It’s official. Netflix has confirmed that it will not add a disclaimer to drama series The Crown stating that its depiction of the Royal Family is a work of fiction, via Indiewire.
Since its season four debut on November 15, The Crown has received a mixture of praise and disdain. While critics and audiences around the world raved about the newest season, it was met with disapproval from the British press and U.K. Government. Detailing the courtship and early stages of marriage between Prince Charles and Princess Diana, some wounds never heal. The notorious marriage was filled with affairs, and there has been a growing number of complaints that Prince Charles was unfairly made into the antagonist of the series.
Over the course of the past few weeks, various figures from the U.K Government have requested that the Netflix series put a disclaimer on the show stating that it’s a work of fiction. U.K Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden was one of the most notable figures to make the request. Dowden feared that audiences would not be able to tell fact from fiction, leading to a spread of massive misinformation. Dickie Arbiter, the Former Royal Press Secretary, also inquired to Netflix about adding a disclaimer
Perhaps most surprising was when one of The Crown’s stars, Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, Enola Holmes) concurred with her fellow Brits. Just last week she said the series had “moral responsibility” to tell viewers that the drama series was a work of fiction. Carter portrayed Princess Margaret, sister to Queen Elizabeth ll.
The millions of fans awaited to hear how Netflix would react and if they would bow down to the U.K Government by fulfilling their request. They have their answer now, which is no. Netflix announced that it will not put a disclaimer on its show stating that it’s a work of fiction. Releasing a statement picked up by Indiewire, Netflix said: “We have always presented ‘The Crown’ as a drama — and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events. As a result we have no plans — and see no need — to add a disclaimer.”
The majority of the disapproval towards the show’s fourth season comes from how Prince Charles is depicted. The complaints center around him being portrayed as a villain, treating Diana with disrespect and cruelness. There was much media press of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage throughout the eighties, covering affairs that both had. The marriage eventually ended in a messy and chaotic divorce.
Season five of The Crown will further dive into the lives of The Royal Family, including the continuation of Princess Diana’s storyline with a new set of actors. Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager) will take over the role of Princess Diana.