Which actor portrays Prince Philip in the first two seasons?

Matt Smith portrays Prince Philip in the first two seasons of The Crown. His performance covers Philip Mountbatten’s early years as the husband of Princess Elizabeth and his adjustment to life within the British royal family.

Smith’s version of Philip is shown as energetic, proud, competitive, and occasionally frustrated by the restrictions of royal protocol. The first season begins around Elizabeth and Philip’s 1947 wedding, while the second follows their family and public lives through the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The role was later recast as the series moved forward in time. Tobias Menzies played Philip in seasons 3 and 4, and Jonathan Pryce played him in seasons 5 and 6. This changing-cast structure is one of The Crown’s defining features: major characters are recast approximately every two seasons to reflect aging.

A common mix-up is confusing the actors who played Philip with those who played other royal figures. Ben Miles portrayed Peter Townsend, Tobias Menzies played Philip later, and Jonathan Pryce portrayed Philip in the final two seasons.