The royal family is said to be ‘furious’ over storylines in the latest season of hit Netflix drama ‘The Crown.’
The fourth series, which launched over the weekend, covers Charles’s doomed marriage to Princess Diana, her eating disorders and his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Prince of Wales’ friends have spoken to UK tabloids to blast the show, saying that ‘fiction is presented as fact’ in the new episodes.
‘This is drama and entertainment for commercial ends being made with no regard to the actual people involved who are having their lives hijacked and exploited,’ one told the Mail on Sunday.
“In this case, it’s dragging up things that happened during very difficult times 25 or 30 years ago without a thought for anyone’s feelings.”
“That isn’t right or fair, particularly when so many of the things being depicted don’t represent the truth.’”
The fourth series of the royal drama covers the years from Lord Mountbatten’s assassination in 1979 to the ousting of Margaret Thatcher in 1990.
But it is the depiction of a cold and disinterested Charles meeting and marrying a young Diana while continuing his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles that has sparked such outrage.
“This is trolling with a Hollywood budget.”
“The public shouldn’t be fooled into thinking this is an accurate portrayal of what really happened,” another insider added.
Sunrise Royal Editor Rob Jobson, who penned Prince Charles’ autobiography, said the royal family would understandably be upset by the negative portrayal of the Prince of Wales.
“The bottom line is the Prince of Wales is a kind man, and the reality is that at the beginning of his marriage he did try very hard to help Diana,” he said.
“I’ve known him fairly well and I think he’s a much nicer guy than he’s been shown to be.”
The controversy has also sparked debate about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’ recent £75 million (AUD$130 million) contract with Netflix.
The pair quit as senior working royals earlier this year and signed the major deal to work on projects for the streaming giant.
“There are raised eyebrows about Harry taking millions from the company that’s behind all this.”
“After all where do much of Netflix’s profits come from? The Crown,” an insider reportedly said.
