Kate Middleton's Uncle SlamsThe Crown's Portrayal of His Family: 'Ridiculous and Fantastical'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gary Goldsmith arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London in November 2017; Kate Middleton heads to her Together At Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in December 2023.Photo:Victoria Jones/PA Wire, Chris Jackson/Getty

Victoria Jones/PA Wire, Chris Jackson/Getty

Kate Middleton’s uncle is sharing a searing review of how the royal and their family were depicted inThe Crownseason 6.

The Crown: Fact or Fictionco-host Robert Hardman introduced Princess Kate’s uncle as the “proud and loyal brother of Carole Middleton” and asked him to share his thoughts onThe Crown,which premiered in 2016 and has won awards on both sides of the pond.

“I really, really enjoyed the first couple of episodes and the first series ofThe Crown, but it seems to just drift into this fantasy world. There’s so many parts of it that I don’t agree with, and I think the narrative and for trying to get headlines and view an audience. So once it started becoming ridiculous and fantastical, it was very difficult to watch, so I stopped,” Goldsmith began. “I think from people around the world watching it, they’re seeing this, and they’re believing the truth, and we’re thinking, ‘Am I watchingThe Crownor is itCoronation Street?’ ” he continued, referencing Britain’s longest-running soap opera. “I think it’s just made up.”

Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton and Ed McVey as Prince William in season 6 of ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.Netflix

Netflix

“Do you think, would your sister watch it?” Hardman asked the guest.

There was much hype around the premiere of season 6 ofThe Crown, where Princess Kate was written into the script for the first time in show history to depict her love story withPrince William. Producers took creative liberties in imagining that William and Katefirst met as teenagerson the street while Kate and Carole were holiday shopping and that Carole strategically schemed for her daughter to attend the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland to meet the prince.

The season 6 episode “Hope Street” recreated the infamous university fashion show where Katereportedly caught Prince William’s eyefor in a sheer slip, and imagined that Carole urged her daughter before to “show off those legs” and let it be known that she was single.

Eve Best as Carole Middleton in season 6 of ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.Netflix

Goldsmith then praised his niece Princess Kate, saying she worked hard to get into the prestigious school on her own accord.

“First and foremost, Kate did brilliantly well to get into St. Andrews. She’s an amazing, an amazing, an amazing girl, but that wasn’t noted. It was all to do with ‘Kate you’ve got to be here on this day, wearing these clothes, doing these things, showing your legs’, and it’s just not my family. It’s not the way Carole operates,” he said on theDaily Mailpodcast.

“Mum and Dad were the most brilliant people,” he added, referring to their late parents, Ronald and Dorothy. “The thought of Carole suggesting to my mum’s granddaughter to show a bit of leg, it is so far away from the truth. It’s just ridiculous.”

Kate Middleton at a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on December 5, 2023.Jonathan Brady - Pool / Getty

Jonathan Brady - Pool / Getty

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While Princess Kate, 41, has never publicly hinted that she’s seen the show,several other membersof the royal family have. Speaking at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scottish politician Anas Sarwar said that now-King Charlesreferenced the Netflix show while introducing himself to Parliament members at an event in 2021.

“He came over and went, ‘Hello, nice to meet you all. I’m nowhere near how they portray me on Netflix,’ " Sarwar recalled, according to theDaily Mail.“I thought that was a really interesting way of how you describe yourself.”

All six seasons ofThe Crownare now streaming.

source: people.com