- Former royal chef Darren McGrady has claimed The Crown's depiction of Princess Diana and Prince Charles' relationship is inaccurate.
- McGrady specifically called out the show's depiction of Diana and Charles' 1983 royal tour to Australia.
- "You see them in Australia sort of arguing and fighting, but, you know, they were happy there," McGrady said.
The latest season of The Crown depicts the troubled relationship between Princess Diana and Prince Charles, renewing public interest in the subject and sparking the ire of some royal insiders. The latest to call out the show? Former royal chef Darren McGrady, who worked at Buckingham Palace for 11 years and catered for Diana and Charles. "My goodness, they really went for the artistic license," McGrady told Us Weekly.
The chef specifically called out the show's take on the couple's 1983 royal tour of Australia and New Zealand, which is depicted as explosive behind closed doors. "You see them in Australia sort of arguing and fighting, but, you know, they were happy there," McGrady said. "And the same as, you know, Balmoral Castle [in Scotland], when we had the Ghillies Ball."
"I remember standing there watching Prince Charles and Princess Diana dancing together, and they were spinning and spinning, and the princess loved to dance. So she took advantage and she was spinning the prince faster, and then he was laughing louder and louder," he continued. "And when I see The Crown and see that and think, 'You don’t know the whole truth.'"
As mentioned above, McGrady isn't the first royal insider to publicly criticize The Crown: Diana's brother, Charles, Earl Spencer, has repeatedly condemned the Netflix show, saying it relies on "a lot of conjecture and a lot of invention." Charles subsequently suggested the show should incorporate a disclaimer, stating "this isn't true but it is based around some real events."
Diana herself, however, confirmed that there was at least some discord between herself on Charles during their tour of Australia. In her controversial 1995 Panorama interview with BBC journalist Martin Bashir, the royal revealed that her growing popularity on the tour provoked Charles' envy, which led to marital trouble. "We'd be going round Australia, for instance, and all you could hear was, 'Oh, she's on the other side,'" she said, explaining that waiting crowds expressed their dismay that they were closer to Charles, not Diana. "They weren't on the right side to wave at me or to touch me."
"Now, if you're a man like my husband, a proud man, you mind about that if you hear it every day for four weeks. And you feel low about it, instead of feeling happy and sharing it," Diana continued. Asked if she was "flattered" by the media attention she received, she responded, "No, not particularly," adding, "because with the media attention came a lot of jealousy; a great deal of complicated situations arose because of that."
RELATED STORIES
-
Suki Waterhouse Cements Her '70s Darling Status in the Yeti Coat TrendThe British pop-rock princess truly met her match in this shaggy vintage-inspired style.
-
These Royals Could Step Up to Help Prince William When He's King "If He Calls on Them"Three members of the Royal Family are likely to pitch in with duties down the line.
-
Why King Charles "Refuses" to Give Kate Middleton Advice About Becoming Queen"For much of the same reason, Camilla has not felt compelled to speak with Kate about what it's like to be queen."
-
Princess Kate Isn't Always "Well Enough" for Royal Duties, but She's Learning to "Pace" Herself"She is looking after herself and is wise to do so," a family friend shared.
-
Why Prince Andrew Has Been Reported to the Police Over a Fake Name and Business VentureGet ready to meet the royal's alter ego, "Andrew Inverness."
-
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Daughter Lilibet Has Already Entered Her "Princess Phase"The Sussexes are very "down-to-earth" parents, according to a family friend.
-
Prince William Views This Royal Family Member as a "Brother" and Someone He Can "Always Rely On""There's no doubt Wills sees him as the brother he lost."
-
Why the Royal Family's Annual Income Is Increasing by $56 Million in 2025The royals will receive a whopping $165 million, which critics have called "scandalous."
-
The Nod to Princess Diana You Might Have Missed in Meghan Markle's Netflix TrailerThe Duchess of Sussex kept one of Diana's belongings close throughout the series.
-
Former Prisoner Recalls Life-Changing Meeting With "Amazing" Princess Kate: "Saw Me as an Equal"Francesca Fattore shared the "one thing that surprised" her about the Princess of Wales in a new interview.
-
Why Princess Margaret's Husband Was Called "Spectacularly Rude and Uncooperative" by a TV PresenterLord Snowdon didn't endear himself to one particular interviewer.
