Find out if the royal family watches The Crown, and who is the biggest fan. And while fans of The Crown are in royal company, there are some members of the Queen’s family who don’t have the series queued up to watch.
Do Meghan Markle and Prince Harry watch The Crown?
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry haven’t spoken about the drama in interviews, but biographer Katie Nicholl wrote in her book Harry: Life, Loss, and Love, “An accomplished cook, Meghan loved to make extravagant dinners for Harry, and they enjoyed staying in and eating her delicious homemade meals and watching films and TV shows like The Crown on Netflix.” Whether that’s true or not, who knows. Though one thing is for certain: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex won’t be featured in the final seasons of the Netflix series.
Does Queen Elizabeth watch The Crown?
It would not be The Crown without the Queen herself. The monarch has reportedly watched the historical drama with her son Prince Edward and daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex. News of Her Majesty’s Netflix watching has gotten back to one of the show’s stars Vanessa Kirby, who played the royal’s late sister Princess Margaret in Seasons 1 and 2. “A friend of mine was at a party and didn’t know anyone, so he sidled up to this group who were talking about The Crown,” Kirby recalled in a 2018 interview with Harper’s Bazaar. “One girl said, ‘Well, my granny watches it and really likes it.’ It slowly dawned on him that the girl was [Princess] Eugenie and her granny was the Queen.” Per Express, royal sources have revealed that Queen Elizabeth “was a fan of season one which chronicled her ascension to the throne and Prince Philip’s initial struggle to fit into his royal role.” However, Season 2 “reportedly touched a nerve” with its depiction of Prince Charles’ school years at Gordonstoun. Another source noted that Her Majesty “wasn’t keen on the harsh portrayal of her husband Philip as a father.” “The Queen realizes that many who watch The Crown take it as an accurate portrayal of the Royal Family and she cannot change that," a senior courtier told Express.co.uk. “But I can convey that she was upset by the way Prince Philip is depicted as being a father insensitive to his son’s wellbeing." “She was particularly annoyed at a scene in which Philip has no sympathy for a plainly upset Charles while he is flying him home from Scotland," the courtier continued. “That simply did not happen.”
Does Prince Philip watch The Crown?
Although it’s been reported that the Queen has watched The Crown, it seems the royal’s husband Prince Philip did not binge it with her. “We’ve heard that Philip doesn’t watch it – he can’t be bothered,” Kirby previously told Harper’s Bazaar. When Her Majesty sat down to view the program with Prince Edward and Sophie, Philip “refused to be involved,” according to a courtier (via Express). In the first two seasons of the show, the Duke of Edinburgh was played by Matt Smith. The actor’s friend, who is “a man of prominence in the film world,” reportedly sat next to the Queen’s husband at a dinner held at Buckingham Palace during which they spoke about the Netflix series. Smith told the Guardian (via Hello!) that Philip asked his pal,“What do you do? Are you involved in this… Crown thing?” Though Smith’s friend was not involved in the series, he asked the Prince, “Philip, I’m just wondering, because I have some friends who made The Crown, have you watched any?” to which Philip replied, “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Does Prince William watch The Crown?
Like his grandfather, Kate Middleton’s husband is another royal who does not enjoy Netflix nights watching The Crown. Olivia Colman, who plays Prince William’s grandmother on the series, once asked the future King if he’s seen the show. “It didn’t go very well,” the Oscar winner shared on The Graham Norton Show. “I met Prince William at a dinner, and he asked what I was doing at the moment before he quickly added, ‘Actually, I know what you’re doing.’ I was so excited and asked, ‘Have you watched it?’ His answer was a firm, ‘No.’ But he was very charming and very lovely.” Perhaps the Duke of Cambridge will tune in to Season 4, which will feature a young Prince William and Prince Harry!
Does Princess Eugenie watch The Crown?
The Queen’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie has admittedly watched “a couple of episodes” of the popular series. “It is filmed beautifully,” she told Hello! magazine. “The music is wonderful, the story is beautiful. You feel very proud to watch it. I can’t speak for everyone, but that’s how I felt when I watched it.”
Do Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex watch The Crown?
Her Majesty’s youngest son Prince Edward and daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex are said to be fans of the program. “Edward and Sophie love The Crown," a royal source told the Sunday Express in 2017. The couple reportedly even encouraged the Queen to watch the show with them. “It has been a longstanding arrangement that they drive to Windsor at the weekend to join the Queen for an informal supper while watching TV or a film. They have a Netflix account and urged her to watch it with them,” the source shared. “Happily, she really liked it, although obviously there were some depictions of events that she found too heavily dramatized.” The “three of them loved it,” according to a courtier, who told the Express, “Although apparently the Queen kept interrupting to point out when things were wrong – but then I suppose you would if it was about your life, wouldn’t you?”
Does Princess Anne watch The Crown?
Princess Anne stepped into the spotlight in Season 3 of The Crown. During the Anne: The Princess Royal at 70 documentary, the queen’s only daughter revealed that she found the series’ early episodes “quite interesting,” but no longer watches the show. “Actually I read an article the other day about…I don’t watch Netflix and The Crown, but the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did,” Prince Harry’s paternal aunt said, referring to Erin Doherty who portrays her. Anne added, “And I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean it takes me 10 or 15 minutes.”
Do Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips watch The Crown?
Although Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips and son-in-law Mike Tindall enjoy watching the show, they do not want to see themselves depicted on The Crown. “I hope they don’t get to us,” Zara told The Telegraph in 2018. “It would be mortifying to think how people perceive you.” Tindall has reportedly spoken about his and his wife’s “addiction” to the show, praising Claire Foy’s portrayal of his grandmother-in-law. “She’s brilliant, the one who plays the queen,” he said, per Express. “I think it’s a great show in terms of how they delivered it.”
Does Arthur Chatto watch The Crown?
Princess Margaret’s grandson Arthur Chatto has watched The Crown, which features his late grandmother. Though the Queen’s great-nephew doesn’t allow the show to taint his memories of his famous family members. “Yes, I have watched it,” Arthur told The Telegraph. “I guess it’s only an interpretation. So I just kind of remember what they’re actually like and don’t let the TV persona mar my judgment of any of them.”
Does Sarah Ferguson watch The Crown?
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice’s mother Sarah Ferguson is reportedly a “huge fan of the show.” “Sarah has really enjoyed the series — even if it hasn’t gone down well with all members of the royal family," a source revealed to The Sun (via Express). Prince Andrew’s former wife already has some names in mind for stars to play her on The Crown. “She’s told several people close to her she really loves the idea of Eleanor [Tomlinson] after watching Poldark," the source shared. “In later life, she’s keen on Julianne Moore.” Next, here is everything we know about Season 4 of The Crown.
