Season 5 of Netflix's critically acclaimed show 'The Crown' has confirmed to be releasing November 9. Video / DiscussingFilm
Senior sources at Buckingham Palace have reportedly made the rare move of weighing in about the upcoming season of Netflix's hit series The Crown.
The royal drama has long made headlines for dredging up historical scandals the British royal family would rather forget, and events in the upcoming fifth season are about as damaging as it gets.
The timing of the new series makes matters even more of a headache for the royals. The November 9 premiere is just two months after the Queen's death and King Charles' ascension to the throne.
The upcoming season of The Crown is the most sordid yet for Charles, with a palace official revealing the royal family has “moved to protect” him. Photo / Getty Images
A matter of weeks into the 73-year-old's job as monarch, Charles' most scandalous period will play out on season 5 of the lauded, award-winning series.
It's set during the 1990s, amid the salacious breakdown of Charles and Diana's marriage.
Princess Diana is played by Elizabeth Debicki for season 5 of The Crown. Photo / Netflix
While the royals have never commented on the events in the drama, a senior royal source has told the Telegraph the palace has "moved to protect" the new King, with the official emphasising the show is "a drama, not a documentary".
A short video clip released to social media at Netflix's TUDUM fan event at the weekend is possibly what triggered palace concerns.
It teases some of what to expect from the new season, featuring a scene intercut between Charles and Diana as they prepare to give separate high-profile TV interviews.
A voiceover intones, "There's uproar in Britain after Prince Charles bared his soul to the nation but the Princess of Wales upstaged her husband speaking about her marriage, her life and her future" but it ends on, "This is becoming all-out war".
Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki join the cast as Charles and Diana, taking the reins from Josh O'Connor and Emma Corrin who portrayed the former Prince and Princess Wales in season four.
Dominic West is Prince Charles in the upcoming fifth season of The Crown. Photo / Netflix
There was some speculation as to whether the upcoming series would be pushed back after Queen Elizabeth's death.
The season is to be especially challenging for Charles, resurfacing salacious details of his and Diana's separation, which was publicly played out for all to read, hear and see. Charles' image was severely dented by his protracted split from Diana, while Camilla was branded as "the other woman".
The season will run from the early to mid-1990s but will end before Diana's death, which will be covered in the sixth season.
