Season 5 of hit Netflix biographical drama The Crown dropped on the platform on November 9th, and, as expected, it has already proven to be a hit with fans. With more than 1.1 million watching it on the first day it dropped in the UK (via BBC), it seems that everyone was intrigued to see how the writers will handle some of the biggest scandals and events.
However, given The Crown has recently added a fictional disclaimer to the official YouTube page after receiving many complaints (via Chronicle Live), it's important to remember that there are going to be a few storylines that have been dramatized for the sake of drama, meaning not everything in season 5 is accurate.
The Sunday Times' Front Page Calling For Abdication
Season 5 of The Crown begins with Queen Elizabeth's family and staff hiding a Sunday Times front page from her that suggested she should abdicate and let Charles take on the throne. The newspaper claimed that the monarch was now too old and out of touch and her departure was better for the crown's survival.
However, as highlighted by the real-life Times newspaper, no such front page was ever actually published (via The Times). Rather, this was creative license on the show's part to illustrate the growing disillusion towards Elizabeth's reign by the British public.
Prince Charles’ Popularity
Prince Charles first major storyline in The Crown season 5 is his growing belief that his mother should abdicate and allow him to take on the role as King of England. Charles believes the Elizabethan era is too traditional and he could successfully modernize the monarchy.
In a slight plot hole, Charles was portrayed as unpopular among the crown's subjects in season 4 (as pointed out in the episode where he and Diana visited Australia - where he was viewed by Australians as awkward and lacking charisma). Diana, who he separated from in the early 1990s, even pointed out in her real panorama interview that she was much more popular than Charles ever was (via Marie Claire).
Prince Charles' Meeting With The Prime Minister
With growing pressure from the British press, who were campaigning for the monarchy to evolve, Prince Charles sets up a secret meeting with Prime Minister John Major. In the meeting, Charles hopes the Prime Minister can use his powers to convince his mother to abdicate, emphasizing his own leadership qualities.
The real John Major has stated that this meeting never actually took place, going as far as calling the show a "barrel-load of nonsense" via (The Guardian). The British Conservative Party that Major once led were a major force in encouraging Netflix to include a disclaimer, which the streamer initially refused (The Guardian).
Diana's Confrontation With The Queen
Before Diana's BBC interview airs, Diana visits Queen Elizabeth at her home. She informs her mother-in-law that the tv special will go ahead, before the two argue over Elizabeth's lack of support when Diana struggled with her mental health and voiced criticisms of how the monarchy is run.
Elizabeth Debicki certainly nails how Princess Diana would have had an emotional conflict with The Queen, but there is no proof that this confrontation ever actually occurred. According to Royal historian Sarah Gristwood, there is no evidence of the meeting, and The Queen's reaction to the interview "as ever, was less vocal" than others (via BBC History Extra).
Mohamed Al-Fayed's Early Business Ventures
Mohamed Al-Fayed was an Egyptian billionaire businessman that had several ties to the Royal Family. He had purchased the house of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (via Independent) and was also the father of Dodi Fayed, the boyfriend of Princess Diana, who died alongside her in a fatal 1997 car accident. On The Crown, a young Mohamed spots King Edward while working as a Coca-Cola salesman in Egypt.
In real life, Mohamed Al-Fayed did not actually see King Edward in Egypt (via The Telegraph). Rather, this was a narrative device to show how Mohamed's ambition to have royal ties. He was also not a street vendor, and spent his early business years working at a shipping company with his family (via Elle).
Queen Elizabeth’s Bizarre 1995 Prank Call Is Erased
Imelda Staunton's first season as Queen Elizabeth has been critically acclaimed as she shows an older Queen Elizabeth II navigating her way through the tumultuous period of the 1990s. One major event of the 1990s that the show did not cover was The Queen falling victim to a prank call on a Canadian radio show.
In 1995, a radio prankster host pretended to be then-Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, and the two chatted for 17 minutes; they discussed politics, particularly the upcoming Canadian referendum (via The Mirror). This rare moment of the Queen being overtly political was an embarrassing slip-up that would've played into the show's storyline about the Royals' phone calls being bugged.
Diana and Dodi's First Meeting
On The Crown, Princess Diana meets future boyfriend Dodi Fayed in the early 1990s when he attends a polo match. She and his father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, get chatting and form a quick bond over their cold relationship with The Queen, and they both playfully teased Dodi.
In reality, Diana met Dodi in 1986 when he was playing against Charles at a polo game. They later met more formally after Diana was divorced, at a yacht party hosted by Mohamed (via Radio Times). This isn't a million miles from The Crown's portrayal, but it is thought that Diana had known who Dodi was long before she split from Charles.
Sydney Johnson Training Mohamed Al-Fayed
The season 5 episode "Mou Mou" follows Mohamed Al-Fayed as he meets Sydney Johnson, a former servant and valet to King Edward. Mohamed, heavily inspired by King Edward after seeing him in his home country of Egypt, hires Sydney to train him in English upper-class life to make him fit for friendships with royalty.
There are plenty of reports of Sydney Johnson working as a house curator for Mohamed Al-Fayed as he restored the royals' former home. There is no evidence to suggest, however, that Sydney trained him in British etiquette, or that Mohamed cared for him as he succumbed to a fatal illness (via TV Insider).
Prince Philip's Warning To Diana.jpeg)
Prince Philip is one of The Crown's most intelligent characters, and fans see this best when whenever he advises Queen Elizabeth or stops his children from stepping out of line. There is also another side explored in season 5 as viewers also see how protective Philip is of his family - especially when he hears from his confidant, Penny Knatchbull, that Diana is working on an autobiography detailing her life as a royal (which leads him to warn her against hurting the family).
In reality, there is no evidence to suggest that Diana and Philip ever exchanged words on this matter. On the contrary, there are published letters between the two that show Philip being supportive towards Diana following her divorce from his son (via People).
John Major Mediating Charles and Diana's Divorce
When Queen Elizabeth finally gives Charles and Diana permission to divorce, she hires Prime Minister John Major to mediate the divorce proceedings. She suggests that he can act as an "umpire" between the two parties given his success in mediating international political matters.
No evidence exists where John Major was asked to do any formal divorce mediation, nor was he asked to help Charles and Diana by Queen Elizabeth. Given John Major's views on The Crown, he likely also took dispute with this storyline (via Esquire).
Source:gamerant.com