The fifth season of Netflix's royal biographical drama The Crown is set to be the most controversial of the series yet. Premiering on November 9th, this season is the first to air since the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the subsequent ascension of the now King Charles III.
Set in the 1990s, the series will portray the downfall of then-Prince Charles' marriage to Princess Diana, as well as her tragic death in 1997. With the show tackling much more recent events than previous seasons, the making of season 5 has been widely reported on.
Dominic West Reached Out To King Charles Before Taking On The Role
Much of the controversy surrounding The Crown season 5 revolves around the portrayal of King Charles III, particularly the most difficult parts of the then-Prince's personal life. Given the divisive public opinion of Charles' behavior in his marriage and after Princess Diana's death, the show could portray Charles in a particularly unflattering light.
Given the potential of this portrayal to offend some audiences, as well as the royal family, Dominic West, who will be portraying Charles this season, reached out to Charles and offered to step down from his role in the King's charity, The Princes' Trust. A responding letter from Charles' private secretary essentially told him “You do what you like, you’re an actor. It’s nothing to do with us", West claims (via Variety).
Elizabeth Debicki’s Height Is (Sort Of) True To The Real Life Princess Diana
At 6 foot and 3 inches, Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki is one of the tallest actresses in Hollywood, and her towering height is one of her trademarks on screen. While this may seem way taller than the real-life Princess Diana that she is portraying, there is some truth in the portrayal.
According to his IMDb page, Dominic West is six feet tall, making him shorter than Debicki. According to royal experts, Diana was taller than Charles, standing at 5 feet, 10 inches, and was made to squat down in official photographs to make Charles seem taller (via The Express). This makes the height difference in The Crown more accurate than viewers would assume.
Season 5 Is The First Season To Come With A Disclaimer
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Throughout The Crown's run, the show has portrayed Queen Elizabeth's reign and the historical events that have intersected with it. With season 5 portraying events of just 20 years ago, as well as significant personal moments of the royal family, the show has faced pressure from the UK government, as well as British actors like Judi Dench, to come with a disclaimer.
Netflix has obliged this request, and it has been announced that season 5 will come with a disclaimer, asserting that the show is "fictional dramatization", and is "inspired by real-life events" (via BBC News). Given the recent death of Queen Elizabeth in September, it comes as no surprise that emotions are still high for supporters of the Royal Family in the UK.
Production Was Paused Following Queen Elizabeth's Death
The Crown has showcased multiple portrayals of Queen Elizabeth II in the show, with actress Imelda Staunton stepping into the monarch's shoes, after Claire Foy and Olivia Colman's Emmy-winning portrayals. Staunton will play an older Queen Elizabeth as she faces significant personal events, notably the Queen's "annus horribilis" of 1992, where she faced extensive press coverage for her children's divorces, as well as the loss of her home at Windsor Castle.
When Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022, filming was halted out of respect to the Queen and her family (via The Guardian). Given the concerns surrounding season 5, Netflix seem to be treading lightly in regard to the feelings of the Royal Family.
The Real Camilla Joked About The Crown When She Met Dominic West
The now-Queen Consort to King Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles, will likely play a significant role in The Crown season 5. In the 1990s, Camilla's affair with Charles was widely publicized, and Charles' divorce from Diana was the start of their monogamous relationship.
The real Camilla does not seem too worried about the upcoming season, however, and made a joke to Dominic West, who will portray Charles this season. According to the actor, Camilla jokingly greeted him with "your majesty" when she saw him last year (via People).
Princess Diana’s “Revenge Dress” Made Elizabeth Debicki Feel “Pressure"
One of the most iconic Princess Diana moments in popular culture is what is often-referred to as her "revenge dress." Diana wore the spectacular gown the night Charles revealed in a television interview that he had cheated on Diana, and the moment is now thought of as Diana's official departure from her image as a dutiful royal spouse.
Given this beloved moment and equally beloved dress, Elizabeth Debicki admitted that wearing the dress on the show "was pressure". "She was claiming the space", Debicki explained of its significance, adding that "the way she walked out of that car, the luminosity, the strength of her as that car door opened, she was so fast and so forward" (via Metro).
A Former Consultant For The Series Stepped Down Due To Her Friendship With Princess Diana
Two of the major historical events The Crown will portray in season 5 are Princess Diana's divorce from the then-Prince Charles, and her final years leading up to her tragic death in 1997 aged just 36. Given the sensitive matter of this subject, a significant consultant for The Crown departed before this season entered formal production.
Jemima Khan, a friend to Diana, stated that she and creator Peter Morgan "worked together on the outline and scripts from September 2020 until February 2021," Khan revealed. “When I realized that particular storyline would not necessarily be told as respectfully or compassionately as I had hoped, I requested that all my contributions be removed from the series", she continued (via IndieWire).
Jonathan Pryce Has Hit Back At Criticisms Of The New Season Before It Aired
Given the high-profile controversy surrounding The Crown season 5, particularly from the UK government and prominent British actors such as Dame Judi Dench, its actors have defended the show from its criticism. Jonathan Pryce, who plays Prince Philip this season, has spoken out about the backlash.
Pryce said that he was "hugely disappointed by my fellow artistes" for criticizing the series before it was released for viewing, adding that much of the criticism “came about because of an enhanced sensitivity because of the passing of the Queen" (via Deadline).
Prince Harry Has Praised The Show (And Even Suggested Who Should Portray Him)
With multiple awards as well as critical and audience acclaim, there are many fans of Netflix's The Crown - including within the Royal Family itself. Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip in season 1 and 2, claimed that he was told that Queen Elizabeth watched the show, although this was never confirmed (via Digital Spy).
Prince Harry, however, has openly praised The Crown. In an interview with James Corden, the Prince stated that he liked the show, adding that “it’s fictional, but it’s loosely based on the truth," and even suggested fellow redheaded actor Damien Lewis could portray him as an adult (via Grazia). This is perhaps quite a controversial statement, but as Harry has been an outspoken critic of the Royal Family, it is perhaps understandable why the Prince keeps up to date with the show and discussion surrounding it.
Props Were Stolen From The Set
With the new season of The Crown being the most highly-anticipated yet, some fans may be anticipating it a little too much, having stolen some very expensive props from the set. Over 350 props were taken from the show, up to the value of $200,000.
Reps for the show confirmed that multiple items were stolen, including replica Fabregé eggs, glassware, and silver and gold candelabras (via Variety). Luckily, many of the props weren't originals, but reproductions made for the show, and filming was not delayed.
Source:gamerant.com