THE CROWN has made headlines following its portrayal of British royalty and the controversy that surrounds it.
Season 5 of the Netflix show is set to show the climax of the then Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship, and here is who gets to play William’s and Harry’s mother.
Princess Diana will be portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki in Season 5 of The Crown
Who plays Princess Diana in The Crown?
For seasons five and six the role will be played by Australian actress, Elizabeth Debicki.
In the fourth season of the show, Princess Diana is played by Emma Corrin – her first and last series.
Emma played a younger Princess Diana, while Elizabeth will play her from 1990 onwards until her tragic death.
Emma previously starred in Grantchester, while BBC fans will recognise Elizabeth from The Night Manager.
ROYALLY SCREWED
Princess Diana wages war on Royal Family in new trailer for The Crown
A show insider from The Crown said: “Seasons five and six will see Diana emerging as an effortless icon but yet still retaining that fragility.
“The role requires a fearless actor to bring truth to this beloved yet complex icon.
“Elizabeth had that perfect combination of megawatt star quality and vulnerability.”
What are Princess Diana’s biggest storylines in The Crown?
Diana’s bulimia
Episode three of the series graphically depicts Princess Diana struggling with an eating disorder.
Diana sneaking into the Buckingham Palace kitchens, gorging on puddings before making herself violently sick.
This is historically accurate, as Diana admitted to author Andrew Morton that she did suffer from an eating disorder, and even made herself sick the night before her wedding.
Tour of Australia and New Zealand
Diana and Charles’s five-week tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1983 is recreated in episode six.
It becomes clear that Diana is much more beloved by the public than Charles, and he is seen beginning to resent “Dianamania”.
He says spitefully: “All I am good for these days is collecting flowers for my wife”.
The episode shows how Diana’s popularity on that tour drove a wedge between the couple.
Diana’s trip to New York
The last episode of the series sees Diana on a solo trip to New York in 1989 where, at a hospital in Harlem, she hugged a boy suffering from AIDS.
In the programme, Charles accuses his wife of grandstanding and criticises her for “theatrically hugging the wretched and the dispossessed”
Diana’s ballet dancing
In episode nine of the show, Diana surprises her husband by ballet-dancing on stage at London’s Royal Opera House with Wayne Sleep, to Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl.
In The Crown, Charles tells his wife on the way home: “What were you thinking? That grotesque, mortifying display had nothing to do with me or my happiness.
“Eight minutes they were on their feet, cheering you, and tomorrow the newspapers will be about nothing other than you!”
Who else has played Princess Diana in TV and film?
The Celeb Report has ranked the best and worst portrayals of Princess Diana over the years.
Colin Tebbutt, who worked as Diana’s driver, famously said: “No one on TV or film has been able to capture her amazing personality.”
So, here’s a breakdown of those who came before Emma and Elizabeth.
Caroline Bliss
Caroline Bliss as Princess Diana
Caroline played a young Princess Di in 1982 in Charles And Diana, A Royal Love Story.
She played Miss Moneypenny in Bond films The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill..
Serena Scott Thomas
Serena looks somewhat like Diana
Serena starred in Diana: Her True Story in 1998.
The TV film was adapted from a book.
Julie Cox
Julie Cox wasn’t made to look close to the People’s Princess
Julia played the Princess in 1996 show Princess In Love.
It charted Diana’s romance with James Hewitt, a cavalry officer.
Amy Seccombe
Amy was cast to play out Diana’s final years
Diana: A Tribute To The People’s Princess saw Amy portray Diana towards the end of her life.
Amy is best known for this biographical TV film.
Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts was reportedly not sold on the role at first
Naomi took the lead role in 2013 film Diana, in which her later relationships were explored.
As well as playing an iconic person, Naomi has starred in other films that went on to have iconic status such as Mulholland Drive, King Kong and The Ring.
Genevieve O’Reilly
Genevieve was made to look similar to Princess Diana
Genevieve featured in Diana: Last Days Of A Princess, a film that mixed real footage with acting.
Her best work though has been in Star Wars as Mon Mothma.
Lesley Harcourt
Lesley Harcourt had a smaller role in a movie charting William and Kate’s relationship
William & Catherine: A Royal Romance obviously didn’t see Princess Diana at its centre, but her character did appear at moments.
Lesley has enjoyed roles in Taggart, EastEnders and Coronation Street.
Jeanna de Waal
Jeanna will portray the much loved royal on Broadway
Jeanna is due to star in upcoming Broadway musical Diana.
It will premiere on Netflix in October 2021 as the stage show has been halted.
When is The Crown series five coming to Netflix?
The Crown series five is set to hit Netflix on November 9, 2022.
The creators of the show have been reportedly put “on edge” as the new season will delve into the moments that led to Princess Diana’s death.
“We’ve been dreading getting to this point,” a source on the production told Deadline.
“The countdown is two weeks and while we’re calmly carrying on it’s fair to acknowledge that there’s a certain anxiety – a palpable sense of being slightly on edge.
“I mean, there’s bombshell sensitivity surrounding this one.”
MONEY MUM
I'm a mum and I earn £10.6k a month with my side hustle…I work an hour a day
“It’s the run-up – the car leaving The Ritz after midnight with paparazzi in pursuit,” the source added.
“And then the aftermath with the British Ambassador to France swinging into action with the Foreign Office and then the subsequent constitutional aftermath.”
