“The Crown,” the acclaimed Netflix series chronicling the British royal family, has come under scrutiny from Dickie Arbiter, the former press secretary for Queen Elizabeth II. Arbiter, who held a key position during the period depicted in Season 6, has voiced his concerns over the lack of drama in the portrayal of Princess Diana’s death, accusing showrunner Peter Morgan of taking “dramatic license gone bonkers.”
Arbiter specifically criticized scenes where Prince Charles (Dominic West) informs Prince William and Harry of Princess Diana’s death, deeming them insensitive and unnecessary. In an interview with Deadline, Arbiter highlighted discrepancies between the show and actual events, stating, “The scenes between Charles and his mother, in which he blurted out that she wanted Diana to come back in a Harrod’s van, were absolute nonsense. It just didn’t happen like that.”
Arbiter also refuted scenes depicting Diana’s funeral preparations, clarifying that it was Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, who decided on a public ceremony under the auspices of Buckingham Palace. Arbiter, who was responsible for media arrangements during that period, emphasized, “Spencer thought that because Diana was a public figure because she was very popular and people adored her, that it should be something handled by the royal family to make it a public event rather than a private family event.”
Earlier this year, “The Crown” creators acknowledged the sensitive handling of Diana’s death but also recognized that viewers would judge them based on how they approached such a pivotal historical moment.
As “The Crown” continues to navigate through the intricacies of historical portrayal, the critique from Dickie Arbiter adds a layer of complexity to the discussion. While the series has garnered acclaim for its attention to historical detail, the subjective nature of dramatization has opened the door for scrutiny. The evolving relationship between historical accuracy and creative interpretation remains a central theme as “The Crown” unfolds its narrative in the royal realm.
