London caught Marilyn Monroe fever in 1956, when the American bombshell arrived to shoot The Prince and the Showgirl with Sir Laurence Olivier. Over the subsequent 4 months, the press breathlessly reported sightings of Marilyn coming into the studio, attending the theater with new husband, playwright Arthur Miller, and even assembly Queen Elizabeth II.
A current guide, When Marilyn Met the Queen, shares the story of the actress’ journey overseas. “Exterior the studio, Marilyn gave the impression to be completely happy,” writer Michelle Morgan solely tells Nearer. “She usually spoke to the followers exterior her gate. She loved watching cricket, biking within the park and purchasing in London.”
Marilyn had married Arthur, her third husband, simply weeks earlier. “They each considered their go to as some form of honeymoon,” says Morgan. “Nevertheless it didn’t end up that manner. Marilyn had a movie to make, and it was extraordinarily demanding at instances.”
The tug-of-war over The Prince and the Showgirl started early. Marilyn had bought the rights to the play it was primarily based on, The Sleeping Prince, by way of her new manufacturing firm, and Olivier agreed to supply and direct the movie they’d star in collectively. “The primary downside was that he insisted on rehearsals, which she hated,” says Morgan, who provides that Marilyn additionally bristled when the British thespian talked right down to her. “When he informed her that her tooth wanted to be whitened, Marilyn began to insurgent. She could be late on set, she would stroll off midway by way of the day, or generally she wouldn’t are available in any respect.”
Maybe in retaliation, Olivier tried to dam Marilyn from assembly Queen Elizabeth. “She was determined to satisfy the queen and would usually ask the publicist to arrange a date,” says Morgan, “however Olivier scrubbed her request from the checklist of every day calls for.”
Marilyn Monroe’s Royal Viewers
Marilyn by no means received to sit down down for tea with Elizabeth — which had been her dream — however she was delighted when she was invited to satisfy her together with different actors at a Royal Command Efficiency that October. “Marilyn (and the opposite feminine celebrities) had been informed to decorate conservatively, however she wore a low-cut gold robe, which went towards the foundations,” notes Morgan. The cleavage-bearing costume “prompted a sensation” that night time, however Morgan notes that Queen Elizabeth by no means raised an eyebrow. “I’m positive she didn’t assume a factor about it. She was a girl of the world, in any case,” says Morgan.
The actress and the royal had a really nice chat on the receiving line. “They spoke about being neighbors,” says Morgan, “as a result of Marilyn lived in Englefield Inexperienced and the queen lived in Windsor, simply throughout the park.” Marilyn was additionally launched to the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, on the occasion.
A month later, The Prince and the Showgirl wrapped, and Marilyn and her husband returned residence. The movie wouldn’t be amongst her largest successes, however assembly Queen Elizabeth would stay one in every of Marilyn’s proudest moments. It’s stated that Elizabeth never forgot it either.
“The queen was all the time very personal about her emotions towards assembly celebrities,” says Morgan, “however in line with a pal, she grew to become fairly a fan of Marilyn and watched all her films.”
