'The Crown' star says he's 'bitterly disappointed' by 'fellow artistes' who have criticized the show and demanded it has a disclaimer

• "The Crown" star Jonathan Pryce has defended the drama ahead of the release of the new season.
• Pryce told Deadline: "I'm hugely disappointed by my fellow artistes"

"The Crown" star Jonathan Pryce has said that he is "bitterly disappointed" by his "fellow artistes" who have criticized the royal drama ahead of its upcoming season.

Last week, Netflix added a disclaimer in the description of the season five trailer on YouTube after Dame Judi Dench publicly condemned the Netflix show for "crude sensationalism" in an open letter to The Times of London.

The same week, former British Prime Minster John Major described the upcoming season of the show as "damaging, malicious fiction" to The Mail on Sunday as it includes a scene between himself and Prince Charles that he says did not take place.

Pryce, who has taken on the role of Prince Philip for its last two seasons, told Deadline that while he accepted the former PM's complaint "because he was there," he is "bitterly disappointed" by the other dissenting voices.

"I'm hugely disappointed by my fellow artistes," he said.

The Oscar-nominated actor, who received a knighthood from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2021, added that "the vast majority of people know it's a drama. They've been watching it for four seasons."

He went on to say that increased criticism has come "about because of an enhanced sensitivity because of the passing of the Queen."

In the same interview, his costars, Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville, who will portray Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret in the new episodes, echoed his thoughts.

Staunton said it's "understandable" that hostility towards the Netflix series has grown ahead in recent weeks as "people still feel a bit… like their nerve endings are still a little bit raw," following the passing of the late monarch on September 8.

Staunton went on to say that she does not think the show is "undignified," explaining: "We think it's honest and true and respectful. Peter Morgan's been writing about the Queen since Helen Mirren [was in The Queen]. He obviously adores this family in many ways, and he'll show both sides of the characters, for good or for worse. He'll show them and make no judgment, he'll leave that up to the audience."

Meanwhile, Manville added:" I wouldn't be involved with something that I felt was crossing the line. I don't think the series does at all."

"The Crown" season five will be available to stream on Netflix on November 9 and will follow the royal family into the 1990s, featuring dramatized reenactments of Princess Diana's BBC tell-all interview and King Charles' alleged plan to replace Queen Elizabeth.