Prince Harry and Meghan’s Netflix deal may prevent them from speaking out on The Crown

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex signed a huge deal with Netflix back in September. 

• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have recently signed a deal with Netflix that is claimed to be worth millions of pounds.
• This deal could be preventing Prince Harry and Meghan from revealing their true thoughts on The Crown.
• In other Royal News, Helena Bonham Carter has added her voice to calls for The Crown to carry a "warning". 

Prince Harry and Meghan's deal is said to be for producing films, documentaries and children’s shows for the streaming service. Now some people have now suggested that it is this deal which could be preventing the Duke and Duchess from speaking out on Netflix’s The Crown. 

The hit Netflix drama’s latest season focuses heavily on Prince Harry’s parents Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. Prince Harry himself now features as a character, along with his brother Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Yet whilst Season 4 has attracted a huge amount of attention, Prince Harry has so far remained silent. Some have now suggested that it is the major Netflix deal which is putting Prince Harry and Meghan in a difficult position.

Why might Prince Harry’s Netflix deal mean he can’t comment on The Crown?

Whilst Prince Harry likely has an opinion on the show’s portrayal of his parents and himself, royal commentators have suggested the idea that his and Meghan’s tie to Netflix might mean they cannot publicly criticize the series.

The Mirror has reported that talkRADIO host Mike Graham discussed this issue with journalist Olivia Utley earlier this week.

According to the publication, Graham revealed his belief that: “Meghan and Harry are in a bit of trouble with this” as “Harry has said nothing about the way in which his mother and father have been portrayed in this series”. 

Utley reportedly agreed, adding that she feels Harry "has got himself into some hot water". He "can't really say anything" about The Crown, because of his and Meghan's Netflix deal.

If true, Utley suggested that this might not be the only conflict of interest the Duke and Duchess of Sussex face. She explained: "Prince Harry is going to find himself in situations like this surely over and over again”, suggesting “Netflix is where their next paycheck is coming from.”

Utley added: “There are going to be massive conflicts of interest all the time."

What have the Royal Family said about Netflix’s The Crown?

The Royal Family have never officially spoken out about The Crown, though there have been several suggestions made that they are not too pleased with it. 

A royal source supposedly told the Daily Mail that Prince William “feels that both his parents are being exploited and being presented in a false, simplistic way to make money”. 

Prince Charles' former press secretary Dickie Arbiter has also criticised the use of “excessive” dramatic license and that the Prince of Wales has been unfairly portrayed as a “villain”.

Now the suggestion has been made by several prominent figures that The Crown should carry a “warning’ before each episode to remind viewers that it’s a fictional drama.

The Crown Season 4 is available on Netflix.