Netflix's The Crown has been widely praised for the performance of its cast and its writing. However, the series has raised concerns for its depiction of the British royal family and their story.
The U.K. government is currently pushing Netflix to add a disclaimer to the series, making it clear that the characterizations and events are fictitious and should not be treated as fact. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden stated, "It's a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that." He went on to explain, "Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact."
The Netflix series has been known to have inserted entirely fictional events in its story, such as an argument between Prince Charles and his great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten that occurred in the beginning of Season 4. Furthermore, the series has omitted major events such as the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, which contributed to tensions that shaped the current relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Concerns have been raised by figures such as Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana. He stated, "Americans tell me they have watched The Crown as if they have taken a history lesson. Well, they haven't." He added, "It is very hard, there is a lot of conjecture and a lot of invention, isn’t there? You can hang it on fact but the bits in between are not fact."
Season 4 of The Crown stars Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson, Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin. The series is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Deadline