Since 2016 the series based on the Royal family portrays and re-constructs moments from the Royal family’s past. Most times the scenes depict ‘real’ happenings, and the production designs the scenes to be as accurate as possible. However, there are some controversial scenes that the critics or the royal family are not accepting well. Now, the historian Ian Lloyd takes the stand to separate the truth from the fiction.
The Crown should cover the royal family life in the years from 1991 to 1997. It is said that it will include details of Diana’s Panorama Interview in 1995. Dominic West plays King Charles and he is presented as a dominant figure. There are many scenes involving King Charles that enraged the Netflix audience and that became a conversational topic ever since their airing.
There is one scene that most probably caused the most controversy. The scene where King Charles is lobbying the Prime Minister, John Major, to force his mother to abdicate. In the series, in a scene happening in 1991 Prince Charles is speaking with the Prime Minister John Mayor stating that the common people prefer him to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the royal historian Ian Lloyd, this is complete fiction. A fabrication from the series’ directors in order to create well-needed publicity for the series. Facts are backing up Ian Lloyd’s claim. Everyone that knows the royal family should be aware of Queen Elizabeth’s oath. She made an oath to serve as a Queen for her whole life. Knowing this, the chances that she would abdicate were absolutely non-existing.
In addition, former Prime Minister John Major released a statement about this as well. A spokesperson for him told The Mail that all this is just fiction. He never had such a conversation with King Charles.
“Sir John has not co-operated in any way with The Crown. Nor they have ever approached him to fact-check any script material in this or any other series. There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II.” – a spokesperson for the ex-Prime Minister told The Mail.
Another scene caused controversy as well. The one where Queen Elizabeth II orders Prime Minister John Major to pay for repairing the Royal Yacht. In the series she insinuates that he should use public funds to do so. This scene also created a major reaction in the public as many took it for granted. Nevertheless, Ian Lloyd dismisses this one as untrue as well. According to him, this is pure drama. The queen did not care that much about the Royal Yacht. Defense Secretary Michael Portillo announced the replacement of the yacht in 1997. The majority of British Diplomacy saw it as an important national asset.
