The Netflix series, The Crown, will premiere its third season November 17. This season is super hyped not just because the first two were well-received, but because this will be the first of the cast switch-overs the show is planning. Not only will we get a new queen and crew, but they’ve assembled an excellent cast. So the show already has built in hype. And yet, even though the show doesn’t need additional promotion, it just got its largest endorsement yet: Buckingham Palace! Series showrunner, Peter Morgan, was interviewed by The Guardian, in which he mentioned that he meets with members of the royal household four times a year. He said that he tells these “very high-ranking” and “very active” royal household folks what he has planned for his series and they crinkle their noses but otherwise move on with their days. Buckingham Palace wrote a letter to The Guardian in response to this claim, telling everyone that they don’t watch the show, don’t care about the show and in no way endorse or contribute to the show.
Your article (The writer of The Crown reveals he keeps royal household in the picture, 7 September) may have the unfortunate consequence of leading your readers to believe that the television series The Crown is made with some sort of endorsement by the royal household, or an acceptance by the royal household that the drama is factually accurate.
We appreciate that readers of the Guardian may enjoy this fictionalised interpretation of historical events but they should do so knowing that the royal household is not complicit in interpretations made by the programme.
The royal household has never agreed to vet or approve content, has not asked to know what topics will be included, and would never express a view as to the programme’s accuracy.
[From The Guardian via Jezebel]
Just so we’re clear, BP wants us to know there is no Crown in The Crown. So why do I say this is the BP promoting the show? Because many of us are sick of the BRF and any distancing we can get from them the better. If they want to say the show has nothing to do with them, excellent – now I can watch it guiltlessly. *adjusts tiara*
The Guardian article“archetypes that are more suitable to Greek tragedy. Fathers and mothers, gods and goddesses, mothers and sons. Betrayals. The fact that we raise up a very average mortal woman into a goddess.” The second is a comparison of The Crown to The Sopranos.
It is the drama that is the point, not the monarchy, [first four episodes director Ben] Caron argues. “I don’t think the mafia is a great thing. Nor do lots of people. But lots of people watch The Sopranos because they are fascinated by Tony Soprano and his family relationships, and because the stakes in the story are massive.” (As it happens, The Crown has been repeatedly compared to a mafia drama in which the Queen is at first a reluctant, then a ruthless capo at the head of a hierarchical family structure.)
One would think that BP would be more concerned with being compared to the mafia than Morgan admitting he tells storylines to people in their ever-hemorrhaging house of leaks. But maybe they can’t speak of what they can’t deny.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
Right. They won’t ever be not tone-deaf and able to read a room.
They bother with making comments about something on TV, but couldn’t care less about the despicable behavior of the pedo blood prince, and are still seen in public with him.
And no comment either from them on the blatant racism that runs rampant through Britain’s rags that are so successfully disguising themselves as “news”papers.
Way to go BRF. Actively providing the “abolish the monarchy movement” with arguments! Well done!
Right? They’re more worried about the implication that they like a tv show than that the Queen’s son rapes kids and she keeps sending him out in the business of the monarchy.
So, BP and the Queen care more about people thinking they approve of a fictional TV show than say, making a real statement about Pedo Andy or a supportive statement for Meghan?
#AbolishtheMonarchy
It has nothing to do with either Megan or Andrew. The BRF does not endorse commercial ventures, unless it’s specifically a biography program (like the Charles at 70 show), and then they are clear on the endorsement.
“Charles at 70” was excellent. It is worth seeking out to watch.
Also a good Prince Charles watch is “Great Estates Scotland Season 1 Episode 2 – Dumfries House”.
And yet, they went out of their way to make a public comment that they don’t endorse it. How odd.
It’s not odd. It’s like when that doctor used a pic of Kate and implied she was a client. They don’t allow an inference of commercial endorsement, and the director here implied this is endorsed. It’s not and they said so.
So BP can deny this story but they never say anything about the racism toward Meghan? Disgusting.
Thisssssssssss
Also the pedophile. I cannot believe they ignore these issues.
Can we all agree that most people would actually prefer replacing the royal family with their versions from the show?
Also wondering how many are lining up to play Pedo Andy….
Yes but which version? Can Matt Smith remain the Duke??? Please?
Definitely!
This seems like a weird thing to go out of their way to comment on, when they make a point of not commenting on so many other things.
This seems pretty in keeping with their commenting “rules.”
Kinda like the plastic surgeon ad and the garden thing – if it seems like an endorsement or capitalizing on an image , they shit it down.
Makes good sense but bad gossip.
Typo and it stays 😂
😂think I’ll start using that!
I’m not ready for Claire Foy and Matt Smith to be replaced. They were so perfect. I wanted at least one more season of the young queen.
I’m worried about when they get into the Diana years or the Meghan years that their viewpoints may reflect the general attitude of the British press. My friend is studying in London right now and says that her British peers do not have a favorable-and sometimes possibly racist-view of Meghan.
Me too. And I have never seen a nuanced portrayal of Diana or Charles. They never seem to get the humorous side of Di that was her magic with people, usually they get an attractive blonde actor who is morose all the time. And Charles is always stiff. Usually even more superficial than their public appearances.
And Meghan? Terrified of how they will represent her—British racism is just under the surface and still has whiffs of imperialism—from my time living there.
Standard BRF practice never to comment or explain. If they did it once then the questions would come every time they didn’t. If they were positive it would suggest they agreed with the whole show, and if they were negative they would be slammed for being too sensitive.
Can’t see this being much of an issue apart from on CB
I guess we should not be surprised by how tone Def BP is but really? Choosing to clear things out on such a meaningless story after a summer of pedo Andrew and a year of racist harrasment towards Meghan? WOW