Royal family ‘public property,’ ‘fair game’

Dominic West received widespread critical acclaim for his turn as Prince Charles in Seasons 5 and 6 of “The Crown.”

However, the Netflix royal drama has recently earned criticism for its fictionalized portrayal of the Firm.

But West, 54, believes that the Windsors are for all intents and purposes, “public property,” and can be depicted in Hollywood in anyway a filmmaker sees fit.

The British actor told BBC Radio 5 Live recently: “I acknowledge that there’s discomfort about it, and I can see why people think that way, and I have persuaded myself that the royal family are public property and therefore, fair game.”

“But I’m still uncomfortable with the thought of anyone being fair game or anyone’s private life being made public,” he added.

“The Wire” alum noted how he can “understand” why viewers believe that the show is “too close to the actual events.”

“The grief is still so real,” he said. “Someone like me can’t turn down a part like Charles. He’s so interesting. He’s so complex.”

Season 6 focused on the death of Princess Diana and her Egyptian lover Dodi Fayed in 1997, the death of Princess Margaret in 2002 and Prince Harry’s rebellious phase of the early 2000s.

Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, slammed “The Crown” on Dec. 17, just days after the final season concluded.

“I don’t remember her being glum and boring,” Arbiter, 83, told Deadline of the queen played by actress Imelda Staunton.

The former staffer scoffed: “Glum if there was a death in the family or one of the dogs had to be put down, but she was playing glum and boring right the way through.”

In October 2022, Dame Judi Dench also blasted the drama, writing in a letter obtained by the Times that  the project “presents an inaccurate and hurtful account of history.”

The 89-year-old Oscar winner feared “a significant number of viewers, particularly overseas, may take its version of history as being wholly true.”

“The Crown” star Jonathan Pryce, who played the late Prince Philip, then clapped back at Dench. He told Deadline that he was ”bitterly disappointed” by those who shamed the Peter Morgan series.

The “Two Popes” star, 76, added: “The vast majority of people know it’s a drama. They’ve been watching it for four seasons.”