakespeare Company. Many of the cast members that appear here were part of the original theatrical production. Audience reaction to the PBS showing would indicate that this is not the fare that many Masterpiece viewers have come to expect. Nevertheless, for some this is an amazing production, full of imagination and without too much of a stretch, it could be described as Shakespeare come back to life.
M
Marilyn
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
05/11/21
Awesome , I love shopping for DVDs @ PBS
Review by Marilyn on 05/11/21 review stating Awesome , I love shopping for DVDs @ PBS
I have shopped many times at PBS.They are great.
R
Ryan A.
Anonymous User
1.0 star rating
12/27/20
Disappointing and Disrespectful
Review by Ryan A. on 12/27/20 review stating Disappointing and Disrespectful
As a huge fan of political (as well as British) drama, I was eager to see King Charles III. I understand that the piece may well have been intended as a work of fiction, not necessarily meant to be construed as any kind of an approximation to current realities. When actual people are portrayed, however, I think an author should at least attempt to represent them in a nominally accurate fashion (especially while they are still alive). Each of the characters in this film is presented in a flat, illogically motivated, and disappointingly inhuman manner (with the obvious exception of the title role). The BBC have missed an excellent opportunity to explore aspects of the modern monarchys complexities (regarding power, purpose, duty, and family) in an entertaining, respectful, and accurate fashion. Instead, they unfortunately appear to foment a cheap kind of public controversy for the mere sake of controversy. Were it not for Mr. Pigott-Smiths prodigious performance (and the occasional, inspirational gravitas of the works blank verse), I fear the film would be without redeeming factor and remain an unrealistic, politically tone-deaf, and unnecessarily mean experience.
J
John
Anonymous User
1.0 star rating
12/27/20
King Charles III
Review by John on 12/27/20 review stating King Charles III
K C III is an rare, bad example of a show that should never have made it to th air. A real groaner, the only thing that was good about it was the setting and costumes and those werent enough to waste 2 hours in front of the tv!
T
The E.
Anonymous User
3.0 star rating
12/05/20
To Play The King was better
Review by The E. on 12/05/20 review stating To Play The King was better
As much as I enjoyed King Charles III, especially in blank verse, I was more interested in the sub-text of an interventionist monarch within a constitutional monarchy. Several years ago the BBC produced the original House of Cards with the late, great Ian Richardson playing PM Francis Urquhart. One episode of the trilogy was To Play The King with Michael Kitchen (Foyles War) portraying the unnamed king. It was an electric conversation/debate between the King and his elected Prime Minister who were often at cross purposes. I would recommend watching both of these versions.
A
An P.
Anonymous User
2.0 star rating
12/05/20
Since the crown goes DIRECTLY to William, moot points!
Review by An P. on 12/05/20 review stating Since the crown goes DIRECTLY to William, moot points!
It was an interesting production, however, since Her Majesty, The Queen stated the crown will pass DIRECTLY to William ( probably due to Charles remarrying, and marrying a divorcee ), this is a moot point. Like I stated earlier, this is an interesting take on the Royals. They nickname the Royal Family as the FIRM, I guess the Firm can change hands at any time!
E
Eiszeit
Anonymous User
1.0 star rating
12/05/20
absolutely AWFUL
Review by Eiszeit on 12/05/20 review stating absolutely AWFUL
One star is really pushing it. The story line, the acting ... contrived, ridiculous, one of the worst things Ive seen on Masterpiece. What were you people thinking! . . . or not.
D
Dibs
Anonymous User
1.0 star rating
07/17/20
Extremely degrading to the Royal Family
Review by Dibs on 07/17/20 review stating Extremely degrading to the Royal Family
I was astonished the program was so degrading to the Royal Family. A disappointing evening on APT.
M
Mark B.
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
07/17/20
I saw this on television and will be buying it ASAP
Review by Mark B. on 07/17/20 review stating I saw this on television and will be buying it ASAP
I saw the public television broadcast. This production is fiction. It is hard to argue that it is degrading to the royal family, given that it is most definitely fiction and has not disguised this fact. The use of iambic pentameter in a modern production is actually a brilliant innovation harkening back to Shakespeare. The story itself is very well told, and definitely is worth your attention. Highly recommend it!
P
Peter
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
07/17/20
Shakespearean
Review by Peter on 07/17/20 review stating Shakespearean
Stunningly filmed, beautifully acted (esp. by the sadly now-late Piggott-Smith as a conflicted Charles) and - above all - written as a modern-day royalty play by Shakespeare ... whether the play (and now TV program) accurately reflects the personalities of the actual Royal Family really doesnt matter. It makes for an amazing and riveting drama. Highly recommended.
B
Bremain R.
Anonymous User
4.0 star rating
07/17/20
delightful surprise
Review by Bremain R. on 07/17/20 review stating delightful surprise
Happened upon this as it was broadcast on PBS...with no intention of watching it.....but got stuck into from the opening scenes....the soundtrack suggested something unexpected. The rest of the film delivered a spellbinding clearly fictitious story that offered a simple critique of monarchy as it currently exists in the UK and Commonwealth....little more than a form of celebrity. The verse is genius, the acting first rate. This film is not, however, something that is likely to sit well with fans of monarchy...it is blistering at times, taking extraordinary liberties with characters based on people we often think we know....though we actually know very little. The film draws out the ethical challenges of being born into a role that is utterly powerless, entirely ceremonial and largely confined to predetermined expectations. Ultimately it stands as a testament to the absurdity of a society that purports to espouse the idea of human equality whilst entrenching structural inequality in the notion of monarchy.
T
Toni R.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
07/17/20
Modern Shakespeare drama
Review by Toni R. on 07/17/20 review stating Modern Shakespeare drama
Ive looked at this three times already and love it: the story line, the fine acting and the idea of intrigue between legislative branch and monarchy. And Diane in the background haunting the royal family. Loved it.

