A royal expert has hinted that The Crown’s upcoming fifth series could be so controversial that it could prompt the palace to break its ‘never complain, never explain’ tradition.
Rebecca English – who has seen the transcripts for the next ten episodes of the latest installment of the Netflix hit – slammed scenes as “verging on defamation”.
The Chron’s Royal Editor admitted parts of the show felt “quite tacky” and said that while she initially felt the reaction next season was “a bit of a storm in a teacup”, was “shocked” by the content.
In a speech on Palace Confidential, she hinted that the Palace would wait for the release on November 9 before considering “stoking the flames”.
For the upcoming fifth and final sixth season, Elizabeth Debicki (pictured with Dominic West as Charles) will take on the role of Princess Diana
Rebecca English (pictured) – who has seen the transcripts for the next ten episodes of the next episode of the Netflix hit – slammed them as “almost defamatory”.
“I think they want to see for themselves,” Rebecca told host Jo Elvin.
However, she added: “I think it might be one of those occasions where they’re pushed to speak up.”
The royal expert also revealed that it takes an in-depth look at Princess Diana’s infamous Panorama interview with Martin Bashir, despite the Prince of Wales’ earlier pleading with the media never to air again.
He described the BBC interview as “unethical” and claimed it sparked the events that led to the loss of his mother’s life two years later. Although fans of the show initially thought only a few seconds of the interview would be shown, it has now been reported that it will instead be cut to a four-minute, 23-second segment.
Rebecca said Netflix put it “down to two episodes,” even including tight scenes of Diana skidding in her car thinking “maybe her breaks have failed.”
In a speech on Palace Confidential, she hinted that the Palace would wait for the release on November 9 before considering “stoking the flames”.
The Chron’s Royal Editor (pictured with Jo Elvin and Richard Eden) admitted parts of the show felt “quite distasteful”.
“It’s very, very, very close to the bone,” she added.
The expert also hit out at the account of the infamous recorded private conversation between King Charles and the Queen Consort in 1989.
The conversation between then-Prince Charles and Camilla, commonly referred to as “Tampongate,” was recorded by a ham radio enthusiast who claimed to have stumbled over the couple’s conversation while switching audio channels.
During the call, the then-prince referred to his reincarnation as the tampon brand Tampax and told Camilla that he wanted to “live” in her.
The fifth series will chronicle the events leading up to Diana’s death, but the tragic crash won’t be revealed until season six. Elizabeth Debicki pictured on the show
The audio recording, along with a transcript of the six-minute call, was sold to a tabloid and released.
It was circulated again by The People in 1993 following Prince Charles and Diana’s split.
“They don’t just touch it, they replicate everything on these tapes word for word in a really lavish way,” Rebecca said.
Elizabeth Debicki will take on the role of Diana, played by Emma Corrin in season four, for the upcoming fifth and final sixth season.
The expert also hit out at the account of the infamous recorded private conversation between King Charles and the Queen Consort in 1989. Both were pictured this month
The fifth series will chronicle the events leading up to Diana’s death, but the tragic crash won’t be revealed until season six.
However, it will dramatize sensitive scenes, including Diana’s divorce from Charles and the infamous Panorama interview with former BBC journalist Martin Bashir.
Debicki said that despite the sensitivity of the role and the knowledge that she would examine it intensely, she never hesitated to take part in the show.
She said: “I went out of instinct and didn’t think about it. I’ve been watching this show for years and love it.
The fifth series aims to dramatize touchy scenes, including Diana’s divorce from Charles and the infamous Panorama interview with former BBC journalist Martin Bashir. Pictured: Dominic West and Olivia Williams as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles
“I knew I was working with people who were extremely intelligent and very sensitive about how they were writing the script and making decisions.
“So I never felt like I jumped on unstable ground.”
The show is expected to feature a scene where King Charles cuts short a holiday with Diana to hold a secret meeting with Sir John at Highgrove in 1991 where they discuss the Queen’s fall.
The former Prime Minister wrote in a letter in The Telegraph that the scenes will be “deeply hurtful to a family who still mourn the loss of the very person on whose life the entire drama was founded”.
Debicki stressed that she believes the show is a television drama based on true events.
She said: “I mean, it’s clearly fictional. I feel like the audience knows that because there are actors playing roles.
“I’ve never seen The Crown and thought ‘this is a documentary’ or ‘this is obviously true’.
Another scene expected to appear in the new season shows King Charles attempting to recruit Sir Blair as an ally to protect his future and pave the way for him to marry Camilla shortly after his election.
The former Labor Prime Minister said: “It should come as no surprise that this is complete and utter rubbish.”
Former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair lashed out at the show, claiming some of the performances were “complete and utter rubbish”.
The new series also features the King’s BBC documentary, Prince Charles: The Private Man, the Public Role, which was broadcast to the public in a bid to restore his reputation following his divorce.
During the infamous interview, the monarch admitted to journalist Jonathan Dimbleby that he had been unfaithful in his marriage – but only after it “broke down irretrievably”.
In a 1997 Vogue article, Princess Diana’s close friend Anna Harvey revealed that she initially feared the black mini dress was “too daring” and planned to wear a Valentino design to the event.
But after learning about her ex-husband’s documentary, the insider claimed Diana wanted to “look like a million bucks” on the difficult night.
Elsewhere in the trailer, the princes can be seen dashing away from paparazzi as she drives at top speed in a tense chase.
Another scene from the new season, which will be released on November 9, sees the character swimming in a pool in a skimpy swimsuit – as she battles the crisis of royal protocol and family scandal before the nation.