Everything To Know About The Crown Season 6

For five seasons, Netflix’s The Crown has dramatized the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In early 2020, fans were worried when the streamer announced that Season 5 would be the hit drama’s last. Fortunately, series creator Peter Morgan had a change of heart six months later, telling Deadline that the show would receive a Season 6 after all.

The decision adhered to his original plan to focus on three pivotal periods in Queen Elizabeth’s long reign, each given two seasons. “As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story, we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons,” Morgan told the outlet.

“To be clear, Series 6 will not bring us any closer to present day — it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail,” he added.

Here’s everything we know about The Crown Season 6.

The Crown Season 6 Trailer

The first teaser for Season 6 was released on Oct. 9 and featured a look at the three women who’ve portrayed Queen Elizabeth II.

On Oct. 26, Netflix unveiled The Crown Season 6: Part 1 trailer, which depicts the final days of the late Princess Diana, including her intense relationship with the British press, as a remixed version of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” plays. Tensions also appear to run high between Diana and the royal family — even Queen Elizabeth II.

The Crown Season 6 Plot

The sixth season will be divided into two parts (more on that later): Part 1 follows Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed’s “blossoming relationship” and, ultimately, their fatal car accident. Part 2 picks up in the wake of Princess Diana’s death, featuring events such as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, Charles and Camilla’s wedding, and William and Kate’s “royal fairytale.”

Deadline previously reported that Season 6 would explore the royal family’s lives into the 2000s, which makes sense considering Season 5 depicted much of the 1990s.

Speaking in August 2023, The Crown’s executive producers, Andy Harries and Suzanne Mackie, explained how the show will cover Princess Diana’s death, revealing that it will occur early on in the season and has been approached with “enormous sensitivity.”

“The show might be big and noisy, but we’re not. We’re thoughtful people and we’re sensitive people. There were very careful, long conversations about how we were going to do it,” Mackie told Deadline.

“It’s been delicately, thoughtfully recreated. Elizabeth Debicki is an extraordinary actress and she was so thoughtful and considerate. She loved Diana. There’s a huge amount of respect from us all, I hope that’s evident.”

There’s also the 2005 wedding of King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles. On Sept. 4, Netflix unveiled a first look at how the couple’s royal nuptials will be depicted, with a still from the final season showing a wedding pamphlet that reads “Service of prayer and dedication following the marriage of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall.”

According to The Sun, the forthcoming season won’t shy away from controversial topics, including Prince Harry’s 2005 Nazi costume scandal.

The young royal was photographed attending a “native and colonial” fancy dress party, and his outfit included a swastika symbol, sparking a wave of backlash that forced the royal family to issue a public apology.

“Older generations will remember The Sun’s ‘Harry The Nazi’ story and photo but this past episode in Harry’s life may come as news to Netflix’s many younger viewers,” one insider told the outlet. Bustle has reached out to Netflix for comment.

As for politics, a Town & Country cover story on the series reported that the two final seasons would chronicle the terms of prime ministers John Major (1990-1997) and Tony Blair (1997-2007).

In March 2023 leaked on-set photos indicated that at least one recent event — the passing of Queen Elizabeth II — could be included in the final season. As Metro reports, the behind-the-scenes photos appeared to show lead star Imelda Staunton walking anonymously through the crowded streets of London, watching on as her portrait is replaced with a picture of King Charles III.

The Spice Girls could also be represented in Season 6, although Netflix has yet to confirm the speculation. In January 2023, on the same day Dominic West was filming as Prince Charles, set photos showed an unidentified actor who appeared to be portraying Ginger Spice, aka Geri Halliwell, in a Union Jack-themed costume.

In real life, the band met Charles at a 1997 benefit concert. Halliwell and Melanie “Mel C” Chisholm famously broke royal protocol by kissing his cheeks.

The Crown Season 6 Cast

Season 5 saw the additions of Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret (taking over for Helena Bonham Carter) and Dominic West as Prince Charles (replacing Josh O’Connor). Jonathan Pryce replaced Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip and Imelda Staunton replaced Oscar winner Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II.

Additionally, The Night Manager star Elizabeth Debicki took over from Emma Corrin as Princess Diana and Olivia Williams succeeded Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker Bowles.

In June 2023, The Sun reported that Season 6 would feature three versions of Queen Elizabeth II; Claire Foy and Olivia Colman are said to be reprising their roles alongside Staunton. As fans will recall, Foy portrayed the late monarch during the show’s first two outings, while Colman appeared as the Queen during Seasons 3 and 4.

“Getting the actresses together was no mean feat as both Claire and Olivia went on to bigger things after making The Crown and have packed schedules,” a source claimed to the outlet.

Acting newcomer Meg Bellamy has been cast as a young Kate Middleton, and Ed McVey and Rufus Kampa will both make acting debuts as Prince William during different stages of his life.

On Oct. 16, Netflix shared a first look at young princes William and Harry in Season 6. Portrayed by Kampa and Fflyn Edwards, respectively, the actors are shown filming beside their on-screen parents, West (Prince Charles) and Debicki (Princess Diana) — and the resemblances are pretty uncanny.

Earlier in 2023, on-set images showed McVey stepping into the role of a university-aged Prince William, again, filming alongside West’s Prince Charles.

Two days later, McVey and Bellamy were caught by photographers while filming at the University of St Andrews, where Prince William and Kate Middleton met during their time at university in 2001.

In April, Netflix released three first-look photos of Bellamy and McVey as Kate and William, as well as a behind-the-scenes image of the two actors posing in front of a St. Andrews cafe with a window display that reads, “Where Kate met Wills (for coffee).”

The Crown Season 6 Release Date

On Oct. 9, Netflix announced that Season 6 will include 10 episodes, which will be split into two parts: Part 1 (four episodes) drops on Nov. 16, and Part 2 (six episodes) drops on Dec. 14.

This article will be updated as new information about The Crown Season 6 becomes available.