Reports indicate that Queen Elizabeth II barred Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos from a lavish business reception at Windsor Castle four years ago due to the portrayal of the royal family in the acclaimed series, The Crown.
As the UK Global Investment Summit approached on October 19, 2021, Sarandos was one of a select few U.S. executives recommended for a meeting with the Queen, according to three senior British Conservative Party officials who were close to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Others in the executive group included figures like Jamie Dimon from JPMorgan, Larry Fink from BlackRock, Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, as per sources familiar with the situation.
Political insiders revealed that the Queen was “outraged” by some episodes of The Crown prior to her passing. One source noted, “Boris didn’t mind who was there as long as the wealthy attendees showed up.”
However, aides to the Queen actively sought Sarandos from a list of 400 potential VIPs curated by Downing Street, which Buckingham Palace typically regards as advice.
Sources mentioned that the government initially suggested Netflix’s attendance at the summit and an accompanying drinks reception at Windsor Castle, which was to be a highlight of the event. Yet, palace officials ultimately rejected the idea.
When questioned about the decision, those briefed on the matter referenced the distress caused by The Crown.
Many observers believe that the monarch was particularly distressed by the show’s depiction of Prince Philip as a demanding father, alongside the complex relationship between Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Camilla Parker Bowles.
The fourth season of The Crown focused on the turmoil in Prince Charles’s marriage and the alleged tensions between the Queen and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Buckingham Palace did not respond to requests for comments from the media, and Netflix indicated through a spokesperson that Sarandos was not invited.
British political officials frequently build extensive lists of notable names for major events attended by the royal family.
A similar assembly of prominent business leaders occurred two years later under Rishi Sunak’s leadership as Prime Minister, after Charles ascended to the throne.
Insiders suggest that Sarandos was included in the event at the urging of Sunak’s team, largely due to Netflix’s $6 billion investment in UK productions.
The news emerges as Sarandos, who is 61 and hails from New Jersey, seeks a deal and regulatory consent from the U.S. government for a $72 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Former President Trump, who has expressed warm sentiments towards Queen Elizabeth II, describes her as a “wonderful woman,” and his aide Larry Ellison is involved in the WBD bid alongside Paramount Skydance.
Interestingly, no royal residences were featured in The Crown’s production, which starred Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton as Elizabeth at various points in her 70-year reign.
Instead, Lancaster House, built in 1840 near Hyde Park and overseen by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, stood in for Buckingham Palace.
Over its six seasons, Netflix utilized Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire and Burley House in Lincolnshire to represent Windsor Castle, the current resting place of the late king.
Netflix is currently working on a documentary with King Charles to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust, a charity established by the former Prince of Wales in 1976.
