Widow of ex-Australian PM Bob Hawke says she is ‘disgusted’ by husband’s depiction in The Crown

The widow of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke said she was ‘disgusted’ by her husband’s depiction in The Crown.

In the series, Mr Hawke disparages the Queen, saying an Australian ‘should be head of state, not an unelected pom’ and adding: ‘You wouldn’t put a pig in charge of prime beef cattle, even if it does look good in twin set and pearls.’

But his second wife, Blanche d’Alpuget, said the scene was entirely fictitious. 

‘The words put in his mouth are vulgar, crass and somewhat cruel,’ she told The Mail on Sunday.

‘I also believe the actors themselves must bear some responsibility for what they have said.

‘It seems to be a prostitution of their art. I certainly support the idea of a disclaimer about the historical inaccuracy of The Crown.’

The Netflix drama devotes an episode to Prince Charles and Diana’s 1983 Australian tour. 

At the time, Mr Hawke, who was Prime Minister between 1983 and 1991, did not believe his country should become a republic.

‘It was not until Bob had been out of office for almost a decade that he supported the idea,’ said Ms d’Alpuget.

‘Even [then], he always maintained there should be no move to a republic before the end of the Queen’s reign. 

‘He admired her as a politically astute and superbly well-informed sovereign, and a woman of deep humanity.’