This post contains spoilers for Red, White & Royal Blue.
“I consider myself one of the fans because it’s undeniable that they love the book for the same reasons that I do,” director and co-writer of Red, White & Royal Blue, Matthew López, shared with Vanity Fair when discussing his approach to Casey McQuiston’s best-selling novel. Now, his adaptation of the book is available for streaming on Prime Video. “You could argue that I’m such a passionate fan that I made the most expensive piece of fan fiction ever. I hope the fans find solace in knowing that one of them has brought this movie to life.”
Given López’s deep respect for the source material, much of the original enemies-to-lovers storyline between British prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) and American first son Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez) remains intact. They still bond over a disastrous royal wedding, exchange quotes from Sense & Sensibility via text messages, and even consider a polo match as foreplay. However, the film isn’t entirely beholden to the book it’s based on. Here, we take a look at the major differences between the RW&RB book and movie, ranging from missing characters to a completely reimagined coming-out scene.
Alex and Henry’s Siblings
In any adaptation, it’s inevitable that a few characters’ storylines will be reduced or eliminated. In this transition from book to film, the victim is June Claremont-Diaz, Alex’s outspoken yet supportive sister, who pretends to date Henry to divert attention from her brother’s relationship. In the novel, she plays a major role as Alex’s closest confidant, along with his friend Nora (played by Rachel Hilson), the Vice President’s granddaughter. It is within the pages of June’s teen magazine that a young Alex first lays eyes on a photo of Henry. However, in the film, June is noticeably absent.
While both of Henry’s siblings, Prince Philip (Thomas Flynn) and Princess Bea (Ellie Bamber), appear in the film, their roles have been significantly reduced. Bea’s struggles with cocaine addiction, as depicted in the book where she is dubbed “Powder Princess” by the tabloids, are omitted, as are most scenes involving Prince Philip publicly berating Henry for not finding a suitable wife during his and Alex’s visit to Wimbledon.
The Ratio of Political Intrigue
The political maneuverings surrounding both Alex and Henry, particularly Alex, delve deeper into the story in the book compared to the film. Much of this centers around the character of Rafael Luna, a gay US senator and a close family friend of the Claremont-Diaz clan. Rafael shocks everyone by joining the campaign for Republican presidential candidate Jeffrey Richards – the opponent of Alex’s mother, Ellen (played by Uma Thurman). Later, we discover that Rafael’s true intention was to expose Richards’ sexual misconduct. Rafael is absent from the movie and seems to have been replaced by Miguel Ramos (Juan Castano), a journalist from Politico who is also Alex’s former lover and later betrays him in a similar fashion.
Alex’s Romantic History
To fit within the timeframe of a two-hour film, Alex’s journey to accepting his bisexual identity is condensed. In the movie, he has experienced more and is less shaken by the fact that he kissed a man, compared to grappling with the deeper internal struggle over his sexuality depicted in the novel. In the book, their kiss catapults Alex into a more profound exploration of his sexual orientation, even leading him to conduct a Google search on the presidential views of bisexuality.
The Details of Alex’s Coming Out
In the film, there is a playful acknowledgement of a difference between the book and the movie. After Alex reveals his true self to his mother, Ellen, she remarks, “I mean, if I had known earlier, I could have prepared a Powerpoint presentation.” This is precisely what occurs in the book. The President creates a Powerpoint presentation and schedules an official briefing to address the potential threats posed by Alex’s romance with Henry to her re-election campaign. She also withdraws her son from the campaign trail. In the movie, Ellen’s reaction is far more positive, encouraging Alex to practice safe sex both literally (cue Uma Thurman saying “Truvada”) and metaphorically. In a Southern drawl, she warns him, “Before you proceed any further, you need to determine if he is your forever. A relationship like this will define your life.”
How Alex and Henry’s Relationship Is Exposed
With the omission of Rafael Luna’s character, the subplot involving him exposing Ellen’s opponent as a sexual predator, as well as evidence of the Richards campaign leaking our couple’s private correspondence, is absent. Instead, it is a persistent Politico journalist who discovers Alex and Henry’s relationship and breaks the story.
The Ending (Sort Of)
The final scenes in the book, where the couple returns to Alex’s childhood home in Austin with the key gifted by Henry, remain intact. However, a few adjustments have been made to set up their happily ever after. Firstly, in the book Henry’s grandfather is King James III, while in the film it is his grandmother, Queen Catherine. The connection between Alex and Henry over Star Wars, as well as the mural depicting them as Han and Leia created by the public, is excluded from the movie. Additionally, instead of Anderson Cooper delivering the news, it is Rachel Maddow who announces Ellen’s victory in the presidential election.
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