The Crown Under Fire: Allegations of Distorted Facts Surrounding Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed's Relationship

Khalid Abdalla, Elizabeth Debicki Daniel Escale/Netflix

The Crown has faced allegations of exaggerating the circumstances surrounding Mohamed Al-Fayed's role as a matchmaker for Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.

In the initial episodes of season 6, which became available for streaming on Thursday, November 16, the show's writers subtly suggested that Mohamed introduced his son to Diana with the ulterior motive of acquiring British citizenship.

Mohamed's ex-spokesperson, Michael Cole, released a statement refuting the accusation. "Netflix and the production company label The Crown as 'dramatized fiction,' and I won't dispute that designation. It implies that the show is fictitious," Michael told Deadline on Thursday. He had already denied similar allegations on behalf of Mohamed back in 1997, prior to Mohamed's passing at the age of 94 in August.

Michael dismissed the notions of Mohamed's involvement with the couple as "complete nonsense," stating that Mohamed was an exceptional man in various aspects. He was thrilled that his eldest son and their beloved friend Diana had found each other. However, the idea of engineering two individuals to fall in love was beyond even his remarkable abilities.

The Crown is an anthology series based on the British royal family, first aired on Netflix in 2016. It features different actors portraying members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, King Charles III, and Princess Diana. The upcoming second half of season 6, set to be released next month, will delve into the early days of Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton's love story during their college years, as well as Prince Harry's challenging experiences with public scrutiny.

Diana and Dodi Fayed. Getty Images(2)

William, aged 41, and Harry, aged 39, both experienced the loss of their mother Diana as teenagers before assuming their roles in the royal family. In August 1997, Diana and Dodi tragically passed away in a car accident in Paris. At the time, William was 15 years old, while Harry was 12.

At the Edinburgh TV Festival in August, the pair emphasized their thoughtfulness and sensitivity in contrast to the big and noisy nature of the show. They revealed that careful and lengthy discussions took place regarding the execution of the show. Additionally, they commended Elizabeth Debicki for her portrayal of the late Princess of Wales, expressing their belief that her performance was delicately and thoughtfully recreated. They also mentioned Elizabeth's thoughtfulness and consideration, stating that she had a deep love for Diana. The producers conveyed their hope that the immense respect they all had for Diana was apparent to the audience.

Part 1 of The Crown season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.