In an article for the Mail on Sunday, royal author Hugo Vickers hits out at the show for scene that he said suggested Princess Diana’s death was a “murderous hit” by the Duke of Edinburgh. The scene he described shows a conversation between Diana and Prince Philip set in 1990 as Prince Charles and Diana’s relationship crumbled.
Diana tells Philip that she is in a “dark, loveless cave” and that she wants to “break away”.
In response, according to the royal biographer Philip “warns her that it won’t end well if she does any such thing”.
Diana then replies: “I hope that isn’t a threat, Sir.”
Mr Vickers claimed the fictional exchange is in fact “a thinly veiled and chilling reference to Diana’s impending death”.
He added: “It’s hard to imagine a more hurtful allegation than painting Philip as a mafioso bent on bumping off a fragile daughter-in-law.
“And to hint at this in such a convincing way, with the multi- million-pound budgets, extravagant sets and convincing actors at Netflix’s disposal, makes it all the more egregious.”
The hit Netflix drama recently sparked outrage after failing to disclose the events featured are fictitious although inspired by the Royal Family.
The streaming giant faced calls to include a “health warning” at the start of each episode.
A friend of Prince Charles told The Mail on Sunday: “It is quite sinister the way that Morgan is clearly using light entertainment to drive a very overt republican agenda and people just don’t see it.
“They have been lured in over the first few series until they can’t see how they are being manipulated.
“It is highly sophisticated propaganda.”
The fourth series of the show sees the arrival of Princess Diana, played by Emma Corrin.
