New series of Netflix’s The Crown is ‘vicious’ and ‘would have destroyed’ the Queen, friend says

By James On Oct 23, 2022

The Crown’s final season “would have destroyed the Queen” because of how “cruel” the dramatized storylines are, one of her close friends has revealed.

Among the most controversial scenes are reenactments of Princess Diana’s funeral and the fire that swept through Windsor Castle in 1992.

The fifth series of Netflix’s hit drama will also feature scenes of then-Prince Charles lobbying Prime Minister John Major in 1991 to force his mother to resign.

Major’s spokesperson has described the script as “harmful and evil fiction” and “a ton of nonsense being spread for no other reason than to have maximum, and completely false, dramatic impact.”

Now, an unnamed close friend of the late Queen has told The Sunday Times that she is “appalled” by the cruel untruths that will be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9.

The crown’s final season ‘would have destroyed the queen’ because of how ‘cruel’ its dramatized storylines are, one of her close friends has revealed

“I am shocked by what is going on with Netflix and how they are defaming the royal family. It’s mean. It’s like they’re trying to destroy the royal family,” the source said.

“It would have destroyed her.”

The good friend has joined calls for Netflix to include a disclaimer stating that the show is fiction prior to each episode.

This season will cover events from 1990 to 1997 – a famously tumultuous period in royal history.

A Netflix spokesperson said the show has always been a fictional dramatization of the inner workings of the royal family.

“Series five is… imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during an important decade for the royal family — one that has already been closely researched and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians.”

Among the most controversial scenes are reenactments of Princess Diana’s funeral and the fire that swept through Windsor Castle in 1992.

The family pictured at Diana’s funeral in 1997. The Netflix scene featuring a grief-stricken William and Prince Harry – then 15 and 12 years old – was secretly filmed on a disused RAF base and will be released next year. season six to be aired

A teaser trailer for the new season revealed that the show will chronicle the early days of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s relationship.

In the series, the couple – played by Dominic West and Olivia Williams – will share intimate moments while married to other people.

One looming storyline that may cause the royal family the most fear is the dramatization of Princess Diana’s death and burial.

Amid mounting outrage at the show’s disregard for historical truth, the macabre scenes portray a grief-stricken William and Prince Harry – then 15 and 12 years old.

Much to the horror of Diana’s family and friends, The Crown’s production team will be in Paris next week to recreate her final hours, The Mail on Sunday revealed.

They will shoot scenes from Diana’s last days spent in the French capital with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed. While it’s clear the crash they died in won’t be recreated, scenes of them leaving the Ritz hotel together will be.

Imelda Staunton and Jonathon Pryce, who play the Queen and Prince Philip in the new series The Crown, received honors from Prince William and the Queen

Last night, close relatives of the royal family criticized the Netflix series as “rough, cruel and totally insensitive, especially in light of the Queen’s recent death.”

William Shawcross, the Queen Mother’s official biographer, said: “Nothing is sacred to… [the writer of The Crown] Peter Morgan. He has made very clear his Republican feelings and his contempt for our late Queen.

“This is a vile series that lies to the public and is incredibly hurtful to the royal family from the Queen and our new king. Unlike other families, they can’t press charges.’

An unnamed close friend of the late Queen has told The Sunday Times that she is “shocked” by the cruel untruths that will be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9.

It’s highly unlikely that Morgan and his colleagues at The Crown failed to grasp the sensibilities surrounding recreating the day William and Harry had to say goodbye to their beloved mother, who died at the age of 36.

Both princes have spoken publicly about their fear of having to follow the coffin for the last mile along the Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, past Whitehall to Parliament Square and on to Westminster Abbey.

The Duke of Sussex was particularly candid, telling biographer Angela Levin: ‘My mother had just died and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me, while millions more did on television.

“I don’t think any child should ask that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today. No child should lose its mother at such a young age and then have its grief observed by thousands of people.’

Another storyline showing King Charles’ relationship with the Queen Consort (played by Olivia Williams)

Three Ladies who starred in The Crown join calls for Netflix to add an on-screen disclaimer to make it clear that the royal drama’s storylines are fiction

By Chris Hastings for The Mail On Sunday

Three Ladies of the British Empire who starred in The Crown have said Netflix should add an on-screen disclaimer to make it clear that the royal drama’s explosive storylines are fiction rather than historical fact.

The appeal from Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Harriet Walter and Dame Janet Suzman, who were awarded DBEs for their service to drama, comes after a string of public figures have already called on the US streaming giant to perform.

Last week, Sir John Major condemned The Crown in this newspaper as a ‘barrel full of malicious nonsense’. And just days ago, Dame Judi Dench called it “crude sensationalism” and urged Netflix to add a disclaimer.

Last night, Dame Eileen, who played Queen Mary in the first series, said: ‘My friends in America tell me that a lot of people there think it’s a documentary. Usually when you talk about real people, you say that this is fiction based on fact. I don’t know why this didn’t happen with this one.”

Dame Harriet, who played Sir Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine, said: ‘People have believed in Shakespeare’s version of Richard III for centuries, but no one is alive to object on his behalf. In contrast, there are now many people alive who could be injured if they thought the public would believe this.”

This newspaper has led the campaign for Netflix to recognize its commitment to action.

Dame Janet, who played a literary agent in series four, said: ‘This is clearly fiction and people should know it.’

Jemima Khan, who worked on the show until she cut ties with the show last year over the portrayal of her friend Princess Diana, said: “There should be a disclaimer in all episodes.”

Last week, Netflix released a new trailer, accompanied by an online statement acknowledging that the drama is a “fictional dramatization.”

But so far it has refused to add a similar statement on TV.