IS one of the central characters from The Crown 5. It’s about Sydney Johnsonformer waiter of Edward VIII, then taken by Mohamed Al-Fayed (father of Dodie) to teach him all about the bon ton of British royalty. Always remained in the shadows, it is hub of many important events. Even the approximation between Diana and Dodi it is, in some way, “merit” of his. To interpret him, an impeccable Jude Akuwudike (Nigerian actor of Beasts of no nation).
Kind and cultured, we discover it (and immediately fall in love with it) in third episode from the Netflix series. «IS the only black man ever to date British royalty before Meghan Markle», he summed up effectively Oprah Winfrey.
“It ruins Al-Fayed’s reputation”
Sydney was glimpsed in The Crown already in the third season (played him Connie M’Gadzah), told the last days of the Duke of Windsor. But it is in this fifth season that it explodes like key character. It appears in the episode Mou Mou – history and rise of Mohamed Al-Fayed.
Serve with respect and professionalism Edward VIIIformer king of England, who had already abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, non-aristocratic American, grappling with her second divorce. The young Sydney (interpreted by Joshua Kekana) is polite and smart. The former king takes him “well” and hires him full-time. With the Dukes of Windsor it remains even further thirty years, until ’72the year following the death of Edward.
Jude Akuwudike (Sydney) with Mohamed Al-Fayed (Salim Daw). (Netflix)
Then we find it again ’79 (plays it Jude Akuwudike) at the big party that Al-Fayed gives to the Ritz to celebrate the purchase of theHotels“pearl” in decline that Fayed restructure and relaunch to finally fit into British “high” society. The one that always has revered “like the gods” since childhood (son of a school inspector with no ambitions).
But in which – as an Egyptian then enriched – he could not get respect. That’s why when he sees the black waiter Sydneyhe says to his son Dodie to fire him on the spot. “Ruins the reputation of the Ritz”, he snaps with the same discriminatory arrogance which he suffers from real Britons.
Then he wants him as an “adviser”
But everything changes when Dodie explains to his father who that “black waiter” really is: former loyal servant of the former king. Lightning-fast it is their first dialogue. “What did he do with Edward VIII?», Mohamed asks him during the interview. “I did everything. I followed every aspect of the king’s life. His highness taught me everything with patience and kindness ». “And you would teach me? British society is the finest in the worldwith his help I would become one of those rare individuals, a true English gentleman».
Well, that’s what he wanted Fayed: having some kind of “pedigree” to be accepted by the royals. And that “pedigree” he really “sewn” on him Sydney who, as valet taught him all that Edward VIII had taught him.
In The Crown 5 the valet teaches the Mister
Thus, with a strange reversal of roles, we see the “black” waiter tell the “his Mister” Which read books (Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling), as you take the you (pours into the cup filtering it), how to dress («in the city a simple evening jacket, never black, better midnight blue», «pfor the jeans and shirts campaign», «for golf, velvet and checkered»), what to do to sit next to the Queen (attend Polo matches and own Harrods).
Needless to say: Fayed becomes, in dressing, a sort of clone of Edward and you buy department stores Harrods. After the death of Wallis Simpson in ’86to prevent it from going down the drain, buy and restore too Villa Bois de Boulogne in Paristhe one that was the home of the Dukes of Windsor (“It’s my gift to the British royal family,” he says).
TO Sydney, who had lived in that villa for over thirty years and knew it perfectly, opens his heart. («I feel on top of the world. The restoration is so authentic that I expect to see the Duchess come down the stairs asking: ‘How am I?’ », she said in a real interview released on that occasion, but this in the episode Netflix Can not see it).
Too bad all that not enough to Queen and the British royals. So much so that at renovated Windsor mansioneven if invited, Elizabeth doesn’t show up. Instead, he sends his personal secretary (but only to bring home the precious objects that belonged to the former king). And at the Polo meeting, next to Mohammed Al Fayedinstead of the Queensits a sly and bright Lady Diana (Elizabeth Debicki).
As the two talk, he arrives Dodie (Khalid Abdallah). Diana she speaks to him for the first time, ironic and charming. The spark is about to ignite. With the hand of Sydney. Because if he hadn’t been the adviser to Al Fayed Srwho knows if Dodie and Diana would never have begun their fairy tale (which ended in tragedy).
The real Sydney Johnson
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, Sydney entered the service of Edward more or less 16 years old. The former king chose him as a valet when, after abdicating, he was governor general of the Bahamas during World War II. Those were the grown-up years colonial domainsblack people were not allowed into the English royal court, even as servants.
Jude Akuwudike, the actor who plays Sydney. (Getty Images)
Immature but respectful, from the king he immediately learned the court etiquette. And it didn’t take him long to transform himself from Bahamian “wild” into “valet” with red and gold livery, who serves, in a polite and composed way, those who were then the great of the Earth. We translate it into waiteractually the “valet” English is so much more. He is a “valet”, i.e. a butler trustworthy which becomes almost an adviser. Edward VIII he was really fond of him. And Sydney he reciprocated far beyond gratitude.
Sydney he lived over thirty years in the magnificent Villa Bois de Boulogne in Pariswhere i Dukes of Windsor they dwelt. He also started a family marrying a Frenchwoman in ’60 with whom he had four children.
In ’72the year after the death of Edward VIIIshe died of hers wife. he asked Wallis Simpson (which became the only one she served for) to finish her working hours at 16, to be able to take care of her children. But the American grew up with the mentality that discrimination was normalno longer considered him a “valet”, to her he was only a servant. Unable to accept the request. So she fired him. What did he do next Sydney it is not clear. Hugo Vickersbiographer of the British royal family, said he worked for a friend of the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
He was certainly then hired by Mohamed Al-Fayed and its true story closely resembles what is seen in The Crown 5. He died at 69 years old for natural causes on January 17, 1990 in Paris. Muhammad stood by him until the end. «Vhe was quite a gentleman. We will miss him very much” he said. Gentleman. That is, a true Englishman. For Fayed the best possible compliment.
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED