A ‘disgraceful’ scene from Netflix’s The Crown left Prince Philip so upset he raised it with his legal team, veteran royal biographer Hugo Vickers has claimed on a new episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Authorised.

Mr. Vickers, a seasoned writer on the Royal Family, has dedicated over six decades to this subject, having had the opportunity to meet the late Queen more than 40 times during her extraordinary 70-year reign.

His latest work, “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” which is being serialized in the Daily Mail, blends a wealth of research with his own intimate memories of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

Speaking to Palace Authorised host Jo Elvin, Mr Vickers said the TV adaptation of the life and reign of Elizabeth and Philip, which first aired in 2016, was a ‘fundamentally dishonest’ depiction of the monarch and her husband.

The late Prince Philip was so upset by a ‘disgraceful’ scene from Netflix’s The Crown that he raised it with his legal team, veteran royal biographer Hugo Vickers has claimed

Speaking to Palace Authorised, Mr Vickers said The Crown was a ‘fundamentally dishonest’ depiction of the monarch and her husband

Vickers has written on the Royal Family for over 60 years, meeting the late Queen more than 40 times throughout her historic 70-year reign

Mr. Vickers pointed out what he considers the most blatant distortion of truth in the show’s first season, specifically regarding the tragic passing of Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, Prince Philip’s sister, who perished in a plane crash in 1937 at just 26 years old.

“They attempted to hold Prince Philip accountable for his sister’s death,” Mr. Vickers asserted.

He added, “They concocted a scene at Gordonstoun where a young Philip gets into a fight with another student. Consequently, his half-term break is canceled, prompting his sister to fly to Darmstadt, Germany.”

‘She is killed in a plane crash and Philip goes to the funeral. There, his father says to him: “I am burying my favourite child because of you.”

‘In reality, there was no punch-up at Gordonstoun. He would never have gone to Darmstadt. Philip’s father actually came to Britain to take him home after the crash.

‘I knew Prince Philip was extremely upset by it. Luckily, I went on the Today Show, Radio 4, and told the true story. He was listening, and felt to some extent that it had been put right.

‘But he did go to his lawyers about it.’

Mr Vickers argued that what makes The Crown ‘such an awful series’ is its showrunners’ constant disregard for historical accuracy.

What makes this dangerous, he said, is that the performances are engaging and the script well-written, meaning millions of viewers have simply taken it as fact.

The most egregious example of the show’s bending of the truth came in season one, Mr Vickers argued, concerning the tragic death of Princess Cecilie, Prince Philip’s sister

Mr Vickers argued that The Crown’s final season, with Imelda Staunton as the late Queen and Philip played by Jonathan Pryce, particularly showed the show’s makers’ Republican feeling  

Mr Vickers also alleged that the makers of The Crown harboured Republican feeling, nowhere more evident than in the show’s final season, which explores the last years of the Queen’s life.

‘If you want to know what they were up to, just have a look at the last scene,’ the biographer said.

‘You get the Prince Philip figure, played by Jonathan Pryce, talking to Imelda Staunton, in what is meant to be St George’s Chapel. He basically says the game is up, nobody is up to the job, the monarchy is shot through.

‘That is what the creators were trying to say. That is what the whole series was luring people into.

‘Unfortunately, The Crown has become the accepted version of events, which is absolutely disgraceful.’

Hear Hugo Vickers’ full interview with Jo Elvin by searching for Palace Confidential wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

During his trial on Wednesday, the Hawaiian doctor accused of attempting to murder his wife recounted his side of the story, asserting that she was the aggressor in a fierce altercation on a Maui hiking trail.

Gerhardt Konig is facing charges of attempted murder related to an incident on March 24, 2025, in which he allegedly tried to kill his spouse. While testifying, he explained that the couple, who frequently hiked together, had been on such an outing that day, supported by photos shown to the jury.

He mentioned selecting the trail because it appeared enjoyable after he researched potential hiking spots.

Describing the events, Konig stated that following an argument regarding a suspected affair, he initially walked away, only to return and find Arielle still on the path, her behavior dramatically altered.

Gerhardt Konig sits in a Maui courtroom as he faces charges in the attempted murder trial involving his wife. (KHON-FOX)

He told jurors she was apologetic, said she didn’t want to ruin the day, and suggested they work through their issues in therapy. The two even took a selfie.

Moments later, Konig said, everything shifted.

He testified he was standing on a ledge, trying to process what had just happened, when he felt what he described as a shove.

“When I turned around, I said, ‘What the f— was that?’” he told the court.

Konig said he walked toward his wife, asking why she was screaming, and claimed she grabbed his wrists and pulled him to the ground.

He testified that during the struggle, she grabbed him by the genitals, adding that everything that followed happened “very quickly.”

Arielle Konig testifies in court during the Maui attempted murder trial involving her estranged husband. (KHON-FOX)

Konig said she then struck him on the side of the face with a rock.

Jurors were shown a photo of Konig with visible marks on his face.

He testified he was able to wrestle the rock away and admitted he struck Arielle twice while she was still holding onto his genitals, saying he did so on instinct to protect himself.

Konig testified that he did not mean to hurt her and said he felt bad, becoming visibly emotional.

