Netflix has reportedly 'postponed' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's documentary until next year following backlash to The Crown Season 5.
The documentary had been unofficially slated to stream on Netflix in December following the November 9 launch of The Crown. However, the streaming giant is postponing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's series due to the fierce backlash regarding their hit Royal Family drama.
This comes after former Prime Minister Sir John Major slammed The Crown as a ‘damaging and malicious’ work of fiction in a new statement. "They’re rattled at Netflix, and they blinked first and decided to postpone the documentary," a source told Deadline.
Major took issue and complained about a plot line in the first episode of the new season which suggested that in 1991 Prince Charles, now King Charles III, summoned Major to moan about having to wait to take over the throne. The episode, titled “Queen Victoria Syndrome,” because of Queen Victoria's 63-year reign on the throne, is based on a poll that ran in the Sunday Times that argued the monarchy was dated and that Queen Elizabeth II should abdicate in favour of Charles.
The Crown will show Charles, played by Dominic West, privately agreeing with a passage from the newspaper in 1991, which read: ”an ageing monarch, too long on the throne whose remoteness from the modern world has led people to grow tired not just of her but of the monarchy itself.”
Charles then has a clandestine meeting with Major where the royal relates the story of how Edward VII was ”kept waiting in the wings” for decades due to the longevity of Queen Victoria’s rule.
Major has insisted that no such conversation about a plot to overthrow the late Queen took place and described it as ”malicious nonsense.” The former PM, who was in office from 1990 to 1997, will be portrayed by actor Jonny Lee Miller.
A spokesperson for Sir John said over the weekend that he had not cooperated in any capacity with The Crown. "Nor has he ever been approached by them to fact-check any script material in this or any other series," a statement read, before going on: "Discussions between the monarch and prime minister are entirely private and – for Sir John – will always remain so."
The spokesperson added: "There was never any discussion between Sir John and the then Prince of Wales about any possible 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 delay in the Sussex's documentary comes after claims that it could be shelved entirely. Harry and Meghan are expected to talk candidly about members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.
It was previously reported that they requested so many edits that there were fears it could be ‘shelved indefinitely’. Netflix initially stood firm and told the couple it would be airing the series this winter while demand was at its highest.
"A lot in the show contradicted what Harry had written, so that was an issue," a senior Netflix source previously told Page Six . "Then Harry and Meghan made significant requests [to filmmakers] to walk back content they themselves have provided, for their own project," the insider added.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
- Sophie Wessex was offered Kate Middleton's title - but Prince Edward stepped in
- Kate's touching gesture to son Prince George as he's put on world stage at Queen's funeral
- Queen's unique relationship with Kate Middleton - from relationship doubts to rare privileges
- Prince Harry and Meghan wanted Windsor Castle but were given Frogmore, new book claims
- Meghan Markle’s necklace sparked uncomfortable call from Palace leaving her 'distraught'
