Queen’s close friend Prue Penn praised Claire Foy’s portrayal of the monarch in The Crown, saying it was “brilliant” because she spoke like her and had the same “aura of dignity”.
Prue Penn, a close friend of the Queen, thought Claire Foy’s portrayal of Her Majesty in The Crown was “brilliant”, according to her acquaintance Charles Moore.
The former editor of the Telegraph revealed in his column in the Spectator that Lady Penn, who died last month at the age of 97, was a fan of the first two seasons of the controversial Netflix series.
Quoting from ‘several hundred emails and text exchanges’ he had with her, Lord Moore revealed Lady Penn’s warm words for Foy’s portrayal of the Queen.
Foy, 39, portrayed her in 20 episodes before the role passed to Olivia Coleman for series three and four.
Lady Penn said of her: ‘The girl who plays HM is brilliant. She speaks like her and she has the same air of dignity and confidence that HM has had all her life.”
Prue Penn, a close friend of the Queen, found Claire Foy’s portrayal of Her Majesty in The Crown “brilliant”, according to her acquaintance Charles Moore. Above: Lady Penn (centre) with Princess Margaret (right) and policewoman Margaret Liles at a lunch to mark the 1975 Woman of the Year celebrations
The former Telegraph editor revealed in his column in Spectator Magazine that Lady Penn, who died last month aged 97, was a fan of the first two seasons of the controversial Netflix series. Above: Foy as the Queen alongside Matt Smith as Prince Philip in a scene from the first season of The Crown in 2016
She added: “You ask the Queen a question, she thinks before she answers and she is always right. She has wisdom.”
However, Lord Moore claimed that Lady Penn found The Crown ‘increasingly odious’ as production continued.
Critics have pointed out dozens of historical inaccuracies and rejected the fictional portrayal of seismic events in royal history.
The first four episodes of the latest and final series – which depict Princess Diana’s final days – are available on Netflix.
Imelda Staunton is the latest star to portray the monarch on the show.
Lady Penn, whose late husband Sir Eric served as comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s office, was lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother.
She and the queen, who were born twelve weeks apart, married the same year and both had nine great-grandchildren.
Lady Penn was distraught when the Queen died last September.
She told Lord Moore: ‘HM and I were born three months apart.
The late Queen of Balmoral awaits a meeting with new Prime Minister Liz Truss. She died just two days later
Foy, 39, portrayed her in 20 episodes before the role passed to Olivia Coleman for series three and four. Lady Penn said of her: ‘The girl who plays HM is brilliant. She speaks like her and she has the same air of dignity and confidence that HM has had all her life.” Above: Foy and Smith portray the Queen and Prince Philip
The Queen and Prince Philip examine the royal yacht before it was officially launched
‘We were sitting together in the departure hall, but her flight was called first! My Eric will be at the gate to ensure that protocol is properly adhered to. I feel deeply sad.’
Lady Penn’s husband died in 1993.
His uncle had served as groom-in-waiting to King George VI and then as private secretary and treasurer to the Queen Mother.
The couple’s son, David, and their grandson Rory both served as pages of honor for the Queen.
Lady Penn met the then Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret through her husband.
The Queen Mother and Princess Elizabeth attended the Penns’ wedding in January 1947, ten months before the future monarch tied the knot with Prince Philip.
Sir Eric formally joined the royal fold in 1960, when he became Assistant Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office.
He was promoted to comptroller in 1964 and served in this role until 1981, when he retired.
In 1964, she became one of the godmothers of Princess Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, who was baptized at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, confided in her as he was about to marry Princess Diana, expressing his concerns about the union.
Lady Penn was at the center of royal life for decades and was a close friend of the Queen
Lady Penn also worked in the music business on a voluntary basis, mingling with the likes of Benjamin Britten and Sir Frederick Ashton. Above: Lady Penn with Britten in 1970
Lady Penn was appointed maid of honor to the Queen Mother in 1994.
The Queen and Prince Philip sometimes spent weekends at Lady Penn’s house in Suffolk.
The royal couple also attended her 90th birthday party at Bellamy’s in Mayfair in 2016.
She remained close to the Queen until she died in 2022 and spoke to her on the phone ten days before her death.
Lady Penn was also a great admirer of the King and told a friend how he had ‘grown in stature’ since his accession to the throne.
She added, “I am committed to him and know he will take up the mantle with sensitivity, wisdom and strength.”