Remember when season 4 of The Crown dropped last year and the world was hooked, shook and enthralled? Many speculated as to what the real-life royal family's reactions might be, given that there was a tonne of speculation over its accuracy too (with the show's creator saying it was part fictionalised, part truth-based).
Now, Prince Harry himself has stepped in to clear up a few things – and according to the Queen's grandson, it's just as the programme's screenwriter says: a mix of real life and re-imagined scenes... and it sounds like Harry is actually a fan of the show, too!
In a newly shared interview with comedian James Corden (who is a good friend of both Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, even making a hilarious appearance at their wedding), as part of The Late, Late Show, the host asked the prince, "How do you feel about The Crown?"
To this, Harry replied, "They don’t pretend to be news, it’s fictional, but it’s loosely based on the truth." (Pause to allow reader to gasp!). He added, "Of course it’s not strictly accurate, of course not, but loosely… it gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle, the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that."
It's quite a telling comment, given that Harry and Meghan made the bold decision to step away from their lives as senior working royals, a choice they've said was based on wanting more privacy and to protect their mental wellbeing.
Harry also explained that he's actually more comfortable with The Crown, than he is with certain tabloids writing about himself and Meghan (who just successfully won a privacy case against the Mail On Sunday): "I’m way more comfortable with The Crown than I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife, or myself, because it’s the difference between... that [The Crown] is obviously fiction, take it how you will, but this [a story] is being reported on as fact because you’re supposedly news. I have a real issue with that."
Everyone's clicking on...
The conversation then moved on to who Harry would like to see play him in The Crown in future – and he revealed his top choice would be Damian Lewis. Which in fairness, we can totally kinda see!
"Damian Lewis is a great shout!" James replied. "I think Damian Lewis as you, and me as William. That’s casting." To which Harry joked, "It's not great casting, but it is casting."
Ha! Keep doing you, Harry - we're so here for it (and the juicy royal intel too, of course).
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Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
