The world is totally obsessed with Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton — so, if asked, royal fans might argue that the Duchesses must be the palace staff’s favorite royal family members. But Cosmopolitan recently revealed that’s actually not the case! 

In a past interview, The Crown star Matt Smith confessed that Prince Philip is beloved by the palace staff and there’s a good reason why! “In the royal house he’s the most popular of all of them. If you’ve talked to any of the staff, Philip’s the one they all love really,” the actor told Variety. “I think more than a lot of them, he’s a bit more of a man of the people.”

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Queen Elizabeth‘s 97-year-old husband, Philip, has seemingly won over palace staffers with his charming personality and his rebellious nature. “The royal protocol hasn’t dogged him in quite the same way his whole life and there’s a sort of rebellion in him and a naughtiness and a cheekiness. I think he’s quite affable and open by all accounts with the staff. They all love him,” Matt added. 

Matt previously played Philip on the hit Netflix series The Crown for two seasons. However, the 35-year-old actor will not return for 2019’s Season 3 because the characters will appear a decade older and Matt is simply too young to keep playing Philip as the Duke ages. In the next season, Philip will be portrayed by Tobias Menzies who previously played Prince Charles in the 2018 movie King Lear. 

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In a previous interview with The Guardian, Matt revealed what he loves most about Prince Philip. “I just think he’s a bit of a cool cat,” he said. “And that’s what I love about him: he’s done what he wants, when he wants, how he wants, with whom he wants. And his wife’s the Queen.”

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