From Summer Bay to the palace: Australian actor Burgess Abernethy to play Prince William
Shooting in Canada, Burgess Abernethy said his "new hood is a little colder than my old hood." Photo: Instagram
Little-known Australian actor and writer Burgess Abernethy has been officially crowned as Prince William in the upcoming Lifetime TV movie Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance.
Abernethy will play the second in line to the throne opposite Canadian actress Laura Mitchell (Gothika, Menendez: Blood Brothers) as Kate Middleton.
The Gold Coast native comes to Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace via Summer Bay.
In 2007 he played student Sean Evans on Seven’s long-running drama Home and Away.
Referred to as the ‘Summer Bay nerd burger’, Abernethy’s character featured in one action-packed episode.
Burgess Abernethy courts disaster at the school formal on Home and Away.
After copping flak for wearing makeup to the school formal, he got drunk and was sick on his partner, played by Sharni Vinson.
Abernethy also starred in the Beastmaster series, Mirrors (2013) and the Logie and AFI award-winning series H20: Just Add Water.
Young actors Preston Karwat and Briella Weintraub will play the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Announcing the castings, the cable network released the first portrait of the fake royal family of four.
Fab four: Laura Mitchell, Preston Karwat, Briella Weintraub and Burgess Abernethy.
Royals fans may not be amused at the artistic licence that has been taken.
The duchess is wearing flats. George is in long pants instead of his signature shorts and socks. Charlotte, in a too-long unsmocked dress, looks oddly grown up.
Shooting on the show is already happening in Vancouver, with reports Lifetime is eyeing a debut to coincide with the May 19 wedding of the real life Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Playing the royal bride-to-be, Parisa Fitz-Henley has been busy sharing snaps and insider details from the set.
On her first day at work, she posted a shot of her and Harry – cosying up in bed.
Scottish actor Murray Fraser, a non-redhead, created headlines when he was cast as Harry. If he checks out the show, the prince is unlikely to be unhappy with the looks of his TV alter ego.
The film follows Harry and Meghan’s romance from their first blind date and secret transatlantic trysts to their November engagement announcement.
New Zealand star Bonnie Soper has been cast as the prince’s late mother Princess Diana, and Maggie Sullivan is Queen Elizabeth.
Critics say Harry, Meghan ‘out of touch’ in series
