Robert Lacey
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The Crown season 3: Historian Robert Lacey explains how much of the show is true

November 18, 2019
The Crown season 3: Historian Robert Lacey explains how much of the show is true

Robert Lacey, who acts as the historical consultant on Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ is interviewed by The Morning Show in Australia as The Crown series 3 airs. Robert Lacey’s book The Crown: Volume 2 is published on 19 November.

The Crown is the most expensive show on TV right now – and with an estimated $95 million spent on each series, it’s no surprise it’s been such a global success.

In the first two series, we watched as The Queen grappled with the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, a distant husband, and a young family.

With its impressive drama and realism, viewers felt they’d been allowed inside the grand walls of Buckingham Palace – and renowned British historian Robert Lacey is there every step of the way as the show’s historical consultant.

So how much of it is actually true?

“It’s all true, but it’s true in two different ways,” Lacey said.

“There’s a difference between history and the past. We, historians, are like gardeners: we stand there with a sieve, and all the events of the past go through the sieve, and a lot of it falls below.

“What’s left in the sieve, that’s the history that the historian deals with. But lots of things pass through and can only be accessed by informed invention and imagination, and that’s what we do with The Crown. We do incredible research.”

Where fact and fiction intersect

In one memorable scene from the first series, The Queen and Philip are shown having a quarrel while on tour in Australia. She hurls a shoe and a tennis racquet at her husband, only to stop suddenly when they spot an Australian film crew in the garden.

“The TV cameras and everything outside is true, and is based on the actual newsreel of the time,” Lacey said.

“They were waiting outside a bungalow for The Queen and Prince Philip to emerge for a nice, civilised interview – and suddenly the door flies open and out comes Philip being pursued by The Queen.

“That scene is true – and we actually interviewed some of the survivors of newsreel crew who were there. What we don’t know is what provoked the row in the first place.”

A focus on Prince Charles

 The new series takes a deeper dive into Prince Charles as he comes of age and deals with the pressure of being the heir – as well as his early relationship with Camilla.

 “There’s no secret that Charles and his mother were at a distance and at odds,” Lacey said.

 “He was attending Cambridge at that time, and suddenly he was told that there was trouble in Wales and he would have to go Aberystwyth, a Welsh university, and learn Welsh there.

 “To his credit, he did go to Aberystwyth and he did learn Welsh, and Welsh people who listened to his speech said it sounded to them as if he’d been learning Welsh all his life.”

Helena Bonham Carter’s method

 Series three introduces Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, but Lacey says the actress didn’t rely on him for her character research.

 “Helena hasn’t leaned much on my skills as a historian,” Lacey said.

 “She’s got a mystic who can put her in touch with Princess Margaret, and who can convey the essence of the Princess better than I can.

 “And who is to argue with Helena Bonham Carter? It’s an absolutely fantastic portrayal.”

 A crowning Glory

 “I think the show taps into people’s affection for The Queen,” Lacey said.

 “All the headlines are about the saucy bits – but basically, we love The Queen. Peter Morgan, who’s written the show, is deeply loyal to The Queen.

 “Whether you’re a republican or not, you have to admit the lady’s done a great job. That sense of duty that she acquired during the war and that stiff upper lip may be outdated, but a lot of people still have respect for it.”

 And as for whether or not the royal family watch the show, Lacey says that if they do, they aren’t admitting it.

 “I once asked Prince Andrew that, and he looked at me with absolute scorn and disdain and said, ‘Of course we don’t watch anything like that.’

 “But I’ve got the feeling (they do). They’re only human after all.”

Read the full article on 7 News

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Robert Lacey

Robert Lacey

British historian and writer

Robert Lacey is a British historian noted for his original research, which gets him close to – and often living alongside – his subjects. He is the author of numerous international bestsellers. lege felicter - may you read happily

Lege feliciter - may you read happily

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As the Platinum Jubilee begins with news of Camill As the Platinum Jubilee begins with news of Camilla’s elevated status, the Queen, Charles and William are making the big decisions as a trio. 

Robert Lacey writes in @thetimes. Article also on Robert’s website: Robertlacey.com

#robertlacey #platinumjubilee #royalfamily #thequeen
Robert lacey writes for the BBC as The Queen celeb Robert lacey writes for the BBC as The Queen celebrates her #platinumjubilee 

Full article on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60201088
As we approach the 70th anniversary of The Queen’s accession on February 6th, Robert Lacey selects his top pick of books about the Royal Family and The Queen. 

shepherd.com/best-books/about-the-queen

#royalfamily #PlatinumJubilee
Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult

First published in hardback: 15 October 2020

What drove Prince William and Prince Harry from the closest of brothers into very different, now distanced men? How has the painful, public unravelling of Prince Charles and Diana’s marriage reverberated through generations? What parts have Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle played in helping their husbands to choose divergent paths? And how does the Queen feel, marshalling her feuding heirs and looking ahead to the future of the British monarchy?

Moving and unvarnished, this is the most intimate insight yet of division in the royal family.

#battleofbrothers #royalfamily #harryandmeghan #williamandkate #britishmonarchy #robertlacey #christmasreads
Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the gangster life by Little Man - Meyer Lansky and the gangster life by Robert Lacey in 1991

Little Man is a book about organised crime unlike any other yet written. If, in the mythology of organised crime, Al Capone symbolised the crude menace of the machine gun and the baseball bat, Meyer Lansky stood for the brains, the sophistication, the hot money, the sheer cleverness of it all. This brilliant biography and social history separates the strands of fact and legend in Meyer Lansky’s – the Godfather of Godfathers – career, revealing a truth about the gangster life in America that is far more fascinating and dramatic than fiction.

#biography 
#meyerlansky 
#americanhistory 
#robertlacey
Extracts from Robert Lacey's book "Battle of Broth Extracts from Robert Lacey's book "Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult" are being featured in The Times this week. 

In Today's article Robert Lacey said allegations against the Duchess of Sussex led to a bitter row between brothers who were once inseparable.

You can read the full article from the link in the bio.

#MeghanandHarry
#WilliamandKate
#TheCrown
#BattleofBrothers
#RoyalFamily
Speaking earlier, Robert Lacey said: “Prince Ph Speaking earlier, Robert Lacey said:

“Prince Philip has been such an integral part of our life. Playing such a key role in the life of the nation.

It was no accident that we decided to feature Prince Philip very strongly in the Crown episode about the moon landing – capturing his interests in science and how he came to understand that science can only take you so far. He went on to develop a strong personal religious faith.

He also helped in bringing the monarchy into touch with everyday life in a fresh way. So many of The Queen’s fresh ideas and fresh initiatives came from this remarkable man.

Prince Philip will be remembered for his sardonic smile, hands behind the back, often unfailingly 2 steps behind Her Majesty. Always there in the most supporting sense.”

Photograph from 1972 in Robert Lacey's book Majesty. “Queen Elizabeth was always front, but Prince Philip was always center.”
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