US TV Audiences Meet Fictional British Royals

US television audiences will get their first look at a raunchy new drama tonight featuring a fictional British royal family with Elizabeth Hurley as the Queen.

A second series of The Royals has already been commissioned by the E! Entertainment network even before the first episode is broadcast.

And it premieres just 48 hours before the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive for a four-day tour of the US.

The show has been heavily publicised with billboards, racy TV commercials and even a double-decker bus touring Los Angeles bearing its slogan "Anarchy in the Monarchy".

But not everyone is thrilled in a country mildly obsessed with the Britain of Downton Abbey, Dr Who and the real Royal Family.

Marlise Boland, executive producer and host of the Anglophile Channel, described the show as being where "the Kardashians meet their version of Downton Abbey".

She said: "It is not the way we want to see the royals portrayed.

"There's a reason why we romanticise England and the UK and why we look up to them, and this is not necessarily what we want to see Prince William doing, running around in the altogether."

But with Charles and Camilla due to arrive in the US for events including a meeting with President Barack Obama, the fictional Queen is hoping they will tune in.

Elizabeth Hurley, who plays Queen Helena, said: "I hope they're going to watch it. I hope they're going to love it.

"They'll know it's not about them within two seconds. So I hope they can watch it as a fun piece of fiction."

The series opens with the death of Helena's oldest son, leaving her other son Prince Liam next in line for the throne.

William Moseley, who plays Liam, said: "He is sort of a wild child himself. He likes to go out drinking. He likes the girls.

"It's sort of like if Harry was set to be the next king. We would all be kind of like, we'd be waiting with baited breath you know."

Hurley says the show reveals truths that will be familiar to everyone - not just the entitled, rich and famous.

She said: "On the outside it's as magnificent and glamorous and opulent as it could get.

"But when you get behind closed doors you realise it's just like every other family all the way up and down America.

"It's the same. I bicker with my husband. I fight with my kids. I annoy my kids. I try to control my kids. They don't want to do what I want them to do."

The show also features some soap opera acting royalty - Ms Hurley's mother is played by Joan Collins.