Willsmania is back! The Crown recreates the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex pop star’s welcome on their 1998 tour of Canada – but is that really Harry at age 13?
Of all the emotionally charged scenes in the history of The Crown TV series, the “Willsmania” re-creation has to be one that offers some relief.
Crowds of excited young women line the streets to film Prince William’s trip to Vancouver, which saw the 15-year-old heir to the throne dubbed a “British Leonardo DiCaprio.”
Fittingly filmed in London’s Canada Square, this exclusive footage shows the March 1998 mini-royal tour, which took place just seven months after Princess Diana’s death.
At the time, William was said to be upset by the pop star’s welcome, and that’s perfectly captured here by actor Ed McVey’s shy body language. One viewer said, “The actor played the ruddy and embarrassed prince perfectly as the girls in the audience went berserk.”
Oddly enough though, Harry, 13 years old at the time of the tour, is played by Luther Ford, an actor in his twenties.
HYSTERIA: The Crown mimics the hustle and bustle of Vancouver
Ed McVey as Prince William as The Crown recreates the famous 1998 Vancouver tour where he was harassed by well-wishers
Prince Harry, then 13 years old, walks past cheering teenage girls in Vancouver in March 1998
Luther Ford (pictured), who is in his twenties, plays 13-year-old Harry in The Crown
The main purpose of the trip was to allow Charles, William and Harry some time together at Whistler’s Rocky Mountain ski area. But before they could hit the slopes, the trio spent 24 hours in Vancouver.
Thousands turned up to catch a glimpse of the eldest brother, with the Netflix show mimicking many of the banners with slogans like “We love you William” and “I will be your Queen.”
Two characters in the re-creation of The Crown refer to “Royal Hotness,” which eagle-eyed Royal viewers say wasn’t a familiar phrase until it was used for Pippa Middleton, a bridesmaid at her sister Kate’s wedding to William in 2011.
The sixth and final series of The Crown takes viewers from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Imelda Staunton reprises her role as the Queen and Dominic West plays Charles.
Prince William receives flowers from the crowd at Canada Place in Vancouver
Charles and Princes William and Harry are greeted at Canada Place in Vancouver in 1998
Teenage girls who are fans of Prince William scream as they greet him like a pop star upon his arrival in Vancouver
Prince William’s teenage fans hand him roses in Vancouver as his bodyguard watches on
William’s fans in Vancouver with one holding a sign that reads ‘William, I’m what you’ve been looking for’
Prince William (left), Prince Harry (left of right) and Charles (right of right) arrive at The Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, Canada on March 23, 1998