Since its debut in 2016, The Crown has been one of the most popular shows among Netflix subscribers as well as one of the streaming service’s most expensive series, and during that time, it has won countless awards, including multiple Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAS, and others. But, all good things must come to an end at some point, and such is the fate for the sprawling Netflix drama centering on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch who passed away after 70 years atop the throne.
That will all be coming to an end soon as the Royal drama’s final season is right around the corner. Below is everything we know about The Crown Season 6, including its premiere date, trailer, cast, and so much more.
What Is The Crown Season 6 Premiere Date?
Unlike previous installments of The Crown, the show’s sixth and final season will be split into two chunks: Part 1, which premieres November 16, 2023, and Part 2, which will debut a little less than a month later on December 14, 2023. However, the final chapter of the decades-spanning Royal drama series will once again consist of 10 episodes, with four being released in November and the remaining six coming out in December, according to Netflix Tudum.
The Main Players On The Crown Cast Will Return For The Sixth Season
The first two seasons of The Crown saw the likes of Claire Foy and Matt Smith take on the roles of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, respectively, with Seasons 3 and 4 featuring Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies taking over as slightly older versions of the heads of the royal family. That trend will continue for the final chapter of the captivating saga, with the main players of The Crown Season 5 cast returning for a second, and final go.
In a series of posts made by the official The Crown Facebook page in August 2020, it was confirmed that Imelda Staunton would be playing Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of the series, with Jonathan Pryce portraying Prince Philip, and Lesley Manville taking on the role of Princess Margaret (she was previously portrayed by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter). The account later confirmed that Elizabeth Debicki would be playing Princess Diana in the final two seasons. According to EW, Dominic West will also be back for the final season as Prince Charles (previously portrayed by Josh O’Connor in the show’s third and fourth seasons), despite initially turning down the role.
Prince William And Kate Middleton Will Be Portrayed In The Crown’s Final Season
There has been no confirmation as to how far The Crown Season 6 will go with its story, but several early casting decisions could help make sense of the scope of the show’s final chapter. In September 2022, Deadline reported that actors had been cast to take on the roles of Prince William and his eventual wife, Kate Middleton. According to the outlet, Rufus Kampa will play the teenage version of the future King of England, while Ed McVey will take on the monarch’s early adult years. Meg Bellamy will be taking on the role of a younger Middleton.
The First Trailer For The Crown Season 6 Sees A Queen Reflecting On Her Life And Legacy
In October 2023, Netflix gave the world a brief yet official look at The Crown Season 6 with a short date announcement trailer. Though not an extensive video showcasing the major plot points from the upcoming closing chapter, the teaser did lay the groundwork for the season to come, especially with its depiction of Queen Elizabeth II walking through Buckingham Palace, donning a lilac dress and matching hat, and reflecting on her life and legacy as the long-serving monarch.
It’s not clear exactly when this scene takes place (perhaps a wedding, jubilee, or other special occasion), but it is easy to point out that the Queen is experiencing some kind of personal crisis (or many, considering what this season is to cover), as she looks back on her life and the decisions she made throughout her reign. And while we don’t know how the season will bring Claire Foy and Olivia Colman back, the actress’ voices are clearly heard in the trailer.
The Crown Season 6 Will Explore The Events Surrounding Princess Diana’s Death And Queen Elizabeth II’s Reflection On Her Reign
In the same Netflix Tudum post announcing the return date for The Crown, it was also revealed how the story will unfold and what will be covered in its two parts. The first section, which consists of four episodes, will explore the events surrounding the tragic 1997 passing of Princess Diana. We don’t yet know how these four episodes will play out, but one could assume it will end with the Queen’s former daughter-in-law’s heavily televised funeral.
The second part, consisting of six episodes, will have a more far-reaching plotline, as it will follow Queen Elizabeth II as she contemplates her own future and that of the crown, the wedding of her heir Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, and the college years of future king, Prince William, a time in which he meets Kate Middleton.
The Moment Of Princess Diana’s Fatal Car Crash Will Not Be Filmed In The Crown Season 6
Though the fateful 1997 car crash that claimed Princess Diana’s life (as well as that of her partner, Dodi Fayed) will be featured in some way throughout the final season, the moment of the accident will not be filmed for the show.
In October 2022, just weeks before The Crown Season 5 premiered, Deadline “independently confirmed” the collision would not be re-created in any way for the final season. This came just days after The Sun published a story about several members of the crew feeling uneasy about the show recreating Diana’s final days in Paris before the tragic accident, though Netflix told the publication that the exact moment of the crash will not be shown.
Princess Diana’s Death And Funeral Are Being Handled With ‘Sensitivity’ On The Crown Season 6
The Crown is no stranger when it comes to controversy, especially with the most recent season earning harsh words following the release of its trailer in October 2022. And it seems like the controversies will only continue, especially with the subject matter of the show’s sixth and final season. But Elizabeth Debicki, who’s playing Princess Diana, didn’t sound all that worried about it all during an interview with EW, where she explained how the cast and crew are handling Princess Diana’s death, funeral, and other aspects:
Peter [Morgan] and the entire crew of this job do their utmost to really handle everything with such sensitivity and truth and complexity, as do actors. The amount of research and care and conversations and dialogue that happen over, from a viewer's perspective, something probably that you would never ever notice is just immense. From that very first meeting [with] Peter, I knew that I'd entered into this space where this was taken seriously [in] a deeply caring way. So that's my experience of the show.
Debicki’s co-star, Dominic West, explained later on in the profile that he isn’t taking Princess Diana’s death lightly, saying he has “a heavy, heavy responsibility to get it right.”
Expect to hear much more about The Crown Season 6 in the coming weeks as we work towards its November 16th release. In the meantime, take a look at the 2023 TV schedule for all the latest on other new and returning shows coming your way before the end of the year.
