Royal expert Katie Nicholl says the new series of The Crown could overshadow the monarch’s reign

THE upcoming series of The Crown on Netflix threatens to overshadow the early stages of the reign of King Charles, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl.

She said: “You do forget that you’re actually watching something that is fictitious…I do think that Netflix have done the right thing by adding a disclaimer to the trailer, I think people must remember it is drama.

“…it is so accurate in so many ways that in terms of casting and the events it’s covering that sometimes people do forget that and the timeline is getting closer, which makes it more awkward because…[of] the memory of the queen I think some people do you feel that it is a little too close the bone and of course for King Charles that this is a period of his past and of the royal family’s past that he would much rather move on from.

“The last thing he and his courtiers would want is the start of his reign to be overshadowed by probably the most critical and difficult period in recent royal history. It’s an area that they rather than move on from.”

Speaking in an interview during Breakfast with Rosie Wright and Paul Hawkins on GB News, she said: “I think the producers and Peter Morgan must be absolutely clapping their hands with joy because look how much coverage this series has had before we’ve even seen the first episode of series five, it has just had so much press, you know, when these trailers are sort of very cleverly being drip fed to us.

“It’s interesting with social media and I sort of regularly see what my followers are saying about it, very few are saying we’re actually going to boycott this series, there’s such an interest in wanting to see it.

“So it’s absolutely going to be drama with a capital D. I think you’re going to see duty reflected in it. Because of course, let’s not forget that this is a fictional series based on real events and, of course, you will see that theme of duty running through it.

“But I think far more than duty you’re going to see drama, you’re going to see the big episodes of the 90s I mean, 92, the annus horribilis, and have famously those words immortalised now by the Queen, the late Queen, and probably I think for most people, the most critical time of recent royal history.”

Another royal expert, Kinsey Schofield, said there was great anticipation due to the interest of younger viewers.

Asked why there was such interest in the new series, she said: “Because I think that there are so many young people that are just now being introduced to the British Royal Family through The Crown. And there are a lot of things that are not necessarily true.

“Specifically the scene where Prince Charles approaches the Prime Minister and he wants his mother to abdicate. That didn’t happen but young people sitting at home watching this for the first time, listening to Harry and Megan whine on Oprah Winfrey, they’re not going to understand that some of these moments are clearly made up for the drama.

“And I think that that is critical. That does hurt the royal family at the end of the day.”

Kinsey added: “This is not a good time for them. I’m sure that there are a lot of strategy sessions happening behind the scenes and it’s unfortunate when all eyes should be on the coronation and what’s going to happen in May and how exciting that can be for not only the Royal Family but for the UK.

“It’s going to bring in a lot of tourism, it’s going to be a brilliant moment in history and we all should be looking forward to that celebration, one that we haven’t seen in 70 plus years, and unfortunately, we’re kind of getting lost in this drama.”