Spoiled, sneering and sharp-tongued: the American TV portrayal of Prince George
A new animated series about the Royal family portrays Prince George as a scathing commentator on palace life.
The Prince, which will air on the US streaming service HBO Max, has a starry voice cast that includes Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Sussex, Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens as the Prince of Wales and Frances de la Tour as the Queen.
It is based on an Instagram account run by Gary Janetti, a writer for the television comedies Family Guy and Will & Grace, in which he ascribed bitchy quotes to George.
The young prince is portrayed as spoiled, worried about his weight and possessing an inexhaustible supply of sassy putdowns.
He is jealous when the Duchess of Sussex is hailed as a fashion icon and despairs of his younger brother, Louis, who is depicted as a bruiser with a Cockney accent.
Explaining his take on Prince George, Janetti has said: “He’s petty and insecure and he’s vulnerable, and also nasty and sarcastic and all of these things.
“[But] It’s never meant to be anything other than to give a laugh and be silly and funny. It’s never meant to be anything that’s mean. It’s all about George’s insane take on the world and his wanting to be a star.”
In the first trailer to be released, the Duke of Sussex moves to Los Angeles and is bemused by civilian life. “This might be the smallest palace I’ve ever been in,” he tells his wife, who explains it is actually an apartment. “Yes, an apartment palace, I know that. Lots of tiny palaces inside one big palace,” the Duke replies.
Somewhat awkwardly for Orlando Bloom, he became friends with the Duke after signing on to the project.
“We’re showing real adoration to them in one form or another. I try to justify it because, quite frankly, if I’m honest, it’s not like me to poke fun at anyone. But it is done with affection,” Bloom told Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.
