Mr Dowden raised his concern about Netflix’s hit series which depicts Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The fourth season of The Crown, released earlier this month, has sparked outrage over its portrayal of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship.
Mr Dowden told the Mail on Sunday: “It’s a beautifully produced work of fiction, so as with other TV productions, Netflix should be very clear at the beginning it is just that.
“Without this, I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.”
The Culture Secretary is reportedly going to write to Netflix to issue a formal request to add what some have labelled a “health warning” at the start of each episode.
It comes amid increasing concern from royal commentators that the hit show, created by Peter Morgan, will cause lasting damage on the Royal Family.
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 Crown depicts Princess Diana’s eating disorder and Prince Charles’ alleged affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
READ MORE: Princess Diana’s brother backs calls for ‘health warning’ on the Crown
“Because then everyone would understand it’s drama for drama’s sake and obviously Netflix wants to make a lot of money, and that’s why people are in the business of making these things.”
He added: “I worry people do think that this is gospel and that’s unfair.”
Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana in The Crown, admitted that the series is “fictionalized to a great extent”.
Speaking to the Tamron Hall Show, she said: “I think for everyone in The Crown we always try and remind everyone that what we are, the series that we’re in, is fictionalized to a great extent.
“Obviously it has its roots in reality and in some fact but Peter Morgan’s scripts are works of fiction.”
She added: “I understand why people would be upset, because this is history.
“And even with Diana, it’s still very much fresh, I suppose, everything that happened. So I do really understand if people would be upset.”
Mr Dowden is reportedly facing pressure to block a “loophole” that requires UK viewers who wish to make a complaint about The Crown to instead go to the Dutch TV regulator.
This is because Netflix Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) is based in Holland.
The Crown’s creator, writer Peter Morgan, has admitted some scenes from the show were “made up in my head”.
However he argued they reflect emotions that really existed within the family during this time.
