Top 10 Things The Crown Season 6 Part 2 Got Factually Right & Wrong

Top 10 Things The Crown Season 6 Part 2 Got Factually Right and Wrong

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the instances where Netflix's semi-historical royal narrative adhered to factual accuracy and moments when they embraced artistic freedom. As always, if you’re not caught up, beware of spoilers ahead.

#10: The Home Secretary Customarily Witnessed Future Monarchs’ Births
Right

Typically, when we talk about old-timey births, dads usually weren't even in the room when moms were in labor. (Fun fact: apparently, Prince Philip was playing squash when he first became a father) — But hey, the Royals aren't your average family. In the episode “Ruritania,” the Queen tells the Prime Minister about an astounding old royal custom that involved a rather unexpected birthing partner (or partners). Reportedly, this centuries-old tradition was established to avoid any arguments or doubts about the legitimacy of the future monarch. As the Queen also informs us, her father put an end to this “archaic custom” when she was expecting her first child, Prince (now King) Charles.

#9: Prince William and Harry’s Relationship Has Long Been Fraught
Wrong

Prince Harry hasn’t shied away from talking about the rift with his brother. While some believe it began when Meghan Markle entered the picture, the Prince has suggested it started several years earlier. He even recalled their Eton days when his big bro apparently told him, “Pretend we don’t know each other.” Relatable to many younger siblings, we’re sure. Anyway, “The Crown” seems to have drawn on several of these revelations and reworked them to fit the final season’s timeframe. However, they do somewhat address Harry’s claims about that ill-thought costume. We also can’t be sure about Prince William’s tense relationship with his father, but apparently, they were no strangers to fiery exchanges.

#8: Willsmania
Right

Every generation has their teen heartthrob, and, for many, in the late 90s, that heartthrob was none other than a teenage Prince William. “The Crown” vividly reenacts the frenzy that surrounded him wherever he went. Imagine seeing your celeb crush—now, multiply that excitement by a million, and you’ll get a sense of what “Willsmania” was like. In the episode, the Princes vacation in Canada and are practically swarmed by young ladies, eagerly waiting to catch even the briefest glimpse of the young royal. Believe it or not, this is pretty spot on! Understandably, the Prince was taken aback by this sudden burst of limelight. However, reports suggest he remained warm and gracious, generously sharing his time with the adoring crowd.

#7: Operation Paget
Mostly Right

The penultimate episode dives into some of the conspiracy theories surrounding Diana’s tragic accident, specifically those fueled by Mohamed Al-Fayed, which resulted in a criminal investigation. He alleged that his son and Diana were engaged and expecting and accused the Royal family of plotting the fatal incident. Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, stoked these claims by sharing a letter she supposedly wrote years earlier, expressing fears of a planned car “accident.” We also see how the Princes were involved in proceedings. But unlike “The Crown” suggests, public sentiment remained largely skeptical. Also, nothing was publicly disclosed until 2006, and the investigation concluded in 2008. Mr. Al-Fayed’s claims were essentially found to be baseless.

#6: The Queen Was Irked by Tony Blair’s Widespread Approval
Right (Kind of)

Rumor has it that the Queen once confessed that Tony Blair was her least favored prime minister. He represented a modern age that clashed with the Royals’ stronghold on tradition. Apparently, she didn’t love his informality or reluctance to bow (pun intended) to custom. Did this spark nightmares of a “King Tony” coronation? Who knows, but she acknowledged his strengths, seemingly leveraging them for the monarchy’s wellbeing. After Diana’s death, Blair’s popularity soared. Meanwhile, we see the Queen initiate focus groups to gauge public opinion on the Royals. Groups were indeed held, but her involvement is unclear. Blair’s era starts to crumble as he misreads the room at a Women’s Institute event—yes, the crowd’s reaction is pretty spot on.