"brilliant" - The Entertainment Report

3 out of 4 stars "Rupert Goold's adaptation of Mike Bartlett's Tony Award-nominated play imagines a brief yet tumultuous reign of the current Prince of Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II…Anglophiles will definitely be eager to see this. Recommended." - Video Librarian

Highlighted Customer Reviews

T
Toni R. reviewed Masterpiece: King Charles III DVD
5 star rating
Modern Shakespeare drama
Review by Toni R. review stating Modern Shakespeare drama
Ive looked at this three times already and love it: the story line, the fine acting and the idea of intrigue between legislative branch and monarchy. And Diane in the background haunting the royal family. Loved it.
M
Marilyn reviewed Masterpiece: King Charles III DVD
5 star rating
Awesome , I love shopping for DVDs @ PBS
Review by Marilyn review stating Awesome , I love shopping for DVDs @ PBS
I have shopped many times at PBS.They are great.
S
Shakespeare R. reviewed Masterpiece: King Charles III DVD
5 star rating
Shakespeare Come Back to Life
Review by Shakespeare R. review stating Shakespeare Come Back to Life
The blank verse employed immediately establishes a distance from reality and its complicated motives, familial betrayal and tragedy quickly show its Shakespearean roots. There are multiple incidents which might recall scenes familiar to readers of Richard II, Henry IV and Hamlet. It portrays the current members of Britains royal family as fictional characters representing the conflict between traditional moral values and todays realpolitik. They are definitely not the characters that populate the glossy magazines at the checkout counter, This is a cinematic setting of the stage play which was done in London, New York and in Washington DC by its Shakespeare Company. Many of the cast members that appear here were part of the original theatrical production. Audience reaction to the PBS showing would indicate that this is not the fare that many Masterpiece viewers have come to expect. Nevertheless, for some this is an amazing production, full of imagination and without too much of a stretch, it could be described as Shakespeare come back to life.
Copyright © 2024 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). All rights reserved.
PBS.org   PBS Mission   Privacy & Security   1-800-531-4727 1-833-565-0293
Virtual Catalog