‘The Crown’ Season 4 Fact Vs Fiction

By Jamie Samhan. 14 Nov 2020 5:44 PM

Everyone’s favourite royal drama “The Crown” has returned for season 4. While the show is based on the life of the British Royal Family, some creative liberties have been taken for entertainment purposes. Check out which events from the show actually happened and which just made for good TV.

Warning, this gallery contains spoilers.

The Show: Prince Charles And Lady Diana's Meeting

Netflix

Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Netflix

Real Life: Bringing Prince William Along

Mirrorpix/Courtesy Everett Collection/CPImages

Netflix

Express Newspapers/Archive Photos/Getty

Netflix

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The Show: The Queen And Margaret Thatcher

Netflix

ADAM BUTLER/AFP via Getty Images

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The Show: Prince Charles And Lady Diana's Meeting
Netflix
Viewers, along with Prince Charles, are introduced to a then Lady Diana Spencer when Charles arrives at her home Althorp House to take Diana's older sister, Sarah, out on a date.

Diana tries to sneak through the lobby (but gets caught) dressed as a "mad tree" while taking part in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Real Life: When They Actually Met
Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Prince Charles did meet Diana while dating her older sister, Sarah, but it was over a hunting weekend held at Althorp House.

Diana accompanied them out on a hunt and was not dressed as a "mad tree".
The Show: A Baby In Australia
Netflix
The show depicts a very uncaring Prince Charles who doesn't want Princess Diana to bring their infant son Prince William on the lengthy tour of Australia.

Diana gives a passionate speech on the plane ride over as to why bringing the baby was necessary.
Real Life: Bringing Prince William Along
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Prime Minister Malcom Fraser actually suggested that the Prince and Princess of Wales bring William along for the tour. Both Charles and Diana agreed ahead of time that is was a good idea.
The Show: A Very Awkward Lunch
Netflix
Camilla Parker Bowles invites Princess Diana for a lunch to learn more about the woman the love of her life is marrying.
Real Life: A Even More Awkward Lunch
Express Newspapers/Archive Photos/Getty
If you were cringing at the show's lunch, the real life one would have been even more awkward.

Camilla did invite Diana for lunch on the suggestion of Prince Charles where she allegedly claimed to figure out Diana's schedule and when she would be able to see Charles without Diana around.
The Show: An Unloving Marriage
Netflix
Throughout season 4, Prince Charles comes across as a very unloving partner, only dedicated to Camilla Parker Bowles.
Real Life: Not A Perfect Fairytale
Douglas Peebles/Corbis via Getty Images
While Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship wasn't a fairytale, it wasn't always bad.

Possibly the biggest misleading part of the show is how unkind Prince Charles is. The couple was happy in the early days of their marriage and Charles was dedicated to Diana until 5 years into their marriage.
The Show: The Queen And Margaret Thatcher
Netflix
Queen Elizabeth as monarch is to remain politically neutral but the show depicts the Queen ordering her press staff that the newspapers are to be leaked a story about how she is "dismayed by ‘uncaring’ Thatcher."

The blame is put on to press secretary Michael Shea who then is fired.
Real Life: Not Quite The Drama
ADAM BUTLER/AFP via Getty Images
After The Sunday Times published the now famous article which claimed to have the Queen's personal feeling towards Thatcher, Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying "the Queen’s opinion of government policies are entirely without foundation.”

The Queen and Thatcher then reportedly had a "a very amicable conversation” over the misunderstanding.

Michael Shea was blamed for article but was not fired. He quit the following year.

‘The Crown’ Season 4 Fact Vs Fiction

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