The Crown Season 6 Drops This Week – Here’s What To Expect

Since the first season dropped on Netflix back in 2016, The Crown has been devoured by legions of fans – but now, it’s almost time to wave goodbye to the royal show. Created by Peter Morgan, the series is a fictionalised depiction of the late Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and all the personal and political events that shaped it – beginning with her inheriting the throne aged just 25. 

Season 5 left us at the end of Charles and Diana’s ‘irretrievably broken’ marriage, with the arrival of Tony Blair as Prime Minister ushering a new era for the country. The sixth and final instalment will pick up where we left off, beginning in the summer of 1997 and bringing us through to the early 2000s, documenting key moments from history including the tragic death of Princess Diana.

The final season will be released in two parts, with the first four episodes premiering on 16 November and the last six episodes arriving on 14 December. Newcomer Meg Bellamy will play the young Kate Middleton, while Ed McVey will take over from Senan West to play William – and it’s now been revealed that 19 year-old Matilda Broadbridge is taking on the role of Pippa Middleton, in what will be the actress’s first major screen role. Sound exciting? Here’s what to expect from The Crown Season 6.

Moments We Expect To See In The Crown Season 6

Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey as Prince William and Kate Middleton in The Crown Season 6, Netflix

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s University Romance

One plotline that fans are particularly excited about is the introduction of the young Kate Middleton, who we’ll be seeing for the first time on the show. The series will chronicle the early days of Kate’s relationship with Prince William, which began while the two were studying at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

Rumour has it Kate caught William’s eye while modelling at a student fashion show, wearing a now-famous sheer dress (which later sold for a whopping £78,000). According to royal reporter Katie Nicholl, William said to his friend Fergus: ‘Wow, Fergus, Kate’s hot!’ – and proceeded to compliment her at an afterparty. Netflix producers reportedly showed pictures of this moment being recreated by Bellamy at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

On-set photos of The Crown also appear to show the couple moving in together, as Bellamy is pictured hugging McVey outside a terraced house. Kate and William lived together in their second year of university, along with said friend Fergus, and another friend named Olivia Bleasdale.

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana with her two children in The Crown Season 6, Netflix

Princess Diana’s Final Summer

The Crown Season 6 will document Princess Diana’s final summer before her death in August 1997. Images have shown Elizabeth Debicki sporting Diana’s iconic animal print swimsuit, which she wore during a holiday to the Mediterranean with her boyfriend Dodi Al Fayed. The pair spent time on Dodi’s yacht, travelling from the South of France to Sardinia before flying to Paris on 30 August.

Elizabeth Debicki and Khalid Abdalla as Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed in The Crown Season 6, Netflix

Princess Diana’s Death

Netflix producers have confirmed Princess Diana’s untimely death will be portrayed sensitively: while we’ll see the build-up to the fatal Paris car crash, the moment itself will not be shown. Speaking about the upcoming series at the Edinburgh TV Festival, executive producer Suzanne Mackie said the fatal Paris car crash will be handled ‘delicately’. According to BBC News, she said: ‘The show might be big and noisy, but we’re not. We’re thoughtful people and we’re sensitive people.’ Speaking about the car crash, she added: ‘There was a very, very careful, long, long, long conversation about how we do it – and I hope, you know, the audience will judge it in the end, but I think it’s been delicately, thoughtfully recreated.’

Although it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s likely Princess Diana’s funeral will also be covered – a key moment in history which was attended by a string of famous faces, including Elton John and Tom Hanks.

Dominic West and Olivia Williams as Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in The Crown Season 5, Netflix

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ Wedding

The final season of The Crown will also show the wedding of the King and Queen – then Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. Dominic West, who plays King Charles, was spotted filming the day at York Minster, which took place in 2005. He was joined on set by McVey, alongside Luther Ford as Prince Harry. Olivia Williams was not pictured, but she will be returning to play Camilla in the upcoming series.

A source told the MailOnline that the depiction of the wedding ‘will be a true celebration and a really happy moment in the history of the monarchy’ as well as tying in ‘nicely into the King’s Coronation year’.

The Deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother

There’s speculation that the series will depict the deaths of Princess Margaret (Lesley Manville) who died in February 2002, and the Queen Mother (Marion Bailey) who passed away the following month in March 2002, aged 101. 

WATCH

You can watch the trailer for The Crown season 6 below:

While waiting for the new season, you can catch up on all five previous seasons of  The Crown on Netflix. netflix.com

Featured image: Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey as Prince William and Kate Middleton in The Crown Season 6 (c) Netflix