Controversial drama filmed at Earl’s stately home
The earl of harewood might be in trouble with his cousin, the Queen.
he has let his magnificent Yorkshire stately home, harewood house, stand in for Buckingham Palace in the controversial new BBC drama, King Charles III .
The production has already been described as ‘extraordinarily insensitive’ by the MP Sir Gerald howarth.
Its story begins with the death of the Queen, and chronicles the reign of a new King, Prince Charles, who faces a plot by a scheming Duchess of Cambridge to bring about his abdication and install her husband William on the throne.
The show, due to be screened next week on BBC2, also features the ghost of Princess Diana.
The 18th-century Palladian pile near Leeds, which was used as a location shoot for ITV’s Victoria and emmerdale, plays a starring role in the royal fantasy.
‘Can’t wait to see this,’ coos the social media account for the harewood house Trust. ‘harewood features in several intriguing scenes!’
David Lascelles, eighth earl of harewood and godson of the Queen, isn’t exactly strapped for cash. his family’s art collection is stuffed with Turners and Titians, and the main building welcomes more than 250,000 visitors through its palatial doors each year.
however, it is not the first time his family will have incurred the displeasure of her Majesty.
his father, George, who died in 2011 aged 88, was shunned by the Royal Family throughout the Sixties after divorcing his pianist wife Marion Stein, which was considered a scandal at the time.
he went on to to marry his mistress Patricia Tuckwell with whom he already had an illegitimate son. ‘I don’t see myself as a member of the Royal Family,’ he said.
‘I think of myself as a Yorkshireman with only a connection to the Royal Family.’
TV producer David, 66, who won a Bafta in 1992 for Inspector Morse, clearly takes after his irreverent father.
he declines to comment.