Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Royals is a soap opera about the troubled members of a fictional English monarchy. The show is chockablock with things that parents won't want young teens to see: characters popping pills and smoking marijuana, group sex, and a variety of sexual assaults, such as when a royal coerces a crying maid into performing oral sex on him or a man drugs a woman's drink, has sex with her, and records the results on his phone. Cursing is frequent and often sexually tinged: "whore," "bitch," "p---y." Vulgar English expressions such as "fanny" and "tosser" also are used. One character's mother was killed in a politically motivated incident, and other members are in danger from terrorists and other miscreants.

Sexual Content

Frequent verbal and visual references to sex. An unwilling maid is coerced into giving a member of the royal family oral sex. Couples are shown in bed moaning and thrusting in their underwear (no private parts shown). There are references to virginity, oral sex, and masturbation as well as group sex.

Violence

Discussion of suicide, assassinations, political deaths. One character's mother died in a politically motivated killing. A man coerces a servant into giving him oral sex while she trembles and cries. A mother smacks her adult son in the face.

Language

Frequent cursing: "bitch," "hell." Women are frequently referred to as "whores." Vulgar English expressions such as "fanny" and "tosser" as well as sexual language: "don't be a p---y."

Social Behavior

There is some discussion of a monarch's duty toward his or her country, but the message tends to get lost in the sex, drugs, and drama.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Many scenes take place in nightclubs and bars, with characters acting drunk and silly when imbibing. Characters smoke from bongs and trade pills; they talk about being high. A man claims he drugged a woman's drink before having sex with her.