Anthony Eden's (Jeremy Northam) drug use is now commonly agreed to have been a part of the reason for his bad judgment while prime minister during the Suez Crisis. Benzedrine, the wonder drug of the 1950s, regarded then as a harmless stimulant and used in a very casual way, has serious side effects such as insomnia, restlessness, and mood swings, all of which Eden suffered at that time.
Galina Ulanova (Aliya Tanikpaeva) was a Russian ballet dancer, frequently cited as being one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. She was only allowed to tour abroad at the age of 46 (1956), and delighted British papers wrote that "Galina Ulanova in London knew the greatest triumph of any individual dancer since Anna Pavlova". Prince Philip (Matt Smith) was 35 years old in 1956.