If you've watched The Crown, you'll have no doubt come across a number of characters you weren't aware of, and Tommy Lascelles is probably one of them. He appears in The Crown series one to three and was the Private Secretary to both King George VI and to Queen Elizabeth II.
His full title was Sir Alan Lascelles, and he was from Dorset originally. No stranger to Royals, he was a cousin of Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood, who married Mary, Princess Royal, sister of his employers, Edward VIII and George VI. His mother was the daughter of Sir Adolphus Liddell, son of Thomas Liddell, 1st Baron Ravensworth.
After rising to the rank of Captain in the First World War and being awarded the Military Cross, he returned to Britain where he was appointed Assistant Private Secretary to Edward, Prince of Wales. He served the Prince from 1920-1929, leaving due to differences with the Prince.
In 1935, he became Assistant Private Secretary to George V before his brother, Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.
In 1943, he was promoted to Private Secretary to King George and in 1952, he became private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II.
He retired from 27 years of royal service in 1953, at the age of 66.
Honours held by Tommy Lascelles
He was knighted aboard aboard a train during the 1939 tour of Canada and the US by George VI. This is just one of the many honours he holds.
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
Military Cross (MC)
British War Medal
Victory Medal
King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
King George VI Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
Tommy Lascelles in The Crown
The role of Sir Alan 'Tommy' Lascelles is played by Pip Torrens in The Crown, and he appears in the first three series of the Netflix show.