#5: Carole Middleton Played Matchmaker for Her Daughter & Prince William
We Don’t Know

In episode seven, we see a meet-cute between teenage Prince William and Kate Middleton over a copy of The Big Issue magazine. Did it really happen? Well, the now Princess of Wales has mentioned she never met her mother-in-law, so probably not. Later, Kate compares her mom to Mrs. Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice” for incessantly nudging her toward the future king. Though both took similar paths to St. Andrews and yes, Kate initially planned to attend university in Edinburgh, there’s no solid evidence of any intentional moves to meet the Prince. Rather, the media spun Mrs. Middleton as the determined mom, scheming to unite her daughter with the Prince based on her own history of social climbing. Plus, would Prince William actually snub the Golden Jubilee for the Middletons? Doubtful.

#4: Princess Elizabeth & Princess Margaret Snuck Out to Join VE Day Celebrations
Right

Believe it or not, this really happened, and it sounds wild! Yet, the episode carries bittersweet tones as we revisit the event in flashbacks during Princess Margaret’s final days. After a series of strokes, the first of which happened at her Mustique vacation home (sadly also true), the Princess opts to celebrate her 70th birthday at a venue that holds a cherished memory. The then-teenaged princesses and their entourage of about 16 people sneak out of the Palace to celebrate the end of the Second World War with the British public at The Ritz—an event loosely depicted in the 2015 film “A Royal Night Out.” Even decades later, the Queen recalls it as “one of the most memorable nights of my life.”

#3: The Royal Family Initially Opposed Prince Charles & Camilla’s Marriage
Right & Wrong

The Prince’s relationship with Camilla faces yet another hurdle in securing his family’s approval when he decides to pop the question. There’s a sense that the writers tapped into Prince Harry’s recent revelations while imagining how the Princes might have felt about the proposal. The Queen also grapples with conflicting feelings about the impending union. In reality, she wasn’t always Camilla’s biggest fan, reportedly once labeling her “that wicked woman”— perhaps she hadn’t forgotten Camilla’s role in the breakdown of her son’s marriage. However, her absence from the actual wedding wasn’t fueled by personal sentiments but rather by the Church of England’s firm stance against divorce, a position she had to uphold as its head.

#2: Prince William Falls for “The Art of Seduction”
Right & Wrong

In the series’ penultimate episode, Prince William and Kate’s love story takes a riveting turn at a charity catwalk. It’s true! The now Princess really did strut her stuff in a dress that’s almost a spot-on replica of the one we see on “The Crown.” Observers noted that she had turned the Prince’s head that night and sparked his hopes of something more. However, some sources suggest both were still in other relationships at the time. The pair had become close friends and even lived in a shared house on “Hope Street”; however, romance was still several months away. As for the dress, it was apparently snatched up $125,000 at an auction in 2011.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

News of the Queen Mother’s Passing Put a Pause on Prince William & Kate Middleton’s First Kiss, Wrong
Reports Suggest That He Was on a Skiing Vacation with His Father and Brother When They Received the News.

The Queen Planned Her Own Funeral, Right
Plans Have Been in Place for Decades & Have Evolved with Time, but Yes, the Queen Was Consulted on the Details

Prince Harry’s Questionable Costume Choice & Stay in a Rehabilitation Center, Right
If You Remember the Early 00s, You Probably Don’t Need Us to Remind You These Events Are True

Queen Elizabeth’s Friend Porchey Died of a Heart Attack on 9/11, Right & Wrong
The Date Is Correct but There’s No Concrete Proof of Any Correlation between the Two Events

Prince William Considered Quitting University, Right
Apparently, He Struggled to Settle In & Found the Area “Boring”

#1: The Queen Planned to Announce Her Abdication at Prince Charles and Camilla’s Wedding
Wrong

We imagine wearing the Crown can feel quite weighty, literally and figuratively, but there’s no evidence to suggest the Queen was ever ready to give that up. Still, in the season finale, we see the monarch grapple over whether it’s time to pass it along to her son and let him have his turn on the throne. In fact, she considers announcing her abdication at Charles and Camilla’s wedding. As we said, there’s nothing to support this story, but it did offer a poignant reflection of her reign, assisted by the former versions of herself. At most, it was a nice way to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy and bid farewell to the audience.

Which plot point were you most shocked to find out is true? Is there anything you’re surprised they left out? Let us know in the comments.