Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The ‘cruelly unjust’ Crown season 5 scene that infuriated Judi Dench

Actor was not happy with two particular moments in new series

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 10 November 2022 07:09 EST
Comments
The Crown Season 5 trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ahead ofThe Crown season five, Dame Judi Dench expressed her anger with the Netflix series.

The Oscar-winning actor shared her views on the show via an open letter, in which she called upon the streaming service to add a disclaimer to the opening of each episode.

Dench hoped this disclaimer would alert viewers to the fact that the series is a “fictionalised drama”.

As of writing, Netflix decided against adding anything to the start of episodes in the new season, which was released on Wednesday (9 November).

But, which scenes led Dench to brand the series “crude sensationalism”?

One arrived in the premiere episode of season five, titled “Queen Victoria Syndrome”, and it saw Prince Charles (Dominic West) attempting to convince Prime Minister John Major (Jonny Lee Miller) in the early 1990s that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton) was no longer fit for the throne.

The second scene that angered Dench featured in episode four, titled “Annus Horribilis”. It depicts an argument between Charles and the Queen, with Charles urging his mother to let him divorce Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki).

“It's funny isn't it,” he says. “For years I've called for a more modern monarchy that reflects the world outside. Look at the rates of family breakdown out there, and then look at us.”

He then lists the divorces in their family, stating: “And you talk about moral examples. If we were an ordinary family and social services came to visit, they'd throw us into care and you into jail.”

Imelda Staunton as the Queen in ‘The Crown’ season five
Imelda Staunton as the Queen in ‘The Crown’ season five (Netflix)

Dench called these scenes “wounding suggestions”, writing in a letter to The Times: “This is both cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent. No one is a greater believer in artistic freedom than I, but this cannot go unchallenged.”

However, people think the actor had an ulterior motive for criticising the series.

Fans of The Crown were overjoyed to see the return of an “irreplaceable” original star in the brand new season, while others are praising an “emotional” scene involving Princess Diana, and her young sons, Princes William and Harry.

The Crown season five is available to stream on Netflix now. Find The Independent’s review here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in