‘The Crown’ sparks row over its portrayal of Princess Diana as ‘desperate self-harmer’

Netflix’s fourth season of The Crown is in all likelihood set to ‘ruffle a few feathers’ in the Royal Family as the makers are reportedly looking for an actor to play Princess Diana as a ‘desperate and a lonely self-harmer’. According to The Mirror, The Crown's creator, Peter Morgan, believes that these are the characteristics required to make the Princess 'believable', and the struggle of the young princess as she tries to fit in with her in-laws.

The criteria placed on the advert to fit into Princess Diana’s s shoe states that they are looking for someone aged 18-22, who is a "staggeringly talented young actress,” and they need to be a, "mesmerising new young star with extraordinary range."

The advert reportedly states, "She has to play charming comedy, flirt and social exhibitionist on the world stage, desperate and lonely self-harmer at her lowest ebb and the kind of psychological intensity of Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby.”

With the advert TV insiders say that Diana's portrayal in the series could 'ruffle a few feathers'. Just last week, the Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace have spelled out the policy banning offensive, hateful and racist language for the royal household. Hence, we are expecting a retaliation with Princess Diana’s role.

A TV insider told The Sun, “Peter is not going to hold back on how Diana impacted the Royal Family, just as he didn’t when he wrote The Queen. It could ruffle a few feathers.”

The Crown is on floors for the third season which stars which Oscar winner Olivia Colman as the older in place of Claire Foy, Queen and Helena Bonham-Carter as Princess Margaret. The third Netflix series of The Crown will be released on Netflix in July.