Prince William is siding with his father, Prince Charles, amid the re-emergence of his controversial marriage to Princess Diana after the release of The Crown season 4. The Duke of Cambridge apparently told friends that the Netflix series has been unfair in depicting his parents' marriage.
According to royal editor Russell Myers, Prince William said that The Crown is a "simplistic way" to make money. Myers doesn't believe that the Duke of Cambridge has plans to watch the show, like his father.
Following reports that the royal family is upset about the series, politicians, royal experts, and friends alike now urge Netflix to put a disclaimer before every episode to explain that the drama series is a work of fiction and not a fact. General Sir Richard Dannatt said that there is a danger with history being rewritten because of the show's embellished storylines.
Creator Peter Morgan said that he used his artistic license and creative freedom to develop the scenes and storylines. Dickie Arbiter, the former Buckingham Palace press secretary, said that he doesn't recognize any people depicted on the show. In an interview with The Times, the former Palace official said he spent 12 years working for the royal family. Comparing what he knows of the reality, Arbiter said that Morgan took his "dramatic license excessively."
Arbiter confessed that he liked The Crown's first two seasons, and he thinks that actress Emma Corrin did an excellent job of capturing Princess Diana's mannerisms, movements, and walk. However, he is not a fan of the rest of the stars, citing the Olivia Colman did a rotten job as Queen Elizabeth while Gillian Anderson was "dreadful" as Margaret Thatcher.
But it's not just Prince William, Prince Charles, or their supporters who think that the Netflix drama has been unfair. The family of the former private secretary of the Prince of Wales also said that The Crown has been "unfair and inaccurate."
Edward Adeane was played in the series by Richard Goulding with an abrasiveness towards the Princess of Wales. A scene in one episode showed Adeane mocking the princess for her mental health struggles.
His family acknowledged that, in real life, Adeane was not at ease with Princess Diana, but he never unkind to her. He also had little contact with the Princess of Wales in his six-year work for Prince Charles. Adeane died in 2015.
Netflix has not made any comments despite the reports of Prince William and Prince Charles' reactions. To date, a disclaimer on The Crown is only three episodes that tackle Princess Diana's bulimia.
