Netflix backs down in royal row by adding disclaimer to marketing for The Crown

Netflix has quietly added a disclaimer to its marketing for The Crown after a backlash over its blurring of fact and fiction.

In an apparent climbdown by the streaming giant, the trailer for the upcoming series of its hit drama is accompanied by the description: ‘Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.’

No trailers for previous series of The Crown on Netflix’s YouTube channel have carried such a disclaimer.

The Crown’s official Twitter account also appears to have been updated in the past month to add the message reminding people it is ‘fictional’.

Netflix announced its hit drama the Crown would now be accompanied by the description: ”Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign’

The Crown now has a disclaimer on Netflix stating it has been ‘inspired by real events’ but is a ‘fictional dramatisation’ 

Photo taken in 1995 of Diana, Princess of Wales, during her interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC

The trailer, featuring Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, shows the late princess sitting down for her infamous 1995 Panorama interview with disgraced ex-BBC journalist Martin Bashir as her voiceover says: ‘I won’t go quietly.’

Netflix has faced a fierce backlash over the latest series, which is set to air on November 9. However, it had, until now, repeatedly resisted calls for it to carry a disclaimer.

Actress Dame Judi Dench accused the show of being ‘cruelly unjust’ and backed calls for a disclaimer.

And former prime minister Sir John Major dismissed scenes showing him discussing the Queen’s potential abdication with Prince Charles as ‘a barrel-load of malicious nonsense’.

Dame Judi, 87, who has played Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria, said the series risked damaging the monarchy. The Oscar-winning actress blamed it for ‘crude sensationalism’ and blurring fact and fiction.

The Crown’s official Twitter account also appears to have been updated in the past month to add the message reminding people it is ‘fictional’

In a letter to The Times newspaper yesterday, she called on Netflix to display a disclaimer at the start of each episode to say it is ‘fictionalised drama’. She said it would also show respect for the bereavement suffered by the Royal Family and the nation.

A Netflix spokesman said: ‘The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events. 

‘Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the Royal Family – one that has already been scrutinised and well documented by journalists, biographers and historians.’

The Crown has been a huge hit for Netflix. Each episode now costs around £11.5million.