Favourites - S4-E4
Continuity mistake: Margaret Thatcher tells the Queen that her son Mark has gone missing during the Dakar Rally. Mark's team hadn't been heard from in two days. Apparently in the evening of the same day the Queen and Prince Philip sit together and watch the news. You can hear the voice of the TV-commentator: "Mark Thatcher is missing for five days." And then the Queen tells Philip "The prime minister said something interesting today." So, what's right? 2 days or 5 days? (00:03:30 - 00:05:00)
Revealing mistake: On the episode where Diana goes to New York and visits the hospital, it is filmed in the Reynolds Building at UMIST. Visible through the window is the Mancunian way with the car travelling on the left (not right) side of the road.
Factual error: In the final scene Lady Diana is being pursued by photographers during the time of her courtship with Prince Charles. The most prominent car in the scene has an 'X' registration plate. The registration letter 'X' was only used from August 1981 onwards - after the wedding of Charles and Diana.
Continuity mistake: Opening scene is a 1947 flashback with Claire Foy giving her 21st birthday speech. When the camera is near, the black microphone is near her face with no sign, but in a long distant shot, there is a black BBC sign on top of it. (00:04:11)
The Hereditary Principle - S4-E7
Continuity mistake: When Margaret and Charles start eating, her fork is pointing downwards in the angle shot from behind, but upwards in the front shots.
Factual error: Sir Martin Charteris, depicted as being Private Secretary throughout the series (which begins in 1979), actually retired in 1977. Sir Philip Moore and Sir William Heseltine were the real Private Secretaries during this period.
Factual error: Michael Shea was not forced to resign ignominiously as Press Secretary in 1986. He actually left in 1987 and was appointed Companion of the Royal Victorian Order for his service.
Factual error: The Guards band playing at the garden party (in 1982) includes female musicians in the same uniform as the men. Until integration in 1992, the only female musicians in the British Army were members of the Band of the Women's Royal Army Corps. Women did not join Guards bands and wear their uniform until well into the 1990s.
Factual error: Diana's actual coif in her late 20s was much fuller at the top and the sides, and slightly longer in the back than this depiction.
