The Crown, the Netflix drama series that follows the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, is set to return for its sixth and final season in late 2023. The season will cover some of the most turbulent and tragic events that shaped the late 20th and early 21st century, as well as the personal and political challenges faced by the royal family.
Here’s the summary of what to expect:
- The upcoming sixth season of Netflix’s The Crown is expected to be the most controversial yet, with sensitive events and storylines that may divide audiences.
- Princess Diana’s death will be a major storyline in The Crown season 6, and its depiction has the potential to either be moving or seen as exploitative.
- The inclusion of modern events and the use of previous actors to portray Queen Elizabeth II could make it difficult for season 6 to stand on its own, weakening its impact.
Here are some of the real-life stories behind The Crown Season 6.
1. The Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
One of the most anticipated and heartbreaking episodes of The Crown Season 6 will depict the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, along with her lover Dodi Fayed and their driver Henri Paul. The episode will show how the news of Diana’s death shocked and saddened the world, as well as how it affected her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and the rest of the royal family. The episode will also explore the controversial role of the paparazzi, who were pursuing Diana’s car before the crash, and the conspiracy theories that surrounded her death.
The episode will feature Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed, Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed, Dodi’s father who accused the British establishment of orchestrating a cover-up, and Andrew Havill as Robert Fellowes, the Queen’s private secretary and brother-in-law of Diana.
2. The Marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles
Another major storyline of The Crown Season 6 will focus on the relationship and marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, who had been his long-time lover and former wife of Andrew Parker Bowles. The season will show how Charles and Camilla rekindled their romance after his divorce from Diana in 1996, and how they faced public scrutiny and opposition from some members of the royal family and the Church of England. The season will also depict their wedding in 2005, which was a civil ceremony followed by a blessing at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The season will feature Dominic West as Charles, Olivia Williams as Camilla, Richard Rycroft as George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury who refused to officiate their wedding, and Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair, the Prime Minister who supported their union.
3. The Early Romance of Prince William and Kate Middleton
A more lighthearted subplot of The Crown Season 6 will introduce Prince William’s future wife, Kate Middleton, who met him at St Andrew’s University in Scotland in 2001. The season will show how William and Kate became friends and then lovers, while trying to keep their relationship private from the media and the public. The season will also portray some of the challenges they faced, such as their brief breakup in 2004 and their long-distance relationship when William joined the military in 2006.
The season will feature Ed McVey as William, Meg Bellamy as Kate, Lydia Leonard as Cherie Blair, Tony Blair’s wife who befriended Kate at a charity event, and Rufus Kampa as young William who witnessed his mother’s death.
4. The Deaths of Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
The Crown Season 6 will also pay tribute to two of the most beloved members of the royal family, Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who died within weeks of each other in 2002. The season will show how their deaths affected Queen Elizabeth II, who lost her younger sister and her mother in a span of less than two months. The season will also celebrate their lives and achievements, such as Princess Margaret’s artistic patronage and charitable work, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s resilience and popularity during World War II.
The season will feature Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Marcia Warren as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne, James Murray as Prince Andrew, Sam Woolf as Prince Edward, Luther Ford as Prince Harry, Will Powell as young Harry, Theo Fraser Steele as Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne’s husband.
5. The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
The final episode of The Crown Season 6 will mark a milestone for Queen Elizabeth II: her Golden Jubilee in 2002, which celebrated her 50th year on the throne. The episode will show how the Queen commemorated this occasion with various events and ceremonies across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations. The episode will also highlight the Queen’s achievements and challenges during her reign, as well as her legacy and influence on the world.
The episode will feature the same cast as the previous episode, as well as Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair, who delivered a speech praising the Queen’s service and dedication.
The Crown Season 6 will be the final season of the Netflix drama series that follows the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. It will be released by Netflix in late 2023. It will be the only season of the series to be produced following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.