Showrunner Peter Morgan Reveals What He's Heard About the Royal Family's Thoughts onThe Crown

Mar. 15, 2025

Peter Morgan at the season 5 premiere of ‘The Crown’ in London on Nov. 8, 2022.Photo:Daniel LEAL / AFP via Getty

Daniel LEAL / AFP via Getty

The Crownshowrunner Peter Morgan has spent a large chunk of his career dramatizing the British royal family.In addition toThe Crown, which wrapped last December after six seasons, Morgan also wrote the 2006 filmThe Queenand the playThe Audience, which opened in 2013 and also centers around the lateQueen Elizabeth.Of makingThe Crown,which debuted in 2016, “it was both more intense and harder work than I predicted,” Morgan toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “And I think it’s only because the material was such a joy to write, and it was such a joy to work on that I had the energy and the stamina to do everything that I did.”From left: Senan West, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Peter Morgan and Imelda Staunton attend the premiere of The Crown season 5 on Nov. 8, 2022.David M. Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImageMorgan said that moving forward from whereThe Crownleft off, at the 2005 wedding of then-Prince Charlesand Camilla Parker-Bowles, “feels too soon," but didn’t rule out revisiting the royal family in the future.“I don’t think I’m done with the subject,” Morgan said. “I might find some way of coming into it from a different way.”The Crownis up for 18 Emmys at next month’s awards ceremony, and, while the show has received its fair share of praise, Morgan has also endured ample critiques, including rumors about what certain members of the royal family feel about the dramatization of their lives. But, as Morgan toldThe Hollywood Reporter, he isn’t putting much stock in the buzz.“I’ve heard that they love it, I’ve heard that they hate it, I’ve heard everything,” he said. “I’ve decided that until one of the members of the royal family tells me directly, in person, I don’t believe anything that I hear.”With that in mind, here’s what members of the royal family have said about the Netflix hit.

The Crownshowrunner Peter Morgan has spent a large chunk of his career dramatizing the British royal family.

In addition toThe Crown, which wrapped last December after six seasons, Morgan also wrote the 2006 filmThe Queenand the playThe Audience, which opened in 2013 and also centers around the lateQueen Elizabeth.

Of makingThe Crown,which debuted in 2016, “it was both more intense and harder work than I predicted,” Morgan toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “And I think it’s only because the material was such a joy to write, and it was such a joy to work on that I had the energy and the stamina to do everything that I did.”

From left: Senan West, Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki, Peter Morgan and Imelda Staunton attend the premiere of The Crown season 5 on Nov. 8, 2022.David M. Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage

David M. Benett/Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/WireImage

Morgan said that moving forward from whereThe Crownleft off, at the 2005 wedding of then-Prince Charlesand Camilla Parker-Bowles, “feels too soon," but didn’t rule out revisiting the royal family in the future.

“I don’t think I’m done with the subject,” Morgan said. “I might find some way of coming into it from a different way.”

The Crownis up for 18 Emmys at next month’s awards ceremony, and, while the show has received its fair share of praise, Morgan has also endured ample critiques, including rumors about what certain members of the royal family feel about the dramatization of their lives. But, as Morgan toldThe Hollywood Reporter, he isn’t putting much stock in the buzz.

“I’ve heard that they love it, I’ve heard that they hate it, I’ve heard everything,” he said. “I’ve decided that until one of the members of the royal family tells me directly, in person, I don’t believe anything that I hear.”

With that in mind, here’s what members of the royal family have said about the Netflix hit.

01of 06

Kate Middleton and Prince William

Prince William and Kate Middleton.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

When Olivia Colman (who played Queen Elizabeth in seasons 3 and 4 of the show) asked Prince William if he watchedThe Crownat a Buckingham Palace reception, she admitted onThe Graham Norton Showthatit “didn’t go very well,”she said, adding that “His answer was a firm, ‘No.’ But he was very charming and very lovely.”

02of 06

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images

Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images

Prince HarryhaswatchedThe Crownbefore, he told James Cordenin a 2021 interview. “They don’t pretend to be news,” Prince Harry said at the time. “It’s fiction. But it’s loosely based on the truth. Of course, it’s not strictly accurate.”

