'The Crown' Season 5: Netflix in hot water after the show reportedly changed Queen's Annus Horribilis speech

This is not the first time 'The Crown' has found itself in controversy, but insiders believe that the show is just rewriting history
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Crown' Season 5 (Netflix)
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II in 'The Crown' Season 5 (Netflix)

Since its inception, ‘The Crown’ has been one of the most controversial shows of this generation and because it is a “fictionalized take” on the lives of the members of the British royal family, viewers knew that it was going to be scandalous. But every time a new season comes up, a new controversy erupts and it makes viewers even more interested in watching the show. However, it seems the writers of the Netflix drama series have managed to damage the credibility of the show by tampering with Queen Elizabeth’s speech which talks about one of the most important moments of her reign.

Yes, we are talking about the iconic Annus Horribilis speech that the Queen gave in 1992, just days after a fire burned down a significant part of Windsor Castle. In her speech, Queen Elizabeth II noted that she won’t “look back” at the year of her Ruby Jubilee with “undiluted pleasure.”

RELATED ARTICLES

What day and time will 'The Crown' Season 5 premiere on Netflix? And everything you need to know

Queen's friend claims 'The Crown' is 'vicious' and 'would have destroyed' the late monarch

Queen Elizabeth II and Li Xiannian (1909 - 1992), the President of the People's Republic of China, standing outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the Queen's visit to China, 13th October 1986. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II and Li Xiannian, the President of the People's Republic of China, standing outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the Queen's visit to China, 13th October 1986 (Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The Queen said, “1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis'.”

However, The Sun reports that the writing team of ‘The Crown’ has changed some parts of the Queen’s speech and added some new lines. The report also suggests that Imelda Staunton, who will be portraying Queen Elizabeth II in Season 5, will acknowledge the errors that they have made in the past.

Citing a source, The Sun also reported that it’s “highly insensitive” that the streaming platform is doing such a thing just a few weeks after the Queen’s death and when the entire nation is “trying to rally around the royal family.” The source added, “They’ve essentially rewritten history by changing the speech. This will only add to the sense that The Crown is taking huge liberties with the truth and unfairly causing untold damage to the reputation of the monarchy.”

(Credits:The Crown/ trailer)
Season 5 of ‘The Crown’ primarily focuses on the Queen’s 40th anniversary of her accession and the problems in the married lives of Princess Diana and Prince Charles (The Crown/ trailer)

The allegations come a few days after Netflix was forced to add a disclaimer to the latest trailer of ‘The Crown’ Season 5, following many complaints about the series. Unlike previous seasons, the description beneath the official trailer reads, “Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign.”

Season 5 of ‘The Crown’ primarily focuses on the Queen’s 40th anniversary of her accession and the problems in the married lives of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. The viewers will get to see how Prince Charles talks to his mother and pressurizes her to allow him to divorce Diana. However, Diana is a strong woman and doesn’t shy away from saying the truth. She did exactly that by publishing a book that undermines public support for Charles and exposes the cracks in the House of Windsor.

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the upcoming season of 'The Crown' (Netflix)
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the upcoming season of 'The Crown' (Netflix)

Apart from Staunton, the show also sees Elizabeth Debicki portraying Princess Diana. Meanwhile, Jonathan Pryce plays the character of Prince Phillip, and Dominic West plays Prince Charles. Other actors to feature in the show include Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret), Johnny Lee Miller (PM John Major), Flora Montgomery (Norma Major), Olivia Williams (Camilla Parker Bowles), Bertie Carvel (PM Tony Blair), and Marcia Warren (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother).

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

‘Chicago PD’ is all set to return with Season 14 on Wednesday, October 7, at 10/9c on NBC.
1 hour ago
The Season 4 premiere is set for October 16, with Gretchen Mol joining as a series regular and Neal McDonough back opposite her
2 hours ago
The 39-second finale trailer centers on fear as Sinestro gets a larger role
3 hours ago
‘Lanterns’, starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, will air its season finale on Sunday, October 4, at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max
4 hours ago
In Episode 7, John Stewart and the Halogram travel through a portal from Hal Jordan’s storage vault to a dead world
7 hours ago
Season 3 of ‘Lioness’, starring Zoe Saldaña, recently aired its finale, which ended on a major cliffhanger
8 hours ago
Netflix’s sequel filmed across Atlanta, using real HBCU campuses and local venues to bring Hillman to life.
1 day ago
Two stars from ‘The Last of Us Part II’ game return in new roles as the HBO series shifts toward Abby’s story.
1 day ago
A familiar face from 'Station 19' arrives in the 'Chicago Fire' Season 15 premiere, but his role at Firehouse 51 remains a mystery.
1 day ago
This new Quasimodo movie swaps songs and gargoyles for cholera plague and manhunts
2 days ago