Heirs and graces

Actor Ed McVey has gone from class clown to The Crown as he makes his debut playing Prince William as a teenager and a young man in the Netflix hit. Luckily, he likes the spotlight, as he tells Rolling Stone UK

- ANNA SMITH

ED MCVEY LIKES attention, though he’s a bit sheepish about it. “I feel like you’re not allowed to say you enjoy being looked at.” But it’s a trait that will serve him well in his new role as Prince William in The Crown. All eyes are now on the 24-year-old, who recently made his TV debut playing the future king from his teens onwards.

A south Devon boy, McVey is chatty and confident, and fired up that he can finally talk about playing the future king in Netflix’s smash-hit series. He didn’t initially fancy his chances of getting the part. “It was one of those things where you do the tape, but you’re fully aware that everyone and their blond-haired, blue-eyed brother is going to be putting in for Will, so it’s a bit of a long shot.”

After an audition, McVey was invited to join a table read with Meg Bellamy, who was later cast as Kate Middleton. “It was the first time I met Meg. You could feel electricity in the air, which l wasn’t expecting.” Producers were impressed, but it took a while for the good news to be confirmed. “My mum was ripping her hair out!” says McVey.