Carly Massy-Birch and Rupert Finch, William and Kate Middleton's first couple to remember 'The Crown'

The last six episodes of The Crown are available on Netflix from this Thursday, and with them the series comes to an end. For seven years and 60 episodes, this fiction by Peter Morgan based on real events has covered the main historical and political events of the United Kingdom, but above all the family and love affairs that surrounded the reign of Elizabeth II. This sixth season, which is the closing of the story, has given a leading role to characters who have been the undisputed protagonists of the Windsors' story in real life, such as the iconic Lady Di. But it has also brought back to the present day characters who, although they have gone unnoticed and have been lost track of for years, in one way or another were relevant when it came to building that story. One of them was Kelly Fisher, the former model who was engaged to businessman Dodi Al-Fayed when he began dating Diana, Princess of Wales, something she had to learn about from the press. She now lives in South Carolina, away from the media spotlight she once used to sue Al-Fayed, it has emerged after the press again wondered what has become of her. And the same has happened in this latest installment with Carly Massy-Birch, Prince William's ex-girlfriend, the young woman who captivated him before, but almost at the same time, as Kate Middleton, when they were all just 20 years old.

In the seventh episode of the last season of The Crown, she is portrayed as William's first girlfriend whom he meets at the University of Saint Andrews, in Scotland. In fiction, the young woman's name is Lola Airdale-Cavendish-Kincaid ("She's so posh that she has three last names," says a waitress, a classmate of Kate Middleton ―who was also studying at the same university―, in an Italian restaurant when one night they are seen passing by with more friends). The young woman existed, but her real name was Carly Massy-Birch. I was a student of English Language and Creative Writing in the year before the prince and they were dating for only a couple of months. "Carly will be very upset that this has come to light. She dated William for six or seven weeks when they first arrived in St. Andrews," Mimi Massy-Birch, the girl's mother, said in 2008, five years after William officially began dating Kate, according to the Daily Mail at the time. "She's tried so hard to keep her friendship with him a secret, we all have, and that's why she's going to be upset about this," Mimi continued, assuring that William, Kate and their daughter were "the best of friends."

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Kelly Fisher, Dodi Al-Fayed's fiancée that 'The Crown' has brought back to the present

But that's not what the series reflects. In the fiction, what we see is that Lola – Carly, in real life – and William flirt one night at a party, after Prince Harry, on the phone, encourages his older brother to let his hair down: "Don't be so uptight." That same night they start dating. However, from the first moment Guillermo is attracted by Kate Middleton, who also notices him (in fact, the plot of the episode is that Carole Middleton, Kate's mother, does everything possible for her daughter to match Guillermo to find her a love opportunity with him). While William is dating Lola, he approaches Kate Middleton at the library and starts chatting with her, but Lola shows up and suffers a jealous fit. The young prince becomes very violent, uncomfortable, and so does the princess today. Just then, a follower approaches him to ask for an autograph (something they do regularly on campus) and Guillermo replies very bluntly.

Carly Massy-Birch is literally perfect pic.twitter.com/ph3gGbcqf9

— jhk (@jhk_______) November 5, 2023

Without needing to spoil the awkward conversation that the three of them have next, which ends with both women walking away in indignation, the next thing the series shows us is that William and Lola have broken up, and that Kate has a new boyfriend, Rupert Finch (who also existed and whose real name has been respected). What The Crown has missed is an awkward moment that is captured in the book The Making of a Royal Romance that Katie Nicholl published in 2011. According to the author, the three of them met at a university party where they began to play the classic game of Never Never Have You, which consists of someone proposing something they have never done and drinking all those who have done it. "I've never hung out with two people from this place," Carly must have said when it was her turn, knowing that Guillermo would have to drink. This is what the writer told after gathering the stories of several guests at the dinner, including Kate's confirmation. One of them said that, after Carly's comment, everyone froze, while Guillermo gave him an annihilating look and commented something like "I can't believe it".

Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton and Ed McVey as Prince William in the final season of 'The Crown'.©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection/Cordon Press

This revelation served as a way for William to confirm his relationship with Kate once and for all, according to his circle assuring the author. The series traces those beginnings back to Christmas 2002, when the current heir to the British throne talks to his family and even considers dropping out of college. At the same time, Kate takes Rupert home and fights with her mother: she knows that Carole wants William for her and believes that she considers her boyfriend something lesser. Carole tells him that if he wants to stay with him, but not to challenge her. And that's when young Kate starts to reflect. At the end of the chapter, he sends a message to Guillermo (on a Nokia 3310!) saying, "Please don't leave uni. Kate." Fictional or not, the truth is that they sealed their union in 2011 with a memorable kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their massive wedding and that they are now the future kings of the United Kingdom.

Rupert Finch and Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs leave St. John the Baptist Church after their wedding on June 8, 2013 in Cirencester, England.Max Mumby/Indigo (Getty Images)

Today, Rupert Finch is a renowned lawyer and has been married since 2013 to aristocrat Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, a friend of Kate's. In fact, the Prince and Princess of Wales were invited to the wedding, just as Rupert and Natasha were invited to theirs. Carly's life, on the other hand, is a mystery. The Daily Mail reported in 2020 that she is believed to be married and still living in London, but it is unknown if, as her mother claimed, she is still in contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales. New details are likely to come to light now that The Crown has brought her back, as people start to wonder what happened to Carly Massy-Birch.