The Crown recreates Prince Harry’s shameful Nazi scandal as William defends the swastika as a ‘joke’ and Kate watches on
- The Duke of Sussex was 20 when he wore the costume to a friend’s party
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The last episode of The Crown has recreated Prince Harry’s famously ‘shameful’ Nazi costume during a ‘native and colonial’ fancy costume party in 2008.
The Duke of Sussex, then 20, turned up to the event, hosted by Olympic showjumper Richard Meade, dressed in a shirt bearing a swastika.
He had arrived with his elder brother Prince William, who reportedly dressed in a skin-tight black leotard with leopardskin pattern and a matching leopardskin tail and paws.
The hit Netflix programme, which released its final six episodes this morning, showed William, Harry and Kate – played by Ed McVey, Luther Ford and Meg Bellamy – at a costume shop in the Cotswolds with some friends.
The now-Prince of Wales is going as a lion while his younger brother is yet undecided on what to do.
The last episode of The Crown has recreated Prince Harry’s famously ‘shameful’ Nazi costume during a ‘native and colonial’ fancy costume party in 2008
While sorting through the racks of clothing, Harry suddenly sees the famously ‘shameful’ costume of an Afrika Korps uniform, with a swastika at the sleeve.
‘Germany had an empire, didn’t they?’ he asks. ‘What about this?’
‘I don’t know,’ Kate replies. ‘Maybe cover the swastika?’
But William comes to his brother’s defence.
‘Oh, come on. Wearing the outfit doesn’t make him a Nazi. Isn’t that the joke?’ he adds.
In the mirror, a gleeful Harry does the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute.
The costume shop scene also sees the Duke cheekily suggest that Kate wear a wedding dress costume, quipping that she must have already thought of it.
At the party in question, the Duke initially has the sleeves covered up with another jacket, but later, while enjoying a singing performance of a friend dressed up as Queen Elizabeth II, takes it off – much to the shock of two guests in the audience.
At the party in question, the Duke initially has the sleeves covered up with another jacket, but later, while enjoying a singing performance of a friend dressed up as Queen Elizabeth II, takes it off
‘Have you got a phone?’ one of them asks.
‘Yes, I’ve got a phone,’ the other replies, as they snap a picture.
The next morning sees the royals horrified to see the front pages.
William exclaims ‘s**t’ as Charles angrily throws the paper away. Elsewhere, the Queen sighs ‘oh, Harry’ as she hands Philip the pages.
The young royal shouts obscenities as he rouses after a night of partying, and realising what he’s done.
A later scene also shows the two brothers rowing over the scandal at supper with their father.
‘You were all for the uniform, egging me on,’ Harry hit out. ‘Suddenly you’re Mr Morality. Stabbing me in the back… how many faces does this man have?’
‘I’m not sure I like who you’re turning into,’ William says.
‘Not sure I like who you’ve been,’ Harry replies.
It mirrors the Duke’s account of the event in his memoir, Spare, where he claims Will and Kate ‘howled’ at the idea.
Another part of the episode also shows the Queen discussing the incident with Tony Blair.
‘We all make mistakes in the flashes of youth,’ the former Prime Minister says.
‘Rarely as gross a misjudgment as this,’ Her Majesty replies. ‘A swastika armband two weeks before Holocaust Memorial Day.’
Harry made headlines in January 2008 when The Sun newspaper published a photo of him dressed up as a member of the Afrika Korps
Tony adds: ‘There’s a great deal of affection in the country for Harry. An apology followed by a period of contrition should pave the way for forgiveness.’
Prince Philip later in the finale also admits that while the Duke was ‘foolish to go that party dressed in that costume’ – he was ‘bl***y unlucky that a fellow guest should go to the newspapers like that’.
Harry made headlines in January 2008 when The Sun newspaper published a photo of him dressed up as a member of the Afrika Korps.
The Prince wore the costume to a party – it featured the Nazis’ infamous swastika on his arm and the badge of the German Wehrmacht on his collar.
Earlier in the evening Harry had worn an army-style jacket with a German flag on the arm.
After the photo was released, The Royal Family ‘quickly’ apologised for Harry’s outfit. But the Duke himself failed to address the incident until very recently – when he called it one of the ‘biggest mistakes’ of his life.
Speaking in the third episode of his Netflix documentary, Harry expressed his regret and ‘shame’ and said ‘all I wanted to do was make it right.’
The Prince wore the costume to a party – it featured the Nazis’ infamous swastika on his arm and the badge of the German Wehrmacht on his collar. Harry is pictured in January 2023
The last six episodes of The Crown also delve into the young princes’ party days, and explore how they navigated growing up in the spotlight.
In one episode, the brothers appear to be enjoying William’s 18th birthday party – where Harry chugs beer into his mouth through a tube.
Pictures form the show, released earlier, also show William and Kate sharing a heartfelt moment at university, while another depicts one of William and Harry’s ski trips with their father, Prince Charles.
One scene, made all the more poignant due to their current estrangement, shows a young William and Harry having a drink and a laugh together.
Imelda Staunton, 67, who plays Queen Elizabeth II, can be seen waving to the crowds during her Golden Jubilee in 2002 in another scene.
Earlier this month, following the release of the first four episodes of series six, Netflix teased a clip of Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey recreating Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first kiss at a university event, in the trailer for part two of the royal show.
The final instalment of the big-budget royal drama, which has drawn criticism for scenes depicting the run up to and aftermath of Princess Diana’s death in Paris, will focus on the young royals.
Storylines include Prince William trying to integrate into life at Eton in the wake of his mother’s death as the monarchy has to ride the wave of public opinion.
The show also faced fresh criticism for reinforcing negative stereotypes about private schools.
The chief executive of the Independent Schools Council, Julie Robinson, said that Netflix’s portrayal of the elite institutions in the drama series is affecting the public’s perception.
Ms Bellamy won the role of Kate when she submitted a self-taped audition after producers put out an opening casting role for the role.
Announcing the casting on Instagram last September, she wrote: ‘Pinch me please… So excited to announce that I will be playing Kate Middleton in Series 6 of Netflix’s The Crown.
‘It is such an honour to be joining the most incredible cast and crew and I will strive to do Kate justice.’
And since landing the role and becoming a rising star in the acting world, Meg has also become hot property among designers; with some of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world scrambling to dress her.
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