New Netflix series The Crown is “malicious” and would have “destroyed” the Queen, says a friend
The final season of the crown “would have destroyed the queen” because the dramatized storylines are “vicious”, one of her close friends has revealed.
Some of the most controversial scenes include reenactments of Princess Diana’s funeral and the fire that devastated Windsor Castle in 1992.
The fifth series of the Netflix hit drama will also feature scenes in which then-Prince Charles pressured Prime Minister John Major to force his mother to abdicate in 1991.
Major’s rep has described the script as “damaging and malicious fiction” and “a barrel-load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to achieve maximum and utterly false dramatic impact.”
Now an unnamed close friend of the late Queen has told The Sunday Times she is “appalled” by the vicious untruths that are set to be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9.
The final season of the crown “would have destroyed the queen” because the dramatized storylines are “vicious”, one of her close friends has revealed
“I am appalled at what is happening with Netflix and how they are slandering the royal family. It’s vicious. It’s like they’re trying to destroy the royal family,” the source said.
“It would have destroyed her.”
The close friend has joined calls from Netflix to include a disclaimer before each episode stating the show is fiction.
This season spans events from 1990 to 1997 – a notoriously turbulent period in royal history.
A Netflix spokesman said the show has always been a fictionalized dramatization of the inner workings of the royal family.
“The fifth series imagines what could have happened behind closed doors in a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinized and well documented by journalists, biographers and historians.”
Some of the most controversial scenes include re-enactments of Princess Diana’s funeral and the fire that devastated Windsor Castle in 1992
The family at Diana’s funeral in 1997. The Netflix scene of a grieving William and Prince Harry – then aged 15 and 12 – was secretly filmed at a disused RAF base and is set to air Season 6 next year
A teaser trailer from the new season revealed the show will chronicle the early days of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s relationship.
The series features the couple – played by Dominic West and Olivia Williams – in intimate moments while married to other people.
One upcoming storyline that may cause the greatest fear for the royal family is the dramatization of Princess Diana’s death and funeral.
Amid growing outrage over the series’ disregard for historical truth, the macabre scenes show a grieving William and Prince Harry – then aged 15 and 12.
To the further dismay of Diana’s family and friends, The Crown’s production team will be in Paris next week to re-enact her final hours, The Mail on Sunday revealed.
They will shoot scenes from Diana’s last days, which she spent with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed in the French capital. While it is understood that the crash that killed them will not 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 of The Crown, were honored by Prince William and the Queen
Last night, people close to the royal family slammed the Netflix series as “raw, cruel and utterly insensitive, especially given the Queen’s recent death.”
William Shawcross, the Queen Mother’s official biographer, said: “Nothing is sacred [the writer of The Crown] Pete Morgan. He has made his republican feelings and contempt for our late Queen very clear.
“This is an abominable series that has lied to the public and has hurt beyond belief the royal family from the queen to our new king. Unlike any other family, they cannot sue.”
An unnamed close friend of the late Queen told the Sunday Times she was “appalled” by the vicious untruths that are set to be presented as fact when the season airs on November 9
It is highly unlikely that Morgan and his colleagues on The Crown failed to understand the sensibilities of recreating the day William and Harry had to say goodbye to their beloved mother, who died aged 36.
Both princes have spoken publicly of their agony at having to follow the coffin on its last mile along the Mall, through Horse Guards Parade, along 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 TV.
“I don’t think a child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don’t think it would happen today. No child should lose their mother at such a young age and then have their grief watched by thousands of people.’
Another storyline involving King Charles’ relationship with the Queen Consort (played by Olivia Williams)
Three ladies who starred in The Crown join Netflix’s calls to add an on-screen disclaimer making 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 needs to add an onscreen disclaimer making it clear that the royal drama’s explosive storylines are fiction rather than historical fact.
The call from Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Harriet Walter and Dame Janet Suzman, who have been named DBEs for their service to drama, comes after a number of public figures have already called on the US streaming giant to act.
Last week Sir John Major denounced The Crown in this newspaper as “a barrelload of malicious nonsense”. And just days ago, Dame Judi Dench branded it “raw 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. Most of the time, when you talk about real people, you say that this is fiction based on fact. I don’t know why this didn’t happen.’
Dame Harriet, who played Sir Winston Churchill’s wife Clementine, said: “People have believed Shakespeare’s version of Richard III for centuries, but no one lives to object on his behalf. In contrast, there are many people alive today who could be hurt if they think the public could believe it.’
This newspaper has spearheaded 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 need to know.”
Jemima Khan, who worked on the show until she broke ties with her 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.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11344791/New-series-Netflixs-Crown-vicious-destroyed-Queen-friend-says.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 New Netflix series The Crown is “malicious” and would have “destroyed” the Queen, says a friend