“I felt horrified about what I did to her, that I resorted to violence against my wife, the person I love the most,” he told jurors. “I felt hopeless in our marriage too.”

Konig said he believed his marriage and career were over and testified that he heard his wife screaming that he had tried to kill her.

He told jurors he became suicidal after the incident, saying he felt “hopeless.”

Body camera footage shows Arielle Konig being helped by hikers after the alleged attack on a Hawaii hiking trail. (KHON-FOX)

Konig testified that he decided to jump and called his son, Emil, to say goodbye. Konig testified that he was not in a good state of mind when he called.

“He saved my life that day,” he said through tears.

Konig told jurors he did not try to kill his wife that day — denying he shoved her off a cliff or attempted to kill her with syringes.

Earlier in his testimony, Konig described what he said was a sudden breakdown in what he believed was a “perfect” marriage.

He told jurors the relationship had been “fabulous,” with no red flags, and that the couple planned to stay in Maui until their children graduated from high school.

Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig appears before a judge via video during an arraignment hearing after being indicted on allegations of attempting to kill his wife on Monday, April 7, 2025, in Honolulu.  (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Konig said he handled the family’s finances, describing himself as “a very meticulous person who keeps track of everything,” and emphasized that everything they owned was shared.

But he said things changed after a trip his wife took to South Africa, when she failed to check in one night, something he described as unusual.

Konig testified he became suspicious of her relationship with a coworker, pointing to a different “tone,” increased phone use, and behavior he described as secretive.

He said he later unlocked her phone while she was asleep and discovered hidden WhatsApp messages in a folder with notifications turned off.

A sign stating the area is closed marks the start of the hiking trail where Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig allegedly attempted to kill his wife at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

According to Konig, the messages showed constant communication with a man in Maryland, including photos and song lyrics, before abruptly stopping after the South Africa trip.

He said the messages later disappeared entirely.

Konig testified that was the turning point — leading him to believe his wife was having an affair.

As he described the discovery, Konig became emotional.

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I was devastated.”

Konig told jurors he later confronted his wife during a trip to San Luis Obispo, where she admitted the relationship was “completely inappropriate.”

Gerhardt Konig is charged with attempted second-degree murder after he allegedly tried to kill his wife while the pair were on a hiking trail in Hawaii. Konig was arrested after an hours-long manhunt near Pali Highway.   (Honolulu Police Department)

He said she had planned another trip with the man but canceled it and agreed to cut off contact outside of work emails. 

Konig also testified that he reached out to the man’s wife, telling jurors, “I felt if I was in her shoes, I would want to know.”

Konig said he chose not to tell family or friends, saying he wanted to protect her.

Defense attorney Thomas Otake also questioned Konig about his background, including his previous marriage at age 20. The couple had two children, Ophelia and Emil.

Emil Konig testified a day earlier that his father called him after the alleged attack and said he had tried to kill Arielle, but she got away — a claim central to the prosecution’s case.

A general view of the hiking trail at Nuuanu Pali Lookout and park in Oahu, Hawaii. (iStock)

Jurors also heard from additional witnesses.

Chuck Bussler, the owner of Fête Restaurant, testified that a reservation for Konig had been made through OpenTable for March 24, 2025, but was ultimately marked as a no-show.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Jonathan Arden testified that the victim’s head injury, while bloody in appearance, was not life-threatening and did not involve the skull or brain. He agreed it did not meet the standard for serious bodily harm and said the injuries were more consistent with two to three impacts, not up to 10 full-force blows.

On cross-examination, prosecutors highlighted Arden’s role as a paid expert who frequently testifies for the defense.

Prosecutors allege Konig attacked his wife on that hike, striking her multiple times in an attempted killing.

Konig has pleaded not guilty.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

Oil prices spike after Trump’s Iran speech

In a dramatic turn of events, oil prices have surged to $106 per barrel following the U.S. President’s first primetime address since initiating military action against Iran. Prior to his speech, Brent crude oil was priced at $99 per barrel, marking a significant increase in the wake of his remarks.

During his address, President Trump attributed the rise in oil prices to what he described as “deranged terror attacks” by the Iranian regime against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries uninvolved in the conflict. This escalation has understandably rattled global oil markets and further complicated an already tense geopolitical landscape.

While acknowledging the concerns of American citizens regarding the impact of war on fuel costs, President Trump assured the public that these prices would eventually stabilize. He emphasized that nations heavily reliant on Gulf oil should take the lead in ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively obstructed by Iranian actions.

The President’s statements highlight the complex interplay between international conflict and economic stability, underscoring the broader implications of military engagements in oil-rich regions. As the situation unfolds, the global economy watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to the tensions that have sent shockwaves through the energy sector.

However, Trump insisted these rising prices would soon go down while also adding that countries that get most of their oil from the Gulf region should lead the way in opening the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively blocked by Iran.

Britain, France and other U.S. allies have said they are willing to help to keep the strait open, but only after hostilities have ceased.

‘They can do it easily,’ Trump said. ‘We will be helpful, but they should take the lead in protecting the oil that they so desperately depend on.’

Trump was also frustrated that NATO allies had not offered to help open the strait, even threatening to withdraw from the 76-year-old alliance.

While he had told Reuters earlier in the day that he would discuss the US relationship with NATO in his speech, he did not mention the bloc.