There’s turmoil both on and off the screen for Netflix’s The Crown.
The Royal Family faces what may be their greatest challenge yet in the new Season 5 trailer as the public openly questions their place in 1990s Britain.
New difficulties are on the horizon as Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton) approaches the 40th anniversary of her coronation. The fall of the Soviet Union and the handover of Hong Kong’s sovereignty mark a fundamental shift in the world order that offers both challenges and opportunity. Trouble is also brewing closer to home.
The monarchy faces a constitutional crisis when Prince Charles (Dominic West) pushes his mother to allow him to divorce Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki). As media scrutiny increases and rumors spread, Diana breaks with family customs and publishes a book that undermines support for Charles and reveals weaknesses in the House of Windsor.
And as Mohamed Al Fayed (Salim Daw) comes on the scene, tensions worsen as he uses his self-made wealth and position to try to secure himself and his son Dodi (Khalid Abdalla) a place at the royal table.
Of course, this may be nothing compared to the controversy The Crown has faced off-screen the past several days.
There have been calls to push the release date, slams about its depictions being “damaging” and “malicious” and requests to add a fictional disclaimer label.
In short, it’s been a lot.
The series is currently in the middle of shooting its sixth and reportedly final season.
Although specifics have been kept under wraps, Season 6 appears to center on the 1990s before Diana died in 1997.