Netflix’s The Crown set for more controversy as sixth season to include THAT fancy dress outfit of Harry’s

If royalists were upset about Season 5 of the popular Netflix series The Crown, then surely the prospect of what Season 6 has to hold for viewers is set to agitate them once again. With the previous season setting up the internal strife between the Windsors and Princess Diana, the new season has plenty of contentious history to plumb - none more so than two big moments in royal history.

Reports have suggested that the media storm surrounding Prince Harry’s choice of fancy dress will be included in the upcoming season, currently being filmed on locations including Scotland. For those who might be unfamiliar with this controversy, it surrounds Prince Harry being photographed in early 2005 at a "Colonial and Native"-themed birthday party in Wiltshire wearing a Nazi German Afrika Korps uniform - complete with a swastika armband.

When he was interviewed years later for his 21st birthday, the Duke of Sussex apologised saying the choice of attire “was a very stupid thing to do and I’ve learnt my lesson.” But that particular costume was dragged up once again after the release of his autobiography, Spare, stating that it was in fact Prince William and Princess Catherine who suggested Harry dress in the controversial outfit.

In an excerpt from the book, Harry wrote: “I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. They both howled. Worse than Willy’s leotard outfit! Way more ridiculous! Which, again, was the point.” Prince William was said to have attended the same party in a lion costume.

The same report has also stated that the series plans to not hold back regarding the death of Princess Diana after being involved in a car crash in Paris back in 1997, which ultimately led to the trauma Prince Harry wrote about in said memoir. Though thankfully, producers have circumvented this controversy early on by stating they will not show the point of impact during the sixth season.

Despite being a popular title on Netflix, continually entering the yearly top ten on the streaming platform, it’s been no stranger to controversy even from the outset. Though the real life dramas the Royal family had to contend with during the time period covered between Season Five and the upcoming season has no doubt will create a cause celebre closer to its release.

What other controversies as Netflix’s The Crown been embroiled in?

Queen Elizabeth’s steamy scene - and it’s axing (Season 1)

Even back when the series first aired in 2016, it found itself dogged in controversy. None more so than a sex scene between a young Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Thankfully on this occasion, the producers saw sense - the scene ending up being exorcised from the seventh episode of the first season.

Vanessa Kirby, who played Princess Margaret for two series on the show, explained the reason for the axing on the Dolly Alderton’s Love Stories podcast in 2019: “‘I think they were in South Africa filming, and they were like, “I just don’t think anyone wants to see the Queen having sex.”‘

The first Nazi controversy (Season 2)

There were protests surrounding the Royal family and the Nazi party in Season 2 of The Crown, which looked a little deeper into the relationship between both entities.

In one scene, a young Philip goes to Germany for his sister’s funeral after she was killed in a plane crash in 1937. He is seen walking behind the coffin as the crowds, many wearing uniforms and making Nazi salutes, line the streets.

Another episode deals with Edward VIII and his association with the Nazis. The controversial Marburg papers are discovered, documents which showed the Duke of Windsor’s ambivalent attitudes to a continuation of the war.

Princess Margaret’s overdose (Season 3)

Season 3 showed a desperate Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter, take an overdose of sedatives following a particularly volatile argument with her husband Lord Snowdon, played by Ben Daniels.

To compound matters, her young lover Roddy Llewellyn, played by Harry Treadaway, then leaves her in the depths of despair. Despite being based on similar events in real life, Princess Margaret disputed the overdose attempt, stating “I was so exhausted because of everything that all I wanted to do was sleep.”

“Sexist” depiction of Margaret Thatcher (Season 4)

Margaret Thatcher had many detractors during her time in power, but even the most ardent of Thatcher haters raised an eyebrow over what they considered a sexist depiction of the Iron Lady. In particular, the number of inaccuracies regarding her involvement in the Falklands War.

Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Maggie was deemed by Thatcherites in particular as a smear to her name, with moments in Season Four showing the former PM acting hysterical and irrational. This led to some decrying this depiction as an ugly stereotype some people have regarding women in charge, and a tired trope that women are emotionally unequipped to handle tense situations such as the ones the season depicted.

Pretty much the entire season (Season 5)

Where do you want to start?

Could it be that knowing how history played out during this era of the Royal family, people were still not ready for the onslaught of drama Season Five provided us with? Tampongate, Diana’s fragile state and that Martin Bashir interview were all covered, eliciting strong opposition from those proxy to the real life events that unfolded.

John Major, played by Johnny Lee Miller in Season Five, was criticised by the real life Sir John Major regarding scenes where the former PM spoke ill of the Royal Family. A spokesperson for Sir John Major told media outlets that he did not “[co-operate] in any way with The Crown. Nor has he ever been approached by them to fact-check any script material in this or any other series.”

The furore before Season Five took to the streaming platform was so vitriolic that it ultimately led to producers to include a disclaimer before every episode, part to protect themselves from the court of public opinion and part to deflect any litigation that might take place once the series aired.

Seasons 1-5 of The Crown are available to stream now through Netflix