The Crown creator Peter Morgan has hit back at criticism from the likes of Dame Judi Dench and former Prime Minister Sir John Major, saying they ‘probably feel stupid’.
Ahead of series five airing, which saw the affair between now King Charles III and newly appointed Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles unfold, Dame Judi insisted there ought to be a disclaimer ‘as a mark of respect’ to Queen Elizabeth II.
She shared an open letter of her concerns about the Netflix programme, including that viewers would take The Crown’s history as being ‘wholly true’, and that the show seems to ‘blur the lines between historical accuracy and crude sensationalism’.
Elsewhere, Sir John slammed the plot lines as ‘a barrel-load of nonsense’.
However, ahead of the sixth and final instalment of the drama series, Morgan has addressed the criticism.
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He said: ‘All the criticism about The Crown’s attitude to the royals comes in anticipation of the show coming out.
‘The minute it’s out and people look at it – whether it’s Judi Dench or John Major – they instantly fall silent. And I think they probably feel rather stupid.’
In the interview with Variety, Morgan also responded to reports about scenes in the final season which portray the ghost of the late Princess Diana.
Notable historical events to be included in season six are the premiership of Tony Blair, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the early relationship of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
However last month it was revealed that the late Princess, played by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki, would also feature as a ‘ghost’ following her death.
It came after crews were seen filming the fatal car crash that killed her in 1997, while it was reported ‘distressing’ moments including Diana being covered in blood in hospital, and in an open casket after her death would also be shown on screen.
Now Morgan has responded to criticisms that have come his way, especially in regard to showing Diana after her death.
He’s explained that the intent was to never have the princess’ posthumous appearance to be supernatural.
‘I never imagined it as Diana’s “ghost” in the traditional sense,’ he clarified.
‘It was her continuing to live vividly in the minds of those she has left behind.
‘Diana was unique, and I suppose that’s what inspired me to find a unique way of representing her. She deserved special treatment narratively,’ he added to the publication.
Earlier this year Elizabeth reflected on playing Diana, saying it felt like a ‘really unique challenge as an actor, to portray those days’.
‘I really just trusted in Peter’s emotional blueprint that he created for us to follow,’ she said.
‘It’s his interpretation and I think it made emotional sense to me, so I clung to that. Because, obviously, it’s devastating and it’s fraught and we can never know.’
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The first two seasons of the series saw Claire Foy play the late Queen Elizabeth II, with Olivia Colman succeeding her in seasons three and four.
Imelda Staunton plays the Queen in her later years for seasons five and six.
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The Crown season 6 is due to be released on Netflix in two parts on November 16 and December 14.
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