Why 'The Crown' Will Not Carry Fiction Warning Despite Criticism

The Crown will not carry a disclaimer despite pleas from a U.K. Government minister—because Netflix believes "members understand it's a work of fiction."

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden recently warned that without a message at the start of each episode, "a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact."

However, Netflix has now ruled it will not attach a disclaimer or "health warning" to episodes clarifying the events depicted are fictionalised.

The streaming giant explained the decision, saying its viewers already understand the show is a dramatization.

A Netflix spokesperson said in a statement: "We have always presented The Crown as a drama—and we have every confidence our members understand it's a work of fiction that's broadly based on historical events.

"As a result we have no plans—and see no need—to add a disclaimer."

Season Four of the Netflix series shows Princess Diana struggling with bulimia as Prince Charles has an affair with Camilla behind her back.

Queen Elizabeth II's relationship with Margaret Thatcher is also tackled for the first time, alongside the assassination of Lord Louis "Dickie" Mountbatten.

Calls for a "health warning" to be attached to episodes have been mounting in Britain since friends of Prince Charles told the Mail on Sunday the show was trolling on a Hollywood budget.

The debate reached the corridors of power late last month when Dowden added his voice to the chorus of disapproval.

He told the Mail on Sunday: "It's a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that.

"Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact."

Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer also objected and called for the addition of a disclaimer to episodes.

He told ITV's Lorraine Kelly: "I think it would help The Crown an enormous amount if, at the beginning of each episode, it stated that: 'This isn't true but it is based around some real events'."

Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary, previously told the BBC: "It's a hatchet job on Prince Charles and a bit of a hatchet job on Diana.

"You have to ask, is it necessary?"

He praised Emma Corrin's performance as Princess Diana but criticized the show for multiple depictions of her bulimia.

Arbiter added: "Show her with her head over the toilet bowl, but you don't need to show it more than once."