The Crown’s new season wasn’t as bad as King Charles was expecting – in fact, it was worse.
Not because Netflix has portrayed the monarch as a philandering, heartless husband intent on betraying his ex-wife and mother, which the 74-year-old had braced himself for, but because the King’s suspicions over his wayward son have been confirmed.
Will they ever put aside their quarrels?
(Image: Getty)Insiders reveal Charles, now more than ever, suspects 38-year-old Harry, who is on Netflix’s payroll, might have had an unofficial sway on the headline-making drama and its controversial storytelling.
While the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, 41, have failed to produce their own Netflix docuseries, reports claim they pocketed an eye-watering $100 million from the streaming giant, cementing them as a very powerful part of the business.
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“Having now watched the show, Charles is convinced that Netflix had help from him,” shares a palace source, who points out that Prince William is dragged into the show’s plot in such a gratuitous way, but Harry’s character is exempt except for a bit of light relief.
Insiders say the show’s inclusion of subtle hints that the royal households briefed the media against each other is a telling sign Harry was involved, given it was one of the prince’s many gripes about palace life.
“Not to mention a scene in which Diana tells the Queen she gave the BBC an interview, which is not unlike how Harry told his grandmother he was telling all to Oprah,” says the sources.
For Charles, insiders say it’s the single most devastating act anyone could have taken against him.
“If it’s true, it’s basically treason,” says one outraged palace insider. “Harry was still around when the series began in 2016, and he knew how damaging it has been to pretty much every single senior family member so far – except, it seems, himself.”
Prince Harry could be cut off permanently.
(Image: Getty)With speculation over just how involved Harry was with The Crown’s script raging through The Firm, Woman’s Day understands Charles last week called an emergency meeting with key members.
“Charles wants to consider cutting Harry off once and for all,” says a source. “But he also wants to present it as a united family decision, rather than just his own. And above all, he trusts Prince William, Princess Catherine, Princess Anne and Prince Edward – all who were summoned to Buckingham Palace to discuss the issue.”
It seems they were all in favour of turfing Harry, given that last Friday, Charles appealed to the UK parliament for Anne, 72, and Edward, 58, to be included in the Counsellors of State – a group of senior royals who can be called upon to step in if the monarch is absent or unable to rule.
“If he is successful, Harry will become totally obsolete within the royal system,” says a source. “Charles would prefer his loyal sister and the reliable Edward any day over a rebellious son who may or may not have sold him out to Hollywood scriptwriters.”
