Netflix staff fear ‘a line is being crossed’ over plans to recreate Diana’s final moments in The Crown

Netflix staff have reportedly been left fearing "a line is being crossed" over plans for the The Crown to recreate Princess Diana's final moments before her tragic death in Paris in 1997.

The fifth series of Netflix’s hit royal drama is set to launch on November 9, with audiences around the world already eagerly awaiting the upcoming instalment as it follows the lives of the royal family throughout the 1990s.

The Night Manager actress Elizabeth Debicki takes over the iconic role of Diana from Emma Corrin while The Wire star Dominic West takes over the role of Charles from Josh O’Connor.


However, it has been claimed that staff working on The Crown series six have allegedly been left feeling uncomfortable over the Netflix show's plans to recreate Diana's final moments as they fear "a line has been crossed".

Diana tragically passed away in 1997 at the age of 36 following a car crash in Paris, leaving behind her two sons, Prince William, who was 15 at the time, and Prince Harry, who was 12.

A source told The Sun: "To be going back to Paris and turning Diana’s final days and hours into a drama feels very uncomfortable. Finally, some of the crew members are pushing back on the ideas being tabled.

"The show always tried to present a fictional version of royal history with as much sensitivity as possible. But lately, as things get closer to the present day, it feels harder to strike that balance.

"With some of those moments still so fresh and upsetting, it feels as though a line is being crossed. Some production staff are now starting to speak up about their feelings."

OK! has contacted both Netflix and Buckingham Palace for comment.

It comes as Netflix defended The Crown as a "fictional dramatisation" amid criticism of its forthcoming fifth series.

Former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, is said to have described upcoming scenes, which reportedly depict the King, then the Prince of Wales, plotting to oust the Queen, as "malicious nonsense".

The new series is expected to show Charles cutting short a holiday with Diana, Princess of Wales, to host a secret meeting with former Prime Minister Sir John at Highgrove in 1991.

A spokeswoman for The Crown said: "The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events.

"Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family – one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians."

A spokesman for Sir John, played by Jonny Lee Miller in the series, previously told The Times that if the scenes are broadcast "they should be seen as nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction".

Netflix also said the sixth and final series of The Crown will not depict the Paris car crash that killed Diana in August 1997, contrary to media reports.

According to PA, the series will show the lead-up to the fatal incident as well as its aftermath, but not the crash itself.

The fourth series of the lavish Netflix drama also attracted criticism for allegedly not doing enough to ensure viewers knew it was a work of fiction.

Oliver Dowden, the then culture secretary, asked Netflix to add a disclaimer to episodes, a request the company rejected.

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Although there is no disclaimer on the individual episodes, when viewers tune in on the service the show is labelled with a "log line" as a fictional drama based on historical events.

The Crown was due to end after the fifth series, but the show’s creator and writer, Peter Morgan, later said it would be extended to include a sixth series.

Filming on the latest series of The Crown was halted as a mark of respect after the Queen’s death. Filming was also suspended on the day of her funeral.

It was previously revealed that series five of the show would delve into Diana’s now infamous Panorama interview with journalist Martin Bashir.

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