Netflix won’t give The Crown a disclaimer saying it’s fiction, despite complaints

‘We have always presented The Crown as a drama’

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Netflix has ‘no plans’ to add a disclaimer to its hit drama The Crown that labels it as fiction, according to a statement from the streaming service published byThe Guardian.

The UK’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden previously toldThe Mail on Sundaythat Netflix should make it clear at the start of each episode that the show is fiction.

“It’s a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that,” he was quoted as saying. Dowden was allegedly concerned that viewers who didn’t live through these events in the royal family’s history would take it as fact, and planned to write to Netflix.

Netflix’s statement says: “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. As a result we have no plans, and see no need, to add a disclaimer.”

Did this ever matter?

Broader complaints about the series focus on the depiction of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship. More arbitrary complaints rounded up in The Guardian’s piece focus on alleged granular inaccuracies, like Prince Charles' fishing technique.

Season 4 of The Crown just released on Netflix, while seasons 5 and 6 are in the works.

Certain people in the UK are particularly sensitive to the portrayal of the royal family – it’s a contentious subject, and The Crown’s fourth season explores parts of British history that many living people vividly remember, from the marriage of Charles and Diana to the Falklands War.

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Samuel is a PR Manager at game developer Frontier. Formerly TechRadar’s Senior Entertainment Editor, he’s an expert in Marvel, Star Wars, Netflix shows and general streaming stuff. Before his stint at TechRadar, he spent six years at PC Gamer. Samuel is also the co-host of the popular Back Page podcast, in which he details the trials and tribulations of being a games magazine editor – and attempts to justify his impulsive eBay games buying binges.

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