Windsor Castle is in flames as season five of Netflix’s Emmy-winning global hit, The Crown, kicks off and it’s an apt metaphor for what the royal family was about to face in the ‘90s.

Prince Charles (Dominic West, assuming the role from Emmy-winner Josh O’Connor) and Princess Diana (Elizabeth Debicki, taking over from Emmy-nominated Emma Corrin) are at the end of their marriage. Charles wants to divorce his wife so he can publicly be with his true love, Camilla (Olivia Williams) but Diana is deeply struggling with the situation, which is throwing the monarchy into crisis.

Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II (Imelda Staunton, taking over from Emmy-winner Olivia Colman) is nearing the 40th anniversary of her ascension to the crown and seeing seismic shifts in the world, including the decline of the British Empire and the end of the Soviet Union.

Also joining the cast are Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes) as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as Princess Margaret and Jonny Lee Miller (Elementary) as Prime Minister John Major. Salim Daw is Mohamed Al Fayed and Khalid Abdalla is his son, Dodi. Prasanna Puwanarajah is journalist Martin Bashir.

Season five of Netflix’s The Crown drops November 9 on Netflix.

Key art for season five of Netflix's 'The Crown'
Key art for season five of Netflix’s ‘The Crown’

Tags: netflix the crown


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