Queen Elizabeth II used to watch Netflix’s hit royal drama, The Crown via projector on Sunday nights, according to Matt Smith. 

The Emmy-nominated actor, who famously played a young Duke of Edinburgh, made the claim on the American morning show, TODAY. 

In an interview with hosts, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, the on-screen Prince said: “I heard the Queen had watched it, and she used to watch it on a projector on a Sunday night apparently. 

Queen Elizabeth II watched The Crown

“I know that Philip definitely didn’t.

“A friend of mine sat next to him at a dinner once and he asked him… apparently he turned ’round to him and said ‘don’t be ridiculous.'" 

The English actor starred alongside Claire Foy, who played the Queen, and John Lithgow, who took the role of the late monarch’s first Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. 

Matt Smith, who is now a lead actor in the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, shared some of his experiences meeting the Royals. 

At a Polo match, Prince Harry jokingly called him ‘grandad’ as the two shook hands. 

Matt Smith remarked: “He watched the show! Well, I can’t claim to know if he watches it currently, but he watched a bit of it then.” 

Smith, who also played an alien time traveller in the BBC show Doctor Who, also met the now-King Charles and told him he had “fabulous shoes.” 

“He had told me he had had them for 30 years. They were like red brogues, they were beautiful.” 

Matt Smith said he wanted to return to the UK to witness the state funeral for the late Queen. 

“I think it’s a piece of history. 

“I think I just want to be in London. I want to experience it, I want to share in the ceremony of it really.” 

He added that whereas his mother wanted to go to witness the procession, he would most likely watch the service “in a local pub with a group of friends”. 

The streaming giant Netflix reported that The Crown had recently entered the platform’s global top 10 following the Queen’s death, with nearly 18 million hours viewed around the world.