Major: The Crown is ‘malicious fiction’
SIR John Major has attacked the latest series of the hit Netflix drama The Crown as “a barrel-load of nonsense”.
The ex-Tory prime minister, 79, also said it was “damaging and malicious fiction”.
He spoke amid growing concerns that the new series portraying the Royal Family could inflict significant damage to the King.
His comments are likely to put pressure on the US streaming company to attach a warning label at the beginning of the show’s fifth series saying what is fictional.
Sir John’s spokesman said: “Sir John has not co-operated – in any way – with The Crown.
“Nor has he ever been approached by them to fact-check any script material in this or any other series.
“Discussions between the monarch and prime minister are entirely private and – for Sir John – will always remain so.”
Scenes featuring imagined conversations between the then PM and the late sovereign were “fiction, pure and simple”.
There were similar calls for a “health warning” from Oliver Dowden, culture secretary when the fourth series of The Crown caused controversy in November 2020.
Sir John, PM from 1990 to 1997, moved to issue his statement after suggestions that the series, due out on November 9, imagines conversations between him and the late Queen Elizabeth.
There are also rumours that it shows the then Prince of Wales summoning him to a meeting and hinting that he wants his support for the Queen’s abdication.
It is also said to show Sir John, played by Jonny Lee Miller, talking to his wife about Royal Family members in disparaging terms.
The spokesman denied Sir John had abdication talks with Charles and “nor was such an improbable and improper subject raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John)”.
He added Sir John and wife Dame Norma had never discussed royals in disparaging terms, adding “that has never been their view, never would be their view, and never will be”.