Royal family told they can sue Netflix hit over their portrayals

The Royal Family could have grounds to sue Netflix over their portrayal in The Crown, after friends of the firm sought their own legal advice.

Worried about how they themselves are likely to be portrayed in the upcoming fifth series, close friends of the Royal Family reportedly approached law firms Farrer & Co and Harbottle & Lewis.

The response they received was that they may have legal grounds to sue The Crown’s creators. 

And The Sun reports that the Royal Family were made aware of this legal advice from their friends, which could pave the way for The Firm to sue Netflix. 

A source told the outlet: ‘The advice they received would also apply to the Royal Family.

‘Although this is not direct legal advice given to the Queen and her family — they have been made aware of this advice.’

The high-profile fifth series of The Crown is set to feature controversial issues such as the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the fallout from Diana’s death and and entire episode dedicated to Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Diana. 

Another source also told The Sun that the next series could be ‘very damaging’, especially as many viewers believe the show to be a documentary rather than a drama.

Worried about how they are likely to be portrayed in the upcoming fifth series, close friends of the Royal Family reportedly approached law firms Farrer & Co and Harbottle & Lewis. Pictred: Imelda Staunton as the Queen in the upcoming series

The high-profile fifth series of The Crown is set to feature controversial issues such as the divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the fallout from Diana’s death and and entire episode dedicated to Martin Bashir’s 1995 interview with Diana. Pictured: Elizabeth Debicki as Diana in series five

In an attempt to combat this confusion, the Government previously requested showrunners to include a disclaimer, but such a message has not been included by the show yet.

MailOnline has contacted Netflix and representatives of the Royal Family for comment. 

If action were to be taken, it wouldn’t be the first time that the Royal Family considered such a move.

Earlier this year, in August, the Queen was reportedly ‘ordering’ officials to plan a legal fightback against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Sources say the ‘exasperated’ Queen told palace officials to ‘lawyer up’ with libel experts after ‘repeated attacks’ on the Royal Family from the US-based Sussexes.

It followed claims made in the interview that an unnamed royal had raised concerns over their son Archie’s skin colour before his birth. 

 Earlier this year, in August, the Queen was reportedly ‘ordering’ officials to plan a legal fightback against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey

Days later Buckingham Palace released a statement saying ‘recollections may vary’ in response to allegations.

But the row was reignited after it was revealed in a chapter of Finding Freedom that a source had accused the royals of ‘failing to own’ their part in the fallout.

Sources close to the Queen previously told the Sun that the feeling ‘coming right from the top’ was that ‘enough is enough’.

It comes after critics described Princess Diana film Spencer as a ‘horror movie’ that paints the royal family as ‘sadistic monsters’.

The film, which was released last weekend, is set over three-days at Sandringham in Christmas of 1991, shows the late royal’s relationship with her beloved sons, the way she navigated the press and a constant battle with her in-laws.

Lead Kristen Stewart has been tipped for Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Diana, but some critics have slammed the film for painting Diana’s stay at Sandringham as ‘a right royal Christmas from hell’. 

It comes after critics described Princess Diana film Spencer as a ‘horror movie’ that paints the royal family as ‘sadistic monsters’

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw added the film was an ‘overwrought fantasy’ that could have been directed by a tabloid editor and ‘conspicuously exaggerates Diana’s first-world problems with black-comic stylings, fictional flourishes and some beautiful images’. 

While Royal experts branded the film ‘cruel’ and ‘unnecessarily gratuitous’, saying the movie strips the late princess of her ‘respect and dignity’.

Commentators warned how Diana’s sons Princes Harry and William will both by upset by scenes in the movie which show her breaking down in tears in front of William as she battles her eating disorder and self harms.

Distressing scenes in the film out on November 5 show Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, fantasising about throwing herself down the stairs and choking on a pearl necklace gifted to her by husband Prince Charles.

Other parts of the film detail her bulimia as she vomits and even experiences hallucinations about her own death – and royal experts including Richard Fitzwilliams, Ingrid Seward and Penny Junor have all criticised the depiction.

And Royal experts have recently demanded Prince Harry tears up his £112million Netflix deal and makes a stand over The Crown’s portrayal of Princess Diana. 

Royal experts have recently demanded Prince Harry (pictured) tears up his £112million Netflix deal and makes a stand over The Crown’s portrayal of Princess Diana 

Royal biographer Angela Levin criticised the Duke of Sussex for not ‘finding his voice’ over the streaming giant’s controversial portrayal of his mother. 

It comes after Princess Diana’s friend Jemima Khan withdrew her support for The Crown over its ‘disrespectful’ script after she broke up with the show’s creator.  

Levin, author of Harry: A Biography of a Prince, told The Sun: ‘Harry has remained absolutely silent about Netflix. 

‘He should tear the deal up and make a stand for his mother. What’s more important? Money or defending his mum? It’s astonishing he can’t find his voice on this.’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a deal with the streaming service last year for their new production company to make documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children’s programming.