An abdication storyline said to feature in the upcoming series of ‘The Crown’ has been branded a “barrel-load of malicious nonsense” by former Prime Minister Sir John Major.

An abdication storyline said to feature in the upcoming series of ‘The Crown’ has been branded a ‘barrel-load of malicious nonsense’ by former Prime Minister Sir John Major

An abdication storyline said to feature in the upcoming series of ‘The Crown’ has been branded a ‘barrel-load of malicious nonsense’ by former Prime Minister Sir John Major

The former Conservative leader, 79, hit out after an upcoming episode in the latest series of the royal drama, which stars Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, is said to show Charles – then the Prince of Wales – trying to draw the politician into what appears to be a plot to oust Queen Elizabeth.

Sir John’s spokesman told The Mail on Sunday (16.10.22): “If the scenes you describe are broadcast, they should be seen as nothing other than damaging and malicious fiction.

“A barrel-load of nonsense peddled for no other reason than to provide maximum – and entirely false – dramatic impact.

“As you will know, discussions between the monarch and Prime Minister are entirely private and – for Sir John – will always remain so.

“But not one of the scenes you depict are accurate in any way whatsoever. They are fiction, pure and simple. There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any abdication of the late Queen Elizabeth II – nor was such an improbable and improper subject ever raised by the then Prince of Wales (or Sir John,)”

The new series of ‘The Crown’ is due to be screened in November and it’s reported the first episode of the forthcoming fifth series is set in 1991, against a background of speculation about the future of the monarchy and Charles’ part in the royal family.

Another reported upcoming scene that has provoked Sir John’s anger is said to show a private conversation between him and his wife Norma in their bedroom when staying at Balmoral.

Mr Major is said to be shown despairing about the behaviour of individual members of the royal family, but he also dismissed it as a fiction.

The episode in question, due for release by Netflix on November 9, is said to show Charles celebrating a newspaper poll showing support for the Queen’s abdication among 47% of her subjects.

It is a plot is based on a genuine poll from 1990, but the real on showed the 47% only said Her Majesty – who died aged 96 on September 8 – should hand over the throne “at some stage”.

The Prince, played by Dominic West, is said to be shown briefing against the Queen.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith also hit out at ‘The Crown’, telling the Mail on Sunday: “The problem is that the programme is so well produced, so well written that people forget that it is fictional. I give talks all over the US and so many people – well-educated people – believe that absolutely everything in ‘The Crown’ is real.

“They need to have an advisory at the start of the programme that it is a fictional adaptation of historical events. People need to know that the things that happen in The Crown are made up.”

King Charles’ broadcaster friend Jonathan Dimbleby also told the publication: “I gave up watching it years ago but I would say, if you are going to bother watching it, just have a good laugh at how ridiculous it is.”

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