Netflix has fallen on hard times in recent months, and at this point, the streaming giant is basically being propped up by a handful of popular original series.
One of those shows is The Crown, the acclaimed drama about the decades-long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
If you’re a viewer, then we probably don’t need to tell you that the show doesn’t always depict the royal family in a flattering light.
In fact, insiders say the Windsors are frequently aghast at the manner in which they’re portrayed on The Crown.
So you can imagine their surprise when the Queen and company learned that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might be playing a part in promoting the show’s long-awaited fifth season.
Now, you won’t be seeing Harry and Meghan appearing in commercials for the show, which has already characterized Prince Charles as an abusive, philandering spouse, and will soon delve into the death of Princess Diana.
But according to a new report from Page Six, Netflix execs have made it clear that they intend to make use of their partnership with the Sussexes to help garner attention for The Crown Season 5.
The show is set to premiere in November, and the hope at Netflix is that Harry and Meghan’s upcoming docuseries will be ready to premiere the following week.
Apparently, Netflix is anticipating an uptick in interest in the royal family, and they want to ensure that they’re well-positioned to take advantage of it.
“There is a lot to organize and a lot of things at play here,” one insider tells Page Six.
“Netflix wants to make sure they get in there and don’t get scooped.”
When Harry and Meghan signed a deal with Netflix, members of the Windsor clan were reportedly furious, as they felt the move signaled to the world that the couple approved of the way that the royals are portrayed on The Crown.
The Queen’s worst nightmare would probably involve Harry and Meghan working for the show directly — but this scenario is likely a close second.
Also at issue is the fact that Harry’s much-anticipated memoir is slated for release by the end of the year.
In addition to cashing in on the synergy of all three projects being released at once, Netflix is hoping to release The Crown Season 5 ahead of Harry’s memoir in order to avoid being overshadowed.
After all, it could be tough for a scripted series to outshine a work of nonfiction written by a man who bore witness to many of his family’s most shocking moments.
The upcoming season of The Crown will feature another of the show’s periodic casting shakeups, with Elizabeth Debicki playing Diana and Imelda Staunton of Harry Potter fame being tapped to portray the Queen.
It remains to be seen if the upcoming season will broach the subject of Diana’s death, but whatever the case, it’s sure to be just as unflattering for the Queen and company as the previous seasons.
And with Harry and Meghan’s tacit seal of approval, the new episodes could make for an even deeper rift between the two warring factions of the royal family.
Netflix to Meghan Markle: Help Us Promote Our Show About Your Effed-Up In-Laws! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip .