Netflix’s The Crown fueled America’s fascination with the British royals – but created warped view of the monarchy by blurring fact and fiction: As the US is left captivated by Queen’s funeral, a look at what the show got right… and VERY wrong
- Netflix saga The Crown has blurred the lines between fact and fiction – all while curating America’s obsession with the Royal Family
- Netflix’s saga helped launch the Royals into celebrity in the eyes of Americans, who couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the drama that was portrayed on screen
- While the show is based on some true events, it’s still fiction – and it has tweaked timelines, reimagined private conversations, and exaggerated incidents
- The series had such a large impact on America that it has left some people wondering if the US is now too intrigued by the Monarchy
- The world has been in collective mourning since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who died ‘peacefully’ in her sleep at age 96 on September 8
- However now, some people have claimed that they’ve had ‘enough’ and are ‘fed up’ with the Queen’s passing ‘hogging’ American outlets
- The Queen’s funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage
Since it’s premiere in November 2016, Netflix saga The Crown has blurred the lines between fact and fiction – all while curating America’s obsession with the Royal Family.
While the show, which is gearing up for the release of its fifth season this November, is based on some true events, it’s still fiction, and it has often tweaked timelines, reimagined private conversations, and exaggerated incidents – sometimes unbeknownst to the viewer.
The series looks into the private life of Britain’s longest-reigning, Queen Elizabeth II, who has sadly passed away September 8, 2022 – and it has sparked a dominating interest in the monarchy across the nation.
Netflix’s glossy saga turned the monarchy into a form of entertainment – and helped launch the Royals into celebrity in the eyes of Americans, who couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the drama that was portrayed on screen and become enthralled in the world of English government.
The melodrama collided scandal and politics – while creating a dizzyingly effect on viewers, who felt like they intimately knew the Royals just by switching on their TV; but in reality, they only knew the versions that were being shown in a work of historical fiction.
The series had such a large impact on America, that it has left some people wondering if the US is too intrigued by the Monarchy – especially amid the Queen’s sad passing earlier this month, which saw numerous news outlets covering the Royals’ every move, interrupting their planned coverage to instead focus on Her Majesty.
Since it’s premiere in November 2016, Netflix saga The Crown (pictured) has blurred the lines between fact and fiction – all while curating America’s obsession with the Royal Family
Netflix’s saga helped launch the Royals into celebrity in the eyes of Americans, who couldn’t help but get wrapped up in the on-screen drama. Olivia Coleman is seen in the show
While the show (seen above) is based on some true events, it’s still fiction – and it has tweaked timelines, reimagined private conversations, and exaggerated incidents
The series had such a large impact on America that it has left some people wondering if the US is now too intrigued by the Monarchy. Imelda Staunton is seen playing the Queen in the show
The world has been in collective mourning since the passing of the UK’s longest reigning monarch, who died ‘peacefully’ in her sleep surrounded by members of the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle from natural causes at age 96.
The world has been in collective mourning since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II (seen in 2018), who died ‘peacefully’ in her sleep at age 96 on September 8
Since then, websites have been flooded with royal coverage and social media has been talking about her non-stop – with stars sharing touching tributes and remembering Her Majesty.
However, outspoken radio host Howard Stern called it ‘annoying’ on his show, while admitting he had ‘enough’ of people talking about her and asked that instead, people focus on the ongoing investigation into former President Donald Trump – and his comments sparked a massive debate between social media users.
‘I’m like, “Jesus, enough with the Queen!”’ he told co-host Robin Quivers on an episode of SiriusXM last week. ‘I mean, it’s America, we don’t have a Queen.’
He added: ‘I mean, I get it. The Queen was a nice lady, I guess. My whole life the Queen has been the same Queen and there’s a tradition there and she did her duty to her country, I get it, I get it, I get it.
‘But we gotta get back to Trump, where those papers are that they found at Mar-A-Lago … It’s annoying.’
What’s real and what’s not real? Some of the most notable things from The Crown that were not factual
- Princess Margaret never urged the royal family to call of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding
- Queen Elizabeth didn’t disprove of Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend’s romance
- The Queen didn’t have a meeting with Michael Fagan after he broke into Buckingham Palace
- Prince Charles didn’t begin his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles until five years into his marriage to Princess Diana
- The Queen did not instruct press secretary Michael Shea to leak her feelings about Margaret Thatcher to the press
- The Queen actually had a cordial relationship with former prime minister Winston Churchill
- The disappearance of Margaret Thatcher’s son did not impact her decision on the UK going to war with Argentina
The clip was reposted on Twitter by NBC executive Mike Sington, who wrote that he ‘agreed 100 per cent,’ and his tweet quickly went viral, gaining more than 1,000 retweets and 5,000 likes.
‘So tired of the Queen talk, I stopped watching CNN because of it,’ one person replied to Mike’s post, while another agreed, ‘It’s hogging the news.’
‘Exactly. She’s NOT our head-of-state and should NOT dominate our news coverage, especially with #TFG’s far more pressing (criminal/espionage) matters of national/homeland security far more important and deserving of time and resources,’ said someone else.
‘I am having a hard time understanding the media currently. No network airs Biden’s last speech. It is like they want to promote tabloid journalism,’ read another tweet.
‘Enough is enough,’ tweet a different user, while another wrote, ‘It’s getting annoying.’
‘I am fed up with it, too. Enough is enough. She wasn’t our queen and it’s boring now,’ quipped another person.
However, others defended the US’ coverage of the Queen’s death, with one user stating, ‘Do you know 1.3 million people from the UK live in the United States now? Also, The Queen was the head of the British Military that helped us in wars for 70 years.’
A different person wrote: ‘I would rather hear about a woman who devoted herself to duty in service to her people rather than a boorish con man and the toxicity he has cultivated in my country.’
‘I’m interested because it is a once in a lifetime historic event. And I’m also guessing the last such event that will be marked like this ever,’ defended someone else.
‘I expect a lot of this will disappear going forward. We are viewing the end of an era. Sometimes history is worth noting.’
Many people agreed with Howard’s sentiments, and suggested the US news outlets were using it to ‘deflect’ problems we were facing in our own country
However, others defended the US’ coverage of the Queen’s death, with one user stating, ‘Do you know 1.3 million people from the UK live in the United States now?’
Whether you hate it or love it, much of America’s fascination with the Monarchy stems from Netflix’s The Crown, which saw its first season back on the Top 10 list following the Queen’s death.
Shocking true events that were showcased in The Crown
- Prince Philip did break the news to the Queen that her father had passed away
- The Queen and Prince Phillip really did get into a public argument in 1954
- A man really did break into the Queen’s bedroom at Buckingham Palace
- Prince Philip’s uncle, Lord Mountbatten, really did hold considerable influence over Prince Philip
- Margaret Thatcher did have an affair with landscaper Roddy Llewellyn
- Prince Charles did propose to Diana in the nursery at Windsor Castle
- Princess Diana did suffer from bulimia
- Princess Anne did date Andrew Parker-Bowles in 1970
- The Queen, the Queen Mother, and Prince Philip did side with Lord Snowdon during his split from Princess Margaret in 1973
- Prime Minister Harold Wilson and the Queen were very close when he resigned on April 5, 1976
And while the show is beloved by many people around the globe, it has received some criticism for not making it clear enough that is a fictional re-telling.
A powerful coalition of politicians, Royal experts, and close friends of the royal family have called for the streaming giant to broadcast a disclaimer warning viewers that The Crown distorts the truth.
Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, has previously admitted that he felt uneasy watching his sister’s depiction in the drama, and said he fears viewers will ‘forget it is fiction.’
Lady Glenconner, who was Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting for more than 30 years and a close friend of Prince Charles, also revealed that a scene depicting her was ‘completely untrue.’
The creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes, posted a message to the producers of The Crown, in which she reminded them that they are portraying the lives of ‘real people.’
Karen Bradley, former culture secretary, said it was ‘vital’ that each episode included a ‘warning’ as many moments have been ’embellished.’
A former head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, also noted that ‘there is a real risk that history is being rewritten’ through the show.
Hugo Vickers, a leading Royal historian and author of The Crown Dissected, agreed that it was ‘absolutely vital’ a disclaimer be shown during the show.
While The Crown has helped drive interest in events that have consumed the monarch over the years – such as Prince Andrew’s relationship to Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Charles affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, and Meghan Markle’s jaw-dropping revelations about the way the Monarchy treated her – it has also skewed fact and fiction with many of its depictions.
Some people have slammed the saga for being ‘grossly unfair’ in its portrayal of Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla.
Whether you hate it or love it, much of America’s fascination with the Monarchy stems from Netflix’s The Crown (pictured), which first premiered in November 2016
While the show is beloved by many people around the globe, it has received some criticism for not making it clear enough that is a fictional re-telling. A scene from the show is seen above
A coalition of politicians, Royal experts, and close friends of the royal family have called for the streaming giant to broadcast a disclaimer warning viewers that The Crown distorts the truth
The Crown incorrectly stated that he cheated on his wife, Princess Diana, throughout their entire relationship; however, in real life, Charles and Camilla’s romance didn’t begin until five years into his marriage to Diana.
Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother, has previously admitted that he felt uneasy watching his sister’s depiction in the drama, and said he fears viewers will ‘forget it is fiction.’ Princess Diana is seen with Prince Charles
The fourth season heavily surrounded the marital problems between Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and showed his father, Prince Phillip, trying to convince the two to accept their public positions within the royal family.
Princess Diana is heard admitting that a life with the royals felt like a ‘cold frozen tundra’ before she threatened to ‘break away’ from the Windsors.
While many felt Diana’s sentiments were a direct parallel to Prince Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave the royal family in 2020, many are finding it wrestles with historical inaccuracies for the sake of views.
Peter Morgan, The Crown’s creator, has defended the show in the past, stating: ‘You sometimes have to forsake accuracy, but you must never forsake truth.’
Despite its seemingly inaccurate portrayal of the Royals, viewers are still tuning in every season, and it has reportedly had a big impact on the way Americans view the Monarchy.
Some people have slammed the saga for being ‘grossly unfair’ in its portrayal of Prince Charles’ relationship with Camilla. Camilla is seen in the show, played by Emerald Fennell
The fourth season involves a direct parallel to Princess Diana’s plea for independence and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s (seen in July 2022) separation from the Royal Family
Season five is set to be released on the streaming giant in November and viewers can expect to see the veil of the tight-lipped Royal Family lifted even further
A poll of 1,023 viewers taken after the premiere of season four last November found that more than a third thought their impression of Prince Charles had improved after watching the latest season, according to research from FocalData shared by The Sunday Times.
It found that 35 per cent of viewers said their feelings on the family had improved, while 42 per cent said their opinion had not changed – and only 23 per cent said their opinion had worsened.
25 per cent of fans also said that their opinion on Queen Elizabeth, who is portrayed by Oscar-winner Olivia Colman, rose due to the show.
Princess Diana’s popularity rose by 30 per cent – the highest of any character appearing in the drama.
Despite critics quarrels with depictions of events, over 76 million households worldwide have watched the royal sag unfold since it began airing on Netflix in 2016.
And with season five set to be released in November of 2022, viewers will get the chance to once again wrap themselves up in the drama of the Royals.
‘Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world’: How the US media covered Britain’s final farewell to the Queen at her state funeral
Americans joined together to mark Britain’s saddest day with wall-to-wall coverage of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Dozens of people packed into Times Square as early as 5am Monday to watch the build-up to Her Majesty’s service across the pond – despite the five-hour time difference.
Many US publications had a live stream of the funeral showing the Royals come together to make their respects to the Queen for a final time.
President Joe Biden with his wife Jill attended the service to pay their respects, with many members of the congregations arriving up to three hours early.
Thousands lined the streets to pay their respects, as millions tuned in across the globe to watch the final journey of Her Majesty.
