Dr Who turns Philip into a ‘bit of a lad’
PrInce Philip is depicted as a roisterer who stays out all night after his wife, Princess elizabeth, becomes Queen, in television drama of the year The crown.
Philip — who was made the Duke of edinburgh when he married the Queen — is portrayed by former Doctor Who star Matt Smith in the epic programme, the first ten episodes of which will be available on the netflix streaming channel from november 4.
The moment the princess becomes Queen, Philip realises theirs is no longer a marriage of equals.
‘His career in the navy was taken away from him when she became monarch — and that’s the real crux of the series for Philip,’ Smith told me. ‘In many ways, he is emasculated. His work and function were taken away.
‘It’s very odd when you have to start walking two steps behind your wife.’
One of the most poignant scenes is one in which the Queen waits anxiously, in her bed for her husband to return home.
She hears his sports car drive into the forecourt and then her husband jump noisily out of the vehicle.
When he looks into her bedroom, the Queen pretends to be asleep, but it’s clear she’s deeply upset — and hurt — by Philip’s behaviour.
At one point, she tells him she has only ever loved him — and asks if he could say the same.
Smith told me there’s no suggestion of any hanky panky on Philip’s part in series one; and other scenes make it clear she liked him making his way to her bedroom.
‘I think he was a young man who was in a very bizarre position,’ said Smith. ‘At times, he was a bit of a lad, going to gentlemen’s clubs and lunches; and he’d get a bit drunk. But there’s no suggestion of him having full-blown affairs.’
The actor described The crown as ‘ a relationship drama’. ‘ Their life is unlike anyone else’s in the world,’ he said. ‘ And yet, somewhere in that, they have to function as normal human beings.
‘ It’s a bizarre set of circumstances to live your life in, and I think they’ve done it with aplomb.’ Both Smith and claire Foy (as the Queen) are sublime, capturing the wonder and tensions of the newlyweds perfectly.
Stephen Daldry, who created the series with Peter Morgan, jokingly called Philip the ‘First Migrant’. The prince was, essentially, alone when he came to england as a young man.
‘The relationship between Philip and elizabeth had to grow. They obviously loved each other, but had to work out how to show that love,’ said Daldry.
If The crown were shown on the BBc or ITV, it would easily be the most watched drama of the year, so I hope people find it on netflix.
Series two, by the way, is filming now, and is set to be broadcast next year.