The Crown is 'odious' and aims to 'destroy' the Royal Family, says Queen Mother's biographer

Netflix's The Crown is 'odious' and aims to 'destroy' the Royal Family with its 'lies and half truths', the Queen Mother's biographer writes in a scathing new letter. 

• The Queen Mother's biographer has slammed The Crown as 'odious' in a scathing new letter, accusing the series of perpetuating 'lies' about the Royal Family with its 'campaign of abuse.' 
• William Shawcross had harsh words for the Netflix drama ahead of the release of its highly-anticipated fifth season next month. 
• In other royal news, Kate Middleton plans to 'work through her issues' with Meghan Markle in upcoming US trip.
  

The Queen Mother's biographer has accused The Crown of perpetuating 'lies and half truths' with its depiction of the Royal Family, adding that its creator, Peter Morgan, has waged a 'campaign of abuse' against the British monarchy. 

William Shawcross, author of Queen Elizabeth: The Official Biography of the Queen Mother, had harsh words for the Netflix royal series ahead of the release of its fifth season next month. 

The Crown Season Five is expected to delve further into the Royal Family's scandals of the late twentieth century, with Princess Diana's tumultuous marriage to Prince Charles and the couple's subsequent divorce set to focus heavily on the show's return on November 9. Its first episode will reportedly be set in 1992, which was known as the Queen's 'annus horribilis' due to the litany of misfortunes that plagued the monarch's family over the infamous year. 

"The Crown is an odious series, filled with lies and half-truths encased in lace and velvet,” writes Shawcross for the Telegraph. 

"It is astonishingly and deliberately hurtful to individual members of the Royal family, public servants who cannot answer back, let alone sue for damages." 

The condemnation comes shortly after it was revealed that Princess Diana's infamous interview with the BBC would be explored in The Crown Season Five ‒ a decision that has also garnered widespread criticism from supporters of the Royal Family.

The English journalist went on to chastise The Crown's creator Peter Morgan, accusing the Emmy-award-winning screenwriter of leading a 'campaign of abuse' against the King and his relatives. He also said that the 'lies' of the drama were an attempt to 'destroy' the 'vital institution' that is the British monarchy. 

The Crown Season Five's cast will include a host of exciting new faces, including Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Dominic West as Prince Charles. The Queen will be played by Imelda Staunton, while Jonathan Pryce will step in as Prince Philip.