10 Most British Doctor Who Moments

3. Royal Cameos

Love them or hate them, the Royal Family are a big part of Britain’s cultural life. They’ve also played a bit part in Doctor Who.

Most significantly, Queen Elizabeth II had a whole story devoted to her coronation (The Idiot’s Lantern). She also cropped up twice in the show: in the background of Silver Nemesis, when the Seventh Doctor and Ace pay a visit to Windsor Castle, and in Voyage of the Damned, to thank the Tenth Doctor for steering the Titanic away from Buckingham Palace.

On both occasions she was played by impressionists, though cameos have been offered to her sons Prince Edward and Prince (now King) Charles over the years.

What’s more, the real Queen Elizabeth was apparently a Doctor Who fan, requesting DVDs of each new series to watch during her annual stay at Balmoral Castle. Reportedly her favourite Doctor was Christopher Eccleston – and, like so many of us, she was “hugely disappointed” when he left.

Additionally, many previous monarchs have featured in historical storylines – the Tenth Doctor crossing paths with Queen Victoria and marrying Elizabeth I, the First meeting Richard the Lionheart, the Thirteenth buying heads with James I, and Amy accidentally marrying Henry VIII.

And in the Whoniverse, at least, the British monarchy lasts another thousand years, with Elizabeth X (aka Liz 10) teaming up with the Eleventh Doctor in The Beast Below.