Queen Elizabeth II used to watch The Crown on a projector on Sunday nights, according to actor Matt Smith.
The British actor, 39, who played a young version of the Duke of Edinburgh in the hit Netflix show, made the comments while appearing on a US talkshow. Matt starred opposite Claire Foy – who played the late monarch – for the first two seasons of the royal drama.
It has long been speculated as to whether any members of the royal family watched the hit series, or what their opinions of it were. Speaking to NBC’s Today Show, Matt said: “I heard the Queen had watched it, and she used to watch it on a projector on a Sunday night apparently.
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“I know that Philip definitely didn’t. A friend of mine sat next to him at a dinner once and he asked him… apparently he turned around and went ‘don’t be ridiculous’.”
Matt also revealed the time he met Prince Harry at the polo, with the Queen’s grandson greeting him as “grandad.” Sharing his desire to return to the UK to “share the ceremony” of Her Majesty’s state funeral – due to be held on Monday (September 19) – former Doctor Who star Matt said: “I think it’s a piece of history. I don’t think we’ll ever have a monarch that serves for 70 years again.
“I think I just want to be in London, I want to experience it. I want to share in the ceremony of it really.”
It comes after Claire Foy spoke of the honour of playing the Queen on screen during a BBC interview, describing the “incredible” monarch as a “massive symbol of continuity and dignity and grace.” Olivia Colman – who played the Queen in The Crown’s third and fourth seasons – praised her “dignity” in keeping the promise she made as a young woman, adding: “We’re all incredibly impressed by what she did.”
Netflix recently revealed The Crown’s first series had entered its global top 10 for the week of September 5-11 following the monarch’s death. The streamer’s weekly post said: “Queen Elizabeth II was in the hearts and minds of viewers.
“Fans revisited Season 1 of The Crown, which entered the list for the first time in the seventh spot with 17.57 million hours viewed.”
Filming on the latest series of the series was halted following the death of the Queen and will also be suspended on Monday for her funeral. The upcoming fifth series of the lavish royal drama, currently due to air in November, will see Dominic West star as Charles and Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales.
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