Ted Sarandos snubbed by the Queen as royals slam streaming series

The late Queen Elizabeth II blocked Netflix boss Ted Sarandos from attending a glittering Windsor Castle reception in 2021, insiders have revealed.

According to Gb News, Sarandos had been lined up to rub shoulders with a host of American business heavyweights, including JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman and Bill Gates, at the UK Global Investment Summit that October. 

But while Downing Street pushed for the streaming chief to attend the castle’s drinks reception, the event’s crown jewel, the Palace reportedly said “absolutely not.”

Sources claim the Queen took particular offence at Netflix’s portrayal of her family in the hit drama The Crown, which depicted Prince Philip as a stern parent and revisited the love triangle between King Charles, Princess Diana, and Queen Camilla. 

Season four also delved into King's marriage woes and friction with Margaret Thatcher, apparently struck a nerve with the monarch, who died the following year aged 96.

Under King Charles, however, Netflix’s fortunes have shifted. 

Ted was later invited to a similar business gathering during Rishi Sunak’s premiership, with the platform’s £6 billion commitment to UK productions helping smooth the path.

One government source told the outlet that while Boris Johnson “didn’t care who turned up as long as some rich people were there.” 

Netflix now is deeply embedded in British TV production and royal‑Netflix relations appear to be on a different footing even if the late Queen once drew a very firm line in Windsor’s hallowed halls.