He continued that the show “gives you a rough idea about what that lifestyle, what the pressures of putting duty and service above family and everything else, what can come from that,” he explained, adding, “I’m way more comfortable withThe Crownthan I am seeing the stories written about my family, or my wife, or myself. That is obviously fiction — take it how you will. But this is being reported on as fact because you’re supposedly news. I have a real issue with that.”

In their bombshell 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey,Meghan Markle, 43, admitted she and her husband had seen “some” ofThe Crown,PEOPLE previously reported.

03of 06

King Charles and Queen Camilla

King Charles and Queen Camilla.Samir Hussein/WireImage

As forQueen Camilla, 77, West said when he saw her at a party in 2021 shejokingly addressed him as “Your Majesty,“knowing he’d be portraying her husband.

In March 2022, the former Duchess of Cornwall poked fun at the situation when Emerald Fennell, who played Camilla on the show, attended one of the royal’s events. “It’s very reassuring to know that if I should fall off my perch at any moment, my fictional alter-ego is here to take over,” Camilla joked. “So Emerald, be prepared!”

04of 06

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Hello!reported thatPrince Edward, 60, andSophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, recommended the show to Her late Majesty, as the two “loveThe Crown.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

05of 06Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of YorkSarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie.Dave Benett/GettyPrincess Eugenie, 34, has publicly admitted she’s a fan ofThe Crown, telling theDaily Mail,“It is filmed beautifully,” she said of the show. “The music is wonderful, the story is beautiful. You feel very proud to watch it. I can’t speak for everyone, but that’s how I felt when I watched it.”Her mother,Sarah Ferguson, 64, even apparently offered to serve as a consultant for the series, but was turned down. Of writing to Andy Harries, one of the show’s executive producers, “I said to him, ‘Why can’t I help my character?’” she toldTown & Countryin 2021. Perthe same outlet, Ferguson had high praise for the show, saying in an interview “I thought it was filmed beautifully,” she said. “The cinematography was excellent. I loved the way they put my wedding in, as well.”

05of 06

Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

Princess Eugenie, 34, has publicly admitted she’s a fan ofThe Crown, telling theDaily Mail,“It is filmed beautifully,” she said of the show. “The music is wonderful, the story is beautiful. You feel very proud to watch it. I can’t speak for everyone, but that’s how I felt when I watched it.”

Her mother,Sarah Ferguson, 64, even apparently offered to serve as a consultant for the series, but was turned down. Of writing to Andy Harries, one of the show’s executive producers, “I said to him, ‘Why can’t I help my character?’” she toldTown & Countryin 2021. Perthe same outlet, Ferguson had high praise for the show, saying in an interview “I thought it was filmed beautifully,” she said. “The cinematography was excellent. I loved the way they put my wedding in, as well.”

06of 06Princess AnnePrincess Anne.Dominic Lipinski/GettyIn a documentary to mark her 70th birthday in 2020,Princess Anneadmitted to having watched at least some of the show, perTown & Country, describing it as “quite interesting” — but she “isn’t an avid viewer,” according to the outlet. Her son-in-law,Mike Tindall, 45, said in 2021 thathe was watching season 3and that he only got halfway through, so “I need to catch up.” He added, as the show progressed closer to the present day, “It’s getting to more things that people know about, isn’t it? And [things that people] have opinions about, so that’s where it gets difficult. But remember, everyone, it is a drama, so it’s going to be made to be a bit of a drama.”

06of 06

Princess Anne

Princess Anne.Dominic Lipinski/Getty

Dominic Lipinski/Getty

In a documentary to mark her 70th birthday in 2020,Princess Anneadmitted to having watched at least some of the show, perTown & Country, describing it as “quite interesting” — but she “isn’t an avid viewer,” according to the outlet. Her son-in-law,Mike Tindall, 45, said in 2021 thathe was watching season 3and that he only got halfway through, so “I need to catch up." He added, as the show progressed closer to the present day, “It’s getting to more things that people know about, isn’t it? And [things that people] have opinions about, so that’s where it gets difficult. But remember, everyone, it is a drama, so it’s going to be made to be a bit of a drama.”

source: people.com