THE GOVERNMENT’s Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, has urged Netflix to make it clear that The Crown is “fiction”, it has been revealed.
Mr Dowden raised his concern about Netflix’s hit series which depicts Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The fourth season of The Crown, released earlier this month, has sparked outrage over its portrayal of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship.
Mr Dowden told the Mail on Sunday: “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.
“Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.”
The Culture Secretary is reportedly going to write to Netflix to issue a formal request to add what some have labelled a “health warning” at the start of each episode.
It comes amid increasing concern from royal commentators that the hit show, created by Peter Morgan, will cause lasting damage on the Royal Family.
A friend of Prince Charles told The Mail on Sunday: “It is quite sinister the way that Morgan is clearly using light entertainment to drive a very overt republican agenda and people just don’t see it.
“They have been lured in over the first few series until they can’t see how they are being manipulated.
“It is highly sophisticated propaganda.”
The fourth series of The Crown depicts Princess Diana’s eating disorder and Prince Charles’ alleged affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The series has already reportedly been watched by more viewers than Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s actual wedding.
Last week, 29 million people are said to have watched the drama series in the week after its release.
The show also caused Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, to call on Netflix to add a disclaimer.
Speaking to ITV, Earl Spencer said: “I think it would help The Crown an enormous amount if, at the beginning of each episode, it stated that: ‘This isn’t true but it is based around some real events’.
