Prince William will "never admit to watching The Crown", a royal commentator exclusively told GB News, after the season six trailer depicted Princess Diana as a ghost.
The trailer, which was released on Thursday, featured dramatic exchanges between the late Queen and Diana, a tearful-eyed King Charles, and William and his mother on their "final" phone call.
Social media users' reactions to it have been mixed, with some requesting that the popular show allow the late Princess of Wales to "rest in peace".
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams spoke exclusively to GB News to analyse the season six trailer.
WATCH NOW: The Crown releases its Season Six trailer
He said: "Peter Morgan is an extremely skilled dramatist. He knew exactly what he was doing by the fact that they'd included Diana as the ghost.
"He doesn't need a gimmick to publicise The Crown. The ghost is tacky, it is totally and obviously unnecessary and hurtful to William and Harry.
"Of course, Harry has a contract with Netflix and he's roughly comfortable with The Crown from what we understand.
"They haven't much choice with their link to it, but the facts are that it's clearly something that Morgan thought he'd throw into the mix to get publicity and that's precisely what he's done.
Elizabeth Debicki portraying Diana as a ghost
Netflix
"He wanted headlines for it, and he's got them. It is unnecessary but it is just a risible gimmick."
The royal commentator argued that The Crown had "such promise" but this did not follow through.
"The Crown, which had such promise, has so many inaccuracies that are unnecessary," Fitzwilliams claimed.
"It doesn't show, for example, the attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne in 1974.
"What it concentrated on, as the series progressed, were the scandals and also the invented scenes.
"Imelda Staunton and Olivia Colman don't resemble the Queen and despite Imelda Staunton's efforts, she doesn't sound like the Queen.
"She does make an effort with the voice and nearly gets it. That's the danger that with a ghost, as we wouldn't want anything to be laughable.
"Elizabeth Debicki is a very fine actress. She's very good Diana. Perhaps she'll pull it off, but the facts are that the whole idea and the concept cheapens it."
Elizabeth Debicki and Dominic West as Diana and Charles
PA
When asked if Prince Harry, who has a production deal with Netflix, should speak about the new trailer for The Crown, Fitzwilliams said: "Perhaps he should.
"In my opinion the Sussexes won't and in any case, of course, there's always the contrary argument that if you make a statement you draw more attention to it. But then there's been a lot of attention anyway.
"William obviously tends to remain silent. In theory, he could make a statement but he won't.
"That's the trouble that if you are royal and you do make a statement, then you'll find that you get X million more hits on that particular scene."
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Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey as Kate and William
PA
When asked about the Prince of Wales watching The Crown, Fitzwilliams commented: "He could but I'm sure he won't. I'm sure he will never admit to watching it.
"It's a hazardous business because the moment a royal makes a statement then millions of people will tune in to see what the fuss is about.
"Peter Morgan has given several interviews about whether he's a Republican, whether he's a royalist, plus his attitude to the Royal Family, what he really thought of the Queen and all sorts of things.
"A lot of it is very superficial. He's just doing a bit of stirring.
"The Crown is an immense success financially. He can do what he likes and say what he likes and that's what he's doing. But it doesn't make it right."