Backlash at ‘offensive’ Crown slur on Borders
IT is the hit TV drama that has won a clutch of awards for chronicling the fortunes of the royals.
But Netflix show The Crown has sparked a backlash in the Borders – after an ‘offensive’ slur from Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter.
During a shopping trip, the princess visits Peebles to buy swimming trunks for lover Roddy Llewellyn. As she enters a shop, the Queen’s sister says of the residents: ‘I think we’ve stumbled across an experiment in inbreeding.’
The comment comes amid a row over the accuracy of the show, after critics said it relied on ill-informed speculation about the activities of the royals in their private lives.
South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth said: ‘It’s common knowledge locally that Princess Margaret probably did meet Roddy Llewellyn in the beautiful Borders and took advantage of the fantastic shops in Peebles to impress him.
‘So for once The Crown seems to have got something right – it’s just a shame they blow it with this crass and offensive comment.’
In the TV recreation of the scene for an episode entitled Cri de Coeur, the footage depicting Peebles was filmed in Rye on the Sussex coast.
Mr Smyth: ‘Maybe if Netflix had filmed the series in the Borders they would have found out how wrong the comments are, and the producers could have followed in Princess Margaret’s footsteps by taking full advantage of the great shopping offer in Peebles that goes well beyond swimming trunks.’
SNP councillor Stuart Bell, who represents Tweeddale East, said: ‘It is well known locally Princess Margaret was a close friend of the Tennant family of The Glen [estate] near Peebles. The Crown is entertainment, rather than a factual documentary, but I cannot imagine the Royal Family or the bright and welcoming residents of Peebles today will be very entertained by their dismissive portrayal in that show.’ Netflix declined to comment. In her autobiography Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown, Lady Anne Glenconner said Princess Margaret had ‘whisked Roddy off shopping to find him some swimming trunks for the pool’ – and he returned with ‘budgie smugglers’.
On the ‘inbreeding’ remark, a Scottish Borders Council spokesman said: ‘The Queen and members of the Royal Family have spent a lot of time in Peebles over the years and always seem to enjoy meeting the wonderful members of this community. TV series like The Crown can use poetic licence and I don’t think anyone will pay much notice to this or take any offence.’
‘Dismissive portrayal’