Matt Smith 'feels sorry' for Meghan Markle: 'Life as she knows it is gone'

Smith's The Crown co-star Claire Foy was more positive about the engagement and said it showed how the royal family has updated its views on marriage

Meghan Markle in US drama 'Suits'

Actor Matt Smith has revealed he feels sorry for Meghan Markle following news of her engagement to Prince Harry, suggesting "life as she knows it is gone".

The royal engagement was announced in November by Clarence House - the couple later appeared to make a statement to the press.

It was then revealed that Markle would be leaving her role as Rachel Zane in the US drama Suits, with it strongly suspected that she would depart with her on-screen fiance Patrick J. Adams at the end of the current season.

Smith, who portrayed Prince Philip in the first two seasons of popular Netflix drama The Crown, was asked about the news during an interview with Vanity Fair.

It was noted that during his role he was able to make some sense of the complex life of a man who lived reluctantly in the Queen's shadow for part of their marriage.


 Matt Smith as Prince Philip with Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth in Netflix drama The Crown

"I feel sorry for her," he said, making his co-star Claire Foy laugh. "It's such a huge transition in her life, and it's such a huge thing to take on. Life as she knows it is gone. But hey, she's marrying the prince of Britain - it's quite exciting for her."

"You realised... the fact that Elizabeth forbade her sister from marrying a divorced man - it just shows how time has changed, and how they've had to evolve," Foy added.

"This would not have happened 50 or 60 years ago, and I think that's why the monarchy will survive and hopefully thrive, is because it's willing to change and listen to the people and realise that some elements of the institution are just outdated."

The Crown returns to Netflix on 8 December - read our review here.

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