‘No need’: Netflix holds firm on disclaimer request for The Crown

The stand-off between Netflix and the UK government continues, amid claims the show drives an ‘overt republican agenda’.

Emma Corrin as Princes Diana in The Crown. Picture: Netflix

Netflix is holding firm over a request from the UK government, refusing to add a disclaimer to that start of each episode of its popular drama, The Crown.

UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden had previously said the streaming hit was a “beautifully produced work of fiction”, but that viewers needed to be warned as such so as they didn’t mistake it for fact.

After responding to Mr Dowden’s request in writing, Netflix bosses told the Mail on Sunday that they “see no need” to specify that some of the show’s content is not historically accurate.

“We have always presented The Crown as a drama, and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events,” they said.

“As a result, we have no plans – and see no need – to add a disclaimer.”

Emma Corrin as Princess Diana and Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles in series four of The Crown. Picture: Supplied/Netflix

The stand-off between the streaming giant and the British government comes as a friend of Prince Charles described the show as “highly sophisticated propaganda” that is driving “a very overt republican agenda”.

The fourth series of the fictional drama depicts Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage, tour to Australia and an affair between the future kind and Camilla Parker Bowles.

It also portrays Princess Diana’s eating disorder, which takes hold as her marriage to Prince Charles crumbles.

The prince’s friend reportedly told the Mail on Sunday: “It is quite sinister the way that he (Crown creator Peter Morgan) is clearly using light entertainment to drive a very overt republican agenda and people just don’t see it.

“They have been lured in over the first few series until they can’t see how they are being manipulated.”

Netflix has refused to add a disclaimer to the start of the latest series of its fictional drama, The Crown. Picture: Netflix

Although the show is largely sympathetic to Diana, her brother joined calls for a disclaimer to be added.

“It would help The Crown an enormous amount if at the beginning of each episode it stated that, ‘this isn’t true but is based around some real events’. Because then everyone would understand it’s drama for drama’s sake,” Charles Spencer told ITV.

The Crown is currently the third most popular show on Netflix in Australia (as of Monday morning).