The Crown: Prince Charles is ‘mortified’ at portrayal says expert
Camilla has been on the receiving end of intense trolling since the release of the Netflix drama’s fourth season last month. The plot of season four centres around the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana and where it went wrong. It features Charles’ affair with Camilla, as well as Diana’s struggle with depression and bulimia.
Neither Charles nor Camilla come off particularly well in the fictionalised drama and, as a result, Diana fans have hit back.
Clarence House ended up turning off comments to stem the flow of abuse.
Editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward said that the royals should not watch the show because it would be “hurtful” to see themselves portrayed in a way they would not recognise.
Nevertheless, a friend of Camilla has claimed she does watch the show and that it would not bother her.
READ MORE: Camilla becomes ‘Windsor lynchpin’ at Christmas despite The Crown
Prince Charles and Camilla at State Opening of Parliament; Emerald Fennell as Camilla in The Crown (Image: Getty / Netflix)
Josh O’Conner as Charles and Emma Corrin as Diana in The Crown (Image: Netflix)
They said: “I imagine she’ll be tuning in with a glass of red wine to watch it, she has seen the previous series.
“She has a wonderful sense of humour and this won’t fuss her in the slightest.”
Pod Save the Queen is hosted by Ann Gripper and features Daily Mirror royal editor Russell Myers.
In the podcast’s The Crown special, Zoe Forsey invited on the Mirror’s film writer Lewis Knight and the Daily Express’ Lauren O’Callaghan.
Charles and Camilla have been married for 15 years (Image: GETTY)
Ms O’Callaghan suggested it might actually be a good idea for Charles to watch the show, even if he is offended by what he sees.
She argued that Charles is “desperate for Camilla to be Queen” and has not been shy about that.
What’s more, The Crown is such a popular and influential show that it may shape how the public view the royals and could affect the reaction to Camilla actually becoming Queen.
Due to this, she reasoned, it would be common sense for the Prince of Wales to watch the show and see how they are being portrayed.
DON’T MISS
Zara Tindall ‘almost ripped husband Mike’s head off’ during labour [QUOTE]
Meghan and Harry accused of ‘copying royals’ with Archewell awards [INSIGHT]
Prince Harry’s brutal dig at ‘giving out prizes to solve problems’ [REVEALED]
She said: “Prince Charles is so desperate for Camilla to be Queen, we all know that, he’s never really hidden that, so it’s just common sense for them to watch it, because they have to know how a show watched by so many people might impact their reputation.
“It’s not going to be that long until he ascends the throne so if this goes really badly for them it might actually have an impact on how the public reacts to the decision to make her Queen consort.
“So I think it’s common sense for those two, in particular, to be watching.”
It has been a point of contention whether Camilla will be Queen ever since she married the prince.
Prince Charles and Camilla visit 100 Club as lockdown eases
Their relationship for many years was an extramarital affair and, when they finally got married in 2005, they were both divorced, which is unprecedented for a future King.
When they tied the knot, Camilla styled herself as the Duchess of Cornwall instead of Princess of Wales out of respect for the late Diana.
As she did not take on the title of Princess of Wales, it was never a given that she would become Queen consort one day.
While the title of Queen is traditionally given to the wife of a King, the Duchess herself has previously said she would be called Princess consort rather than Queen, again out of sensitivity to Diana’s memory.
Charles and Diana’s relationship completely broke down; they separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996 (Image: GETTY)
However, polls of the general public in recent years show that attitudes have softened towards Camilla.
In fact, a 2014 YouGov poll found that 53 percent of people think Camilla should be Queen, while 32 percent believe she should be given a lesser title.
It remains to be seen whether the couple’s portrayal in The Crown will have any long-term effect on their popularity.
Mr Knight added that he thinks it “comes off quite well” that Camilla has put her pride aside to watch The Crown, adding that it makes her seem more down to earth.
He told podcast listeners: “I think it comes off quite well for Camilla that she would be so down to earth or not so fussed about the controversy around it to watch, rather than clutching her pearls and not wanting to have anything to do with it.
“I think it’s quite interesting. I mean everyone thinks about, ‘If I was in a film, who would play me, what would it be like, how would they take me?’
“So I’m pretty sure most of the royals have probably checked it out even if they say they haven’t.”
To subscribe to Pod Save the Queen go to your normal podcast provider.