The Washington Post led the coverage from inside of Westminster Abbey for the procession, with the New York Post and Los Angeles Times also having footage from the event.
CNN, ABC, Fox News, and NBC all canceled their usual coverage to follow the procession the entire way through, with royal commentators covering the build-up to the occasion.
CNN was crowned top of the coverage in the US by DailyMail commentator Jaci Stephens when the Queen’s passing was announced – and marked her funeral with constant live coverage
The Wall Street Journal were one of many American sites to show a live stream of the entirely of the funeral
ABC shows a live stream in Times Square which started at 5am, with many out and about stopping to watch
The entirety of the event was easy to follow across the US, with many broadcasters following from the Abbey to Wellington Arch
CBS, CNBC, Spectrum News, and MSNBC also all carried their own special guests throughout the morning to mark the event.
It is the first time that cameras have been allowed inside the funeral of a monarch, with BBC’s coverage available both on TV and its website globally.
People magazine also followed the coverage, noting how Princess Charlotte, seven, honored her great-grandmother.
The New York Times also had a live stream of the event, after receiving a huge backlash after posting several pieces criticizing the costs of the funeral.
The newspaper published a story this week that, with apparent surprise, it would be up to UK taxpayers to foot the bill for the funeral on Monday.
Its report described the ceremony as a ‘hefty price tag’ for taxpayers amid rampant inflation and a cost of living crisis in the UK.
The paper estimated that the state funeral would cost around £6million, claiming the figure would add to the financial issues currently faced by British families.
The Los Angeles Times chose to make the occasion with a poignant picture of the Queen’s journey out of the Abbey with her family behind the coffin covered in the Royal Standard
The Washington Post also allowed its readers to follow the coverage live, marking the Queen’s death with a black motif
The New York Times also had a live stream of the event, after receiving a huge backlash after posting several pieces criticizing the costs of the funeral
NBC news also covered the entirety of the event, following the Navy and guards along her journey
But it has now been revealed that the actual cost per household in Britain will be just five pence.
The New York Times had to admit it was wrong and promptly publish a correction to its story – noting that inflation was not actually as bad as it had initially reported.
Other publications continued to report on the ‘special relationship’ between the two countries, as thousands of world leaders and hundreds of members of the public began filing into the Abbey as billions around the world will watch Her Majesty’s state funeral.
Most of the VIPs arrived by coach, meeting at the Royal Hospital Chelsea before being put on a bus into Central London.
Britain’s ministers – past and present – were among the first arrivals including Nadham Zahawi, Ben Wallace and Jacob Rees-Mogg. But US President Jo Biden went to the Abbey in The Beast – his bomb-proof limousine, commonly known as “The Beast.”
Michael and Carole Middleton, the parents of Kate, the Princess of Wales, arrived two hours early for the service, followed by Tom Parker Bowles, the son of Queen Consort, Camilla.
Fox News also followed the event, taking care to follow the Royals as they marched their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother towards Buckingham Palace
Times Square showed a constant stream of the funeral, with other news also continuing to be covered
USA Today also showed live shots of Queen Elizabeth II’s casket being taken to Wellington Arch
They were also on a bus together – despite their close links to the Royal Family. Celebrities at the funeral include TV personality Bear Grylls.
Funeral flowers in the abbey featured myrtle – which was used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet as is royal tradition.
The huge white and green displays of blooms included asiatic lilies, gladioli, alstroemeria, Eustoma and foliage of English oak, weeping birch and the sprigs of myrtle.
Around the coffin will stand the four tall yellow candles which usually rest around the grave of the unknown warrior at the entrance to the historic church.
And outside hardy royal fans defied no-camping rules, as people of all ages set up tents, deck chairs and even a makeshift minibar to grab premium seats for the spectacle that will see 2million flood into the capital.
By 8.30am, members of the public were told that the procession route was full and began diverting people to Hyde Park to watch on the big screens.
Thomas Doherty, a media and cultural historian at Brandeis University told CNN: I do think the final send off and eulogies will have a huge audience—the drama, the pageantry, the ritual … a universal shared experience that TV thrives on.
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