The Crown ended with a whimper, in my opinion. The final season, which dropped last year on Netflix, promised to “end on a high note” as it covered Queen Elizabeth II’s 2002 Jubilee and then-Prince Charles’s 2005 wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles. Peter Morgan totally bungled it, which sort of shows that, actually, all of those stories are “too recent” to be dramatized. Perhaps it also showed that it’s difficult to dramatize a powerful royal family while actively trying to “be nice” to them too. Well, the flop final season didn’t stop the BAFTAs from nominating The Crown for eight TV awards. The BAFTAs organize two separate ceremonies, months apart, for film and television, and the television awards are being held on May 12. According to the Ephraim Hardcastle column, BAFTA president Prince William will skip.
Prince William, on light duties for the time being, might be glad he can swerve next month’s Bafta Awards. Netflix’s dramatisation of Windsor family life, The Crown, is up for eight awards, with nominations for Dominic West (who played William’s dad); Elizabeth Debicki (his mum); and Lesley Manville (great-aunt Margaret).
Steve Coogan is nominated for best actor for his portrayal of Jimmy Savile in The Reckoning. Savile once gave Jim’ll Fix It badges to William and Harry. The prince might have found it difficult to dispense gongs.
While I don’t doubt that William isn’t eager to mingle with actors from The Crown, let’s also point out that he’s never, ever attended the BAFTA TV Awards. Since becoming BAFTA president, he only shows up half the time to the film awards and never the television awards. Personally, I believe William only bothered to go to this year’s BAFTAs because Prince Harry had just visited their father and William wanted some attention. He got it and it was awful. That’s probably a factor too – no one wants a gaffe-machine like William there, making more inappropriate comments to young actresses.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
The Prince of Wales, president of Bafta, attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848022772, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
The Prince of Wales, president of Bafta, walks with Jane Millichip, CEO of Bafta as he attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848040569, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
The Prince of Wales, president of Bafta, talks with Charlotte Moore BBC chief content officer, as he attends the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848040572, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon
The Prince of Wales meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce after the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848094455, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
The Prince of Wales meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce after the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848094471, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
The Prince of Wales reacts as he meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce after the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848094476, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon
The Prince of Wales meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce after the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848094485, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
The Prince of Wales meets EE Rising Stars Phoebe Dynevor, Ayo Edebiri, Sophie Wilde and Mia McKenna Bruce after the Bafta Film Awards 2024, at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London.,Image: 848094490, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Jordan Pettitt / Avalon 
Prince William, Prince of Wales arriving at the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 18 February 2024 at Royal Festival Hall, London. .,Image: 848129762, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: World Rights – Julie Edwards/Avalon.Red, Model Release: no, Credit line: Julie Edwards / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW5lZ4R5e8%2BroKeblZTEqrjLopiml6eeua2r0qSgqZeknbKgrsCfq5qXpKusosPAq5usl56axbWrzKilraCPnsCgtdOYmZ6bkarApqvOn5atoJWUsLO71qdm