Royals face more Netflix drama with awkward connection to The Crown star

08 February 2023 , 09:05

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You will recognise Harry Hadden-Paton from his roles in Netflix's The Crown and Downton Abbey (Image: Getty)

It's well-known that Prince William and Prince Harry have a wide circle of friends - many of whom are members of the aristocracy, old school friends or knew the royals while they were growing up in Gloucestershire.

One of the most prominent of these friendships is the Royal Family's connection to the van Cutsem family. The bond between the two families has seen them pictured together on numerous occasions. As well as this, many of the van Cutsem children can count either Prince William or Prince Harry as one of their godparents.

However, there is another less-anticipated connection between the family and the royals thanks to a very popular TV show and one actor in particular.

Harry (second right) with the cast of seasons 1 and 2 of Netflix's The Crown (2017 Getty Images)

You may recognise Harry Hadden-Paton from his roles on TV - from playing Martin Charteris in Netflix's The Crown to starring as Herbert Pelham, The Marquess of Hexham in Downton Abbey.

The British actor recently reprised his role as Professor Henry Higgins in the West End production of My Fair Lady after a successful stint on Broadway.

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While the London-born actor's characters have had ties to royalty and the aristocracy on screen, Harry has more than one enviable connection to the Royal Family.

Whether it is his background as a member of the landed gentry to Sarah, Duchess of York being his godmother or how he attended Eton College at the same time as Prince William, Harry has another impressive link to the royals thanks to his sister's marriage.

In 2009, Harry's sister Alice married Major Nicholas van Cutsem at Wellington Barracks near Buckingham Palace. The nuptials was attended by everyone from Prince William, Prince Harry and the future Princess of Wales.

Nicholas and Alice's daughter Florence is Prince Harry's goddaughter and served as one of Meghan Markle's bridesmaids at their wedding in May 2018.

Nicholas van Cutsem married Alice Hadden-Paton in 2009 (2009 Indigo)

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The van Cutsem family has many strong ties with the royals and are often pictured together. Hugh van Cutsem was a close friend of King Charles during their days at university and his four sons (Edward, Hugh, Nicholas and William) have acted as close friends to William and Harry for many years.

Edward van Cutsem served as a pageboy at the wedding of the-then Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, whereas his brother Hugh made Prince William the godfather of his eldest daughter Grace.

Nicholas van Cutsem was asked to act as a godfather to Prince Louis and his brother William van Cutsem became Prince George's godfather at his christening in 2013.

Rebecca Russell