the times | Saturday April 9 2022 19
News
perhaps been overstated, another
source suggested. “The [discussions]
around Andrew have been pretty much
in the hands of the Prince of Wales and
the siblings,” they said. “That’s not to
say he didn’t have an opinion.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cam-
bridge’s royal tour to the Caribbean had
been billed as a window of opportunity
for some positive headlines after a
gloomy period for the monarchy.
There had been concerns over the
Queen’s health and police are continu-
ing to investigate claims that Charles’charity offered honours help to a Saudi
citizen. There is no suggestion of
wrongdoing by Charles.
But the Cambridges’ visit to Belize,
Jamaica and the Bahamas last month
was scarred by public relations blun-
ders and protests over colonialism.
There is still a sense that some of the
criticism was unfair, particularly as the
duke, 39, and duchess, 40, have a rela-
tively new team. The couple have also
faced additional pressure after the de-
parture of the Sussexes and the interest
in them is intense.
Despite being protective over their
time with their children and carrying
out fewer annual engagements than
Charles and Princess Anne, 71, the
Cambridges are said to be “focused”,
with a clear understanding of the caus-
es they want to champion.
Engagements and phone calls with
aides take place around a schedule of
school drop-offs and family dinners.
“But they are very good at compart-
mentalising,” a source said, and will
pick up work matters later on in the
evenings and at weekends.
The insider said their axing of the
“never complain, never explain” policy
was less about defending themselves
and more about acknowledging criti-
cism and showing a willingness to
change. In an unprecedented state-
ment to end the tour, William had said
that their role was supporting people
“not telling them what to do” as he
voiced an acceptance that he may not
become head of the Commonwealth
after his father.
“Sometimes, it’s okay to go, ‘Hands
up, some of this wasn’t perfect and we
have got to learn’,” the source said. “Not
the bloody-minded ‘carry on and
ignore it’ approach. That is the future.
It’s accepting that there is healthy de-
bate going on and that’s okay.”to her seat at the memorial service for his father at Westminster Abbey last month
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLEThe Crown may have two series and an
entire cast refresh still to come but pro-
ducers are already turning their
thoughts to making a prequel of the lav-
ish royal drama.
Netflix is understood to be in early
talks with Peter Morgan, its creator,
about screening episodes about royal
life beginning with the death of Queen
Victoria in 1901.
The history leading up to Elizabeth
II’s ascension to the throne could be told
over as many as five series, the Daily
Mail reported, taking in the reign of four
kings in 50 years: Edward VII, George V,
Edward VIII and George VI, the
Queen’s father.
The first series of The Crown covered
some of this territory, including the fall-
out from the abdication of Edward VIII,
played by Alex Jennings, after just 327
days and the death of George VI (Jar-
ed Harris). The Queen was origi-
nally played by
Claire Foy.
It is understood
that the shape of the
show is still being dis-
cussed. Netflix is yet to
formally commission
The Crown prequel and
Morgan has not begun
writing the programme.
Morgan, who has
written every episode
of The Crown, has anNetflix ‘in talks’ over
prequels for Crown
Jake Kanter Media Correspondent exclusive deal with Netflix, said to be
worth tens of millions of pounds. He will
continue to collaborate with Left Bank
Pictures, which makes the show and
owns the rights.
The penultimate series of The Crown
— season five — will debut on Netflix in
November after the programme had a
break last year. Filming of the final
season will begin over the summer.
Olivia Colman passes on the Queen’s
role to Imelda Staunton in the forth-
coming series, which broadly covers Sir
John Major’s years as prime minister
from 1990-97. Major is played by the
Trainspotting actor Jonny Lee Miller.
Prince Philip will be played by Sir
Jonathan Pryce, who was nominated for
an Oscar for his role in the 2019 film The
Two Popes. Lesley Manville will take
over from Helena Bonham Carter as
Princess Margaret.
Diana, Princess of Wales, is por-
trayed by Elizabeth Debicki, who
rose to prominence in the BBC’s 6
John le Carré drama The Night
Manager in 2016. Dominic West
will play Prince Charles. The fifth
series will depict a tumultuous
period in their relationship, in-
cluding Diana’s explosive inter-
view for the BBC’s Panorama.
Prasanna Puwanarajah
will play Martin Bashir,
the disgraced journalist.The Queen during her
coronation in 1953