Emma Corrin recalls the most ‘mental’ part of playing Princess Diana in The Crown

As critics continue to slam The Crown for its bending of the truth, one of its stars has come out to reveal the shocking scene that actually did happen in real life.

As critics continue to lash the exaggerated scenes of The Crown’s latest season, actress Emma Corrin has opened up about one of the wildest truths she portrayed as Princess Diana.

Corrin, 25, made some fascinating discoveries about the late royal while researching the role for the hit Netflix show, but one story about Diana was so out there, Corrin struggled to believe it happened in real life.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, she revealed it was the scene in which Diana presents Prince Charles with a recording of her performing All I Ask of You from The Phantom of the Opera for their wedding anniversary that shocked her most.

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There was one story about Princess Diana actress Emma Corrin was ‘shocked’ by. Picture: Netflix.

As it happened, Diana – an avid Phantom of the Opera fan – did actually film the performance on the West End’s set, just as it is portrayed in The Crown.

“That it’s exactly as it happened in the series – as in she hired the West End set, got a film crew in, and filmed it for Charles. Which is mental,” Corrin told the publication.

Back in November, The Phantom of the Opera’s official Twitter account confirmed Diana’s unusual gift to the Prince with a photo of her attending one of its performances.

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Princess Diana on one of her several visits to the Phantom. 'All I Ask of You' was always one of her favourite songs, with her once making a private video on the Phantom’s stage. Excited to see this moment in @TheCrownNetflix with the wonderful Emma Corrin. #TheCrown pic.twitter.com/Tfmk40AWOH

— The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) November 15, 2020

“‘All I Ask of You’ was always one of her favourite songs,” the official page wrote, “with her once making a private video on the Phantom’s stage. Excited to see this moment in @TheCrownNetflix with the wonderful Emma Corrin.”

Annie Sulzberger, head researcher for The Crown, also told The Telegraph: “We did not make this up. There were a number of (press) reports on this, enough to make us feel comfortable including it in the show. It’s a story that pre-existed the writing of the script.”

Sulzberger added that she was unsure whether Diana actually sang the song or just danced to it.

“To minimize the number of witnesses, there is a chance they played a recording,” Sulzberger said.

In 1988, The Washington Post reported that the recording did include Diana’s vocals – and that Phantom of the Opera’s composer Andrew Lloyd Webber even attended the taping.

Corrin’s revelation comes as the series continues to face backlash for its bending of the truth in some episodes.

Recently, the UK government’s culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, expressed concerns the fictional scenes written by The Crown’s creator Peter Morgan were doing damage to the monarchy because viewers believe they are true.

A friend of Prince Charles even referred to the portrayal of the royal family as “sinister” and “highly sophisticated propaganda”.

Emerald Fennell portrays Camilla Parker Bowles in The Crown. Picture: Getty Images

The fourth season, released in November, also portrays Princess Diana’s eating disorder and Prince Charles’ affair with the then Camilla Parker Bowles.

As her marriage to the heir to the throne crumbles, Diana is seen violently vomiting into a toilet on multiple occasions.

But some scenes – including the false suggestion that the affair between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles continued throughout his marriage to Diana – have been invented.

Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, recently called for a disclaimer on the show.

He told ITV’s Lorraine: “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’.”

He added: “I worry people do think that this is gospel and that’s unfair.”

A number of sources close to the royal have spoken out against the popular series. Picture: Netflix.

Actress Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Princess Margaret in The Crown, has also said the show has “a moral responsibility” to say it is a drama.

“It is dramatised,” she said, according to the New York Post. “I do feel very strongly, because I think we have a moral responsibility to say, ‘Hang on, guys, this is not … it’s not a drama-doc, we’re making a drama.’ So they are two different entities.”

Netflix bosses, however, have refused to tag a disclaimer on the show, stating viewers are well aware it is “a work of fiction”.