{"id":25457,"date":"2022-11-09T13:35:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T12:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1732578"},"modified":"2022-11-09T13:52:32","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T12:52:32","slug":"who-was-sydney-johnson-true-story-of-duke-of-windsors-valet","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/who-was-sydney-johnson-true-story-of-duke-of-windsors-valet\/","title":{"rendered":"Who was Sydney Johnson? True story of Duke of Windsor\u2019s valet\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 09 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

There are numerous fascinating figures who are examined in the Netflix<\/a> drama The Crown<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the third episode of the fifth season, the series focuses on the life story of Egyptian businessman Mohammed Al-Fayed, played as a young man by Amir El-Masry<\/a> and by Salim Dau as an older man.<\/p>\n

As the show charts Al-Fayed\u2019s ascent to riches and high society circles, the businessman crosses paths with Sydney Johnson, the former valet to the Duke of Windsor (Alex Jennings, in flashbacks) who faithfully served the former king and his wife, Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (Lia Williams, in flashbacks).<\/p>\n

As Al-Fayed remains fascinated by the British monarchy, Johnson teaches Al-Fayed about the royals and the history of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, becoming an employee and confidante.<\/p>\n

So, who was the real Sydney Johnson and who plays him in The Crown?<\/p>

Who was Sydney Johnson? True story of Duke of Windsor\u2019s valet\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1951.<\/span><\/figcaption> Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Sydney Johnson was born in Nassau, the Bahamas, and first entered into the service of Edward, Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis, Duchess of Windsor when the Duke was the governor-general of the islands off Florida during World War II.<\/p>\n

In 1973, Johnson was forced to resign from his position following the death of his wife and his inability to care for his children and work the required hours for the widowed Duchess.<\/p>\n

The Duchess died in Paris at the age of 89 in 1986 after having succumbed to dementia and becoming a recluse who was bedridden and unable to speak, surviving on her late husband\u2019s remaining wealth and an allowance from the Queen.<\/p>\n

In later life, Johnson came to be a friend and employee of Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of the Ritz Hotel in Paris and Harrods department store in London.<\/p>\n