The Crown viewers rage as Olivia Colman’s Queen fakes crying at Aberfan coal-tip disaster

A controversial scene in The Crown depicting Queen Elizabeth’s unflattering response to a national tragedy has drawn widespread criticism.

Netflix drama The Crown has landed itself in hot water after a scene saw the Queen lay on crocodile tears.

The hit show’s third season hit Netflix in full on Sunday, but one particular episode seemed to rub viewers up the wrong way.

One plot line sees the Queen, played by Olivia Colman, rebuffing pleas from Prime Minister Harold Wilson to visit grieving families in Aberfan, Wales, after a tragic accident.

The infamous Aberfan coal tip claimed 144 lives, mostly of children, devastating the small community.

After finally relenting, HRH is warned by an aide: “You may wish to consider this is Wales, not England. A display of emotion would not just be considered appropriate, it’s expected.”

Later on, she is seen raising a handkerchief to her face with a dead pan expression as she is swarmed by crowds.

Oliva Coleman in The Crown, as Queen Elizabeth visiting Aberfan.

An aerial view of the wrecked schoolhouse in Aberfan.

She remarks: “I dabbed a bone-dry eye and by some miracle no one noticed.”

The moment sparked such outrage that Wilson’s former press secretary Joe Haines rubbished the scenes, describing them as “absolute nonsense”.

The 91-year-old insisted the Queen was perfectly capable of showing emotion, noting: “Anyone who saw her at The Cenotaph knows that.”

Meanwhile a publicist for The Crown said: “We show a Monarch who is naturally restrained, while advisers question her stoicism. We make it clear she has a strong bond with Aberfan.”

However, viewers took to social media to complain about the depiction.

“Watched three episodes of series 3 so far. Aberfan brought back memories. It is shocking what the Establishment was like in those day,” one wrote.

Coleman’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth has been met with controversy from some viewers. Picture: Netflix via AP

Another added: “Queen to Harold Wilson – Are you saying I let the side down by not visiting Aberfan? WOW, JUST WOW!”

A third spoke from personal experience, ranting: “I grew up just outside of Aberfan and I remember the disaster as if it were yesterday and one thing I can tell you is that the people of that village were treated abysmally by the Establishment, Royalty and the rest of them.”

While a fourth chimed in: “One does find it distasteful though, the portrayal that our beloved monarch had no feeling at Aberfan.

“The Crown I utterly refuse to believe this.”

However, others praised the show for shining a light on the suffering on the disaster, claiming the episode had moved them to tears.

The Crown season 3 is available to stream on Netflix now.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission