‘The Crown’ Scolded By Queen’s Ex-Press Secretary For “Dramatic License Gone Bonkers” Over Diana’s Death
deadline.comEXCLUSIVE: The Crown has been criticized by the Queen’s former press secretary for lacking sensitivity in its portrayal of the events surrounding Princess Diana‘s death.
Dickie Arbiter, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II during the period depicted in Season 6, accused The Crown’s creator Peter Morgan of “dramatic license gone bonkers.” Arbiter was particularly critical of scenes in which Prince Charles (Dominic West) breaks the news of Diana’s death to her sons, Princes William and Harry.
Diana is played by Elizabeth Debicki in the final season. “The sequence of Charles telling his sons of their mother’s death was so insensitive, it was so unnecessary,” he told Deadline. “The death of their mother is still raw with both of them.” He added: “The scenes between Charles and his mother, in which he blurted out that she wanted Diana to come back in a Harrod’s van were absolute nonsense.
It just didn’t happen like that. Of course an aircraft was going to be made available [to bring her body home from France]. The Queen was the first one to agree to that.” Arbiter also debunked scenes involving preparations for Diana’s funeral.
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