This Crown actor feels sorry for Meghan Markle after her engagement to Prince Harry

Although most people worldwide expressed joy at the news of Prince Harry's engagement with Meghan Markle, this The Crown actor had a completely different response to their impending nuptials.

Matt Smith, who portrays the character of Prince Philip on Netflix drama, feels sorry for the Suits actress. The actor told Vanity Fair at 92nd Street Y in New York City, "I feel sorry for her. It's such a transition in her life, and it's such a huge thing to take on. Life as she knows it is gone. But hey, she's marrying the prince of Britain — how exciting for her."

In the show, Smith's character Prince Philip struggles with the same transition Markle is about to face — the complex Royal transition. In season 2 of The Crown, Philip reluctantly lived in the shadow of his wife, Queen Elizabeth II (played by Claire Foy), as they are both forced to adhere to tradition and royal customs.

Commenting on the upcoming royal wedding, Foy took a more optimistic approach and admitted that the times have changed, and so has many royal traditions. "You realise the fact that Elizabeth forbade her sister from marrying a divorced man; it goes to show how time has changed and how they've had to evolve," she said, referring to the fact that Markle is a divorcee and yet has been accepted by Her Majesty as Prince Harry's would-be wife.

"This would not have been conceivable, this would not have happened 50 years ago. And I think that's why the monarchy will survive and thrive, because it's willing to change and listen to the people and realise that some elements of the institution are outdated and unnecessary," she added.

Foy, who admitted to being a fan of the former Suits actress, cheekily added, "And she's an actress, so there's hope for us all."

The couple, who announced their engagement news in public on 27 November, couldn't stop gushing over each other in an interview with the BBC recently.

Talking about their whirlwind romance, Harry revealed, "I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly. All the stars were aligned – everything was just perfect. This beautiful woman just sort of tripped and fell into my life. I fell into her life."

Meghan also revealed that the royal proposed to her at the couple's Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace, while the pair were roasting a chicken. She said, "It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got down on one knee. As a matter of fact, I could barely let him finish proposing. I said, 'Can I say yes now?'"

The 32-year-old Royal added, "There were hugs and I had the ring in my finger. I was like, 'Can I give you the ring?' She goes, 'Oh, yes! The ring!'"