Why is John Major calling out 'The Crown'? Former UK PM says Netflix show is 'a barrel-load of nonsense'
Former UK prime minister John Major has called 'The Crown' "a barrel-load of nonsense" and claimed it may unfairly damage King Charles' reputation. The new season of the series, which premieres on Netflix next month, is expected to include imagined talks between the former Tory leader, the Queen, and the then-Prince of Wales.
A representative for Sir John claimed in a statement, "Sir John has not cooperated in any way with The Crown. Discussions between the Monarch and Prime Minister are entirely private and, for Sir John, will always remain so.” There are rumours that one of the narrative points involves Prince Charles asking the PM for his assistance in the abdication of the Queen.
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According to a second plot point, Sir John imagines insulting the Queen and the Royal Family in his remarks. His spokesperson stated, “There was never any discussion about any possible abdication.” The official stressed that Sir John has never disparaged the royal family. The Crown, according to Netflix, is a drama and not a documentary. However, one rumour states that Prince Charles will be shown approaching the Prime Minister to request his support for the Queen's abdication.
The entire cast of Netflix's high-profile royal drama has been changed as the show transitions into a more modern era and is getting ready to premiere its fifth season. Johnny Lee Miller, known for 'Trainspotting' and a torrid marriage to Angelina Jolie in the 1990s, plays Sir Major in the series. The first photograph of Miller as the infamous "grey man," known for his side part and thick glasses, has already been made public.
The upcoming series will examine some of the monarchy's worst years, including the dissolution of the marriage between Princess Diana and Prince Charles at the time. Included in this time frame is Queen Elizabeth's "annus horribilis" of 1992, which saw the break-up of three of her four children with their partners and a significant fire at Windsor Castle.
Peter Morgan's drama has been a roaring success since its debut in 2016. A sixth season is planned to bring the show up to the early 2000s. Production on the final episodes was briefly put on hold following the passing of the Queen last month.