The Crown creator ‘used a lot of artistic licence’ says man who broke into the Queen’s bedroom

The Crown creator Peter Morgan ‘used a lot of artistic licence’ says Michael Fagan – who broke into the Queen’s Buckingham Palace bedroom in 1982

  • Michael Fagan, 70, climbed the railings of the palace and got in through window 
  • He said that when the Queen saw him she said: ”What are you doing here?”  
  • Mr Fagan added that Peter Morgan didn’t consult him over the  adaptation  

The man who broke into the Queen’s Buckingham Palace bedroom has said that the creator of The Crown ‘used a lot of artistic licence’ when recreating his crime. 

Michael Fagan, 70, climbed the railings of the Queen’s London residence in 1982 and got in through an open window before finding himself face to face with Her Majesty herself. 

The out-of-work painter and decorator has now claimed that the series creator Peter Morgan did not stick to the facts when adapting the incident for television, which will air this Sunday. 

He said that although some reports have suggested he had a 10-minute conversation with the Queen, very few words were said. 

Michael Fagan (pictured), 70, climbed the railings of the Queen’s London residence in 1982 and got in through an open window before finding himself face to face with Her Majesty herself

Mr Fagan told The Telegraph: ‘I pulled back the curtain and she said, ”What are you doing here?”.’

He added that her tone wasn’t as clipped as one might expect and that she speaks ‘normally’. 

Although Mr Morgan’s version of events sees the Queen come out with the cheeky quip, ‘Have you come far?’ Mr Fagan says she actually said: ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’ 

The Queen then ran out of the room before a footman, Paul Whybrew, appeared and told Mr Fagan he looked like he ‘needed a drink’ and took him to the pantry to pour him a whiskey. 

The out-of-work painter and decorator has now claimed that the series creator Peter Morgan did not stick to the facts when adapting the incident for television, which will air this Sunday. Pictured: Buckingham Palace

The out-of-work painter and decorator has now claimed that the series creator Peter Morgan did not stick to the facts when adapting the incident for television, which will air this Sunday. Pictured: Buckingham Palace

He said that Mr Morgan didn't approach him while writing the script for the recreation of his break-in which sees Mr Fagan played by Tom Brooke (pictured filming the scene) and the Queen played by Olivia Colman

He said that Mr Morgan didn’t approach him while writing the script for the recreation of his break-in which sees Mr Fagan played by Tom Brooke (pictured filming the scene) and the Queen played by Olivia Colman

Policemen then arrived to take him away.  

Mr Fagan now lives in Islington, north London, with his partner of 17 years, Rhian, and has three great-grandchildren. 

He said that Mr Morgan didn’t approach him while writing the script for the recreation of his break-in which sees Mr Fagan played by Tom Brooke and the Queen played by Olivia Colman.  

Mr Fagan now lives in Islington, north London, with his partner of 17 years, Rhian, and has three great-grandchildren

Mr Fagan now lives in Islington, north London, with his partner of 17 years, Rhian, and has three great-grandchildren

And while the Netflix drama claims that he launched into a speech about how he believed Margaret Thatcher had ruined the country, Mr Fagan said this was not the case at all. 

He also revealed that the Queen’s bedroom isn’t as grand as the one that is shown in The Crown and that she ‘never had a four-poster bed’.   

Mr Fagan still can’t explain why he broke in but it was the second time he had managed it – the first saw him scared off by a maid and later charged with stealing a bottle of wine before being acquitted. 

He was then sent to a psychiatric hospital for three months.