The Enchanting Movie Moment that Brings 'Red, White and Royal Blue' Book to Life

Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry in ‘Red, White & Royal Blue.’ Amazon Studios

Red, White and Royal Blue director Matthew López thoroughly enjoyed bringing one of the book's most enchanting scenes to life on screen. It turned out to be his favorite part of his debut film. "The V and A scene was a true highlight for me," shared the Tony Award winner exclusively with We. "Being able to shoot in that museum was an incredible experience. We had the museum all to ourselves for the entire night, arriving at 9:30 in the evening and leaving at sunrise."

The scene in the Amazon Studios movie, based on Casey McQuiston‘s 2021 novel Red, White and Royal Blue, unfolds at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine) abandons Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), the son of the first female President of the United States (Uma Thurman), without any explanation. Determined to get answers, Alex embarks on a journey to England to confront Henry and understand why the person he loves suddenly disappeared.

Upon his arrival, Alex discovers that Henry is tormenting himself because he is deeply in love with Alex but believes that he can never openly embrace his identity as a gay man without forsaking his responsibilities to the royal family.

He accompanies Alex to the V and A, sharing that his deceased father used to bring him in the early mornings to admire the artwork before the masses arrived, and now he visits during the late hours. "In my younger years, I would daydream about bringing someone I cared for here, and they would appreciate it just as much as I do. We would twirl and sway right in this spot, surrounded by all these magnificent statues. It was nothing more than a silly adolescent fantasy," Henry reveals.

Noticing Alex's knack for creating playlists for different occasions, he quickly retrieves his phone and plays "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Perfume Genius. Together, they indulge in a gentle dance amidst the captivating sculptures.

Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry in ‘Red, White & Royal Blue.’ Amazon Studios

Henry expresses his commitment to strengthening their relationship by declaring, "I aspire to have you and my love for you be an integral part of the narrative when my life story is written."

In response, Alex quotes a poignant line from McQuiston’s Red, White and Royal Blue, saying, "Speaking of history, imagine the remarkable story we could create together."

Recreating the scene from the page was an unforgettable experience for López. He expressed that there is something truly enchanting about being in a museum after hours, when all the other visitors have left. According to the director, it was relatively easy to capture the visual and emotional beauty between the two characters, as they were in the exact location described in the book. This gave them goosebumps.

However, López mentioned that while the story revolves around the romantic relationship between Alex and Henry in these iconic locations, they were not able to physically visit most of them. Shooting at the actual Buckingham Palace and White House was not possible, but they did have the opportunity to film at the V and A in the precise spot where Casey had set that particular scene. This, he described, as a truly magical experience for the team.

Red, White and Royal Blue debuted Friday, August 11, on Prime Video.