Netflix defends 'The Crown' season 5 as 'fictional dramatisation' amid criticism

Sir John Major described scenes as 'malicious nonsense'

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in season five of the Netflix series 'The Crown'. All photos: Netflix, unless otherwise specified

Imelda Staunton takes over the role from Oliva Colman, who played Queen Elizabeth II in seasons three and four.

Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales, in season five.

Dominic West as Charles, then Prince of Wales, and Elizabeth Debicki as Diana.

Jonny Lee Miller as former British prime minister John Major.

Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret.

Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne.

Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles, left, with Dominic West as Charles.

Khalid Abdalla in 'In the Last Days of the City'. He will play Dodi Al-Fayed in 'The Crown'. Photo: Zero Production

Amir El-Masry will play a younger version of Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed. Getty Images

Popular Pakistani actor Humayun Saeed will play Dr Hasnat Khan, the British-Pakistani surgeon who was in a relationship with Princess Diana following her divorce from Prince Charles. Photo: Ujala Ali Khan / The National

Netflix has defended The Crown as a "fictional dramatisation" amid criticism of its coming fifth series.

Sir John Major is said to have described some scenes, which reportedly depict King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, plotting to oust Queen Elizabeth II, as "malicious nonsense".

The new series, which will be released on November 9, is expected to show Charles cutting short a holiday with Diana, Princess of Wales, to host a secret meeting with former prime minister Sir John at Highgrove House in 1991.

For the forthcoming series of the lavish royal drama, which features recast roles, Dominic West stars as Charles, while Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana and Imelda Staunton, the queen.

A spokeswoman for The Crown 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."

A representative for Sir John, played by Jonny Lee Miller in the series, previously told The Times that if the scenes are broadcast "they should be seen as nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction".

Netflix also said the sixth and final series of The Crown will not depict the Paris car crash that killed Diana in August 1997, contrary to media reports.

The PA news agency understands the series will show the lead-up to the fatal incident as well as its aftermath, but not the crash itself.

The fourth series of the lavish Netflix drama also attracted criticism for allegedly not doing enough to ensure viewers knew it was a work of fiction.

Oliver Dowden, the then Culture Secretary, asked Netflix to add a disclaimer to episodes, a request the company rejected.

Although there is no disclaimer on the individual episodes, when viewers tune in, the show is labelled with a "log line" as a fictional drama based on historical events.

The Crown was due to end after the fifth season, but the show's creator and writer, Peter Morgan, later said it would be extended to include a sixth season.

Filming on the latest series of The Crown was halted as a mark of respect after the queen's death. Filming was also suspended on the day of her funeral.

It was previously revealed that season five of the show would delve into Diana's now infamous Panorama interview with journalist Martin Bashir.

Stars of 'The Crown' from season one to five — in pictures