https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/royal-family-told-theyre-able-25454179?utm_source=mirror_newsletter&utm_campaign=royal_family_newsletter2&utm_medium=emailRoyal Family 'told they're able to sue Netflix' over The Crown depictions
Friends of the Firm sought legal advice for themselves over Netflix show The Crown and uncovered that the Royal Family are entitled to sue
By Jada Jones Showbiz Reporter
09:50, 14 Nov 2021 Updated 10:03, 14 Nov 2021
The Royal Family have been informed that they're within their rights to sue Netflix over their representation in hit show The Crown, it has been reported. Friends of the Royal Family, who have also been depicted in the new series, spoke to the Queen's lawyers who revealed that they had grounds for legal action. The Sun reports that those worried about their own portrayals in the fifth series sought out advice from the Queen's favoured law firms Farrer & Co and Harbottle & Lewis. They were informed that they are entitled to sue the show's makers. The friends of the Firm chose to share this advice with the Royal Family, which gives them the chance to take action. A source said: “Friends of the Royal Family sought legal advice. The advice they received would also apply to the Royal Family. Although this is not direct legal advice given to the Queen and her family they have been made aware of this advice.”
A spokesperson for the Palace declined to comment when contacted by The Mirror. Series five of the Netflix hit show is being filmed across the UK and is expected to be available to stream from next November. It will star Imelda Staunton as the Queen and Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, with Dominic West in the role of Prince Charles. The series will follow the divorce of Charles and Diana, the fallout following her death in 1997 and the Queen's 1992 “annus horribilis”. The show is reported to be drying Prince William by featuring Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview, with the story line reported to be getting it's own episode. A source said: “This series will be the most controversial ever. It deals with events that are still incredibly raw for many.”
It is believed that last year the Duke and Duchess of Sussex agreed to a £110million deal with the streaming giant for programmes. A separate source told The Sun on Sunday that the Queen's lawyers 'have been keeping a close eye on everything'. "Given Harry’s money-spinning deal, The Crown has become even more of a talking point. Worryingly, a lot of people, especially Americans, seem to think it is effectively a documentary and much of the drama hasn’t exactly been flattering from a royal perspective. But these are real people and many are still alive. The next series could potentially be very damaging.”
The Government have made demands to Netflix for a disclaimer to be put in place to highlight the fictional nature of the show, but the service has not done so yet. Last week it was revealed that Princess Diana's friend Jemima Khan had opted to quit her role as a show consultant over how it has handled her story. It is reported that the Queen was left "particularly annoyed" by a series two storyline that showed a crying Charles called "bloody week" by father Philip. Defamation experts have said that Her Majesty and others will be paying close attention for anything that causes serious damage to the reputation of the Royal Family regardless of Netflix's stance on if it is fictional. Palace insiders insist that any action by the Royal Family would be unprecedented.
