Matt Smith, who portrayed Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of the wildly famous Netflix series The Crown, asserts that both the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry were fans of the series.
Smith told the hosts of NBC’s Today show, “I heard the Queen had watched it, and that she used to watch it on a projector every Sunday night.”
Her Majesty was not the only royal who watched the performance.
Smith recalled that during a polo game, Harry suggested he was at least a passive observer.
“He stepped up to me and said, ‘Grandpa,’” Smith explained.
He viewed the program. I cannot assert that he now watches it, but he has viewed it in the past.’
It had been suspected for a long time as to which members of the British Royal Family watch the show that chronicles the early years of the late queen until the present day.
Matt Smith, who portrayed Prince Phillip in the first two seasons of The Crown, associates with Prince Harry during a polo match. Smith reported that when he first met Harry, the prince addressed him as “grandad.”
Smith played Prince Philip with Claire Foy, who portrayed a youthful Queen Elizabeth II on the wildly successful Netflix series The Crown.
Smith and Prince William meet during a polo play.
Smith says he is unsure if Harry is still a fan of The Crown, but that he was at one time.
While the queen and Prince Harry may have been fans of the show, Prince Phillip was not.
One of Smith’s friends once dined with Prince Phillip and questioned as to whether or not he watched the show, according to Smith.
He responded, “Stop being absurd.”
Despite the response, Smith claims he ‘fell in love with Phillip’ during filming the first two seasons of the show.
He was a true modernizer and incredibly fascinating. Sincerely, I fell in love with Philip,’ he claimed, adding that he believed Philip and the Queen were a ‘fantastic marriage.’
He cherished her. He made her laugh a lot.
Smith highlighted his friendship with the royal family on the NBC Today Program while promoting his new show, House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel.
Smith (right) and Foy (left) depicted the royal couple during their early years on the reign, as England and the world endured the massive transformation that followed two world wars.
Smith plans to return to London on Monday to mourn Queen Elizabeth II at her state burial along with the rest of the nation.
Smith claims that while he portrayed Philip, he grew to adore the character and that he and the Queen were a ‘fantastic couple.’
The queen passed away on September 8 at the age of 96. Monday, September 19 is set for her state funeral.
The Crown covers the story of Queen Elizabeth’s life from the time she was a young girl to the present day.
Netflix infamously spent $13 million on the pilot episode of The Crown and an extra $120 million on the first two seasons of the program, which became a streaming service phenomenon.
Smith, who is presently promoting the Game of Thrones prequel in which he stars, House of the Dragon, said he expects to return to London on Monday for the state funeral of the late Queen.
“I believe it to be a piece of history. I do not believe we will ever again have a monarch who reigns for 70 years… I wish I were in London. I definitely want to be a part of the ritual,’ he added, adding that he will probably watch the procession with his buddies in a local pub.