The Crown Season Five: Here’s Everything You Need To Know

It's happening... The Crown series five is upon us. This series - probably the most hotly anticipated so far - follows the Royal family throughout the tumultuous 90s, including Queen Elizabeth's 'annus horribilis',chronicling Princess Diana's divorce from a then Prince Charles, her famous Panorama interview with Martin Bashir and THAT revenge dress. From the cast to the most controversial scenes - here's everything you need to know about season five.

Who plays The Queen in The Crown Season 5?

Imelda Staunton, Oscar-nominated star of Vera Drake, takes over the role of The Queen from Olivia Colman for seasons five and six of The Crown. 'I have loved watching The Crown from the very start,' Imelda said. 'As an actor it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan’s scripts. I am genuinely honoured to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion.’

Who plays Prince Philip in The Crown Season 5?

Actor Jonathan Pryce, known for The Two Popes, The Wife, Evita and Tomorrow Never Dies, takes over from Tobias Menzies. There has been a lot of controversy about the decision to depict the late Prince Philip's friendship with Penelope Knatchbull - with many saying it is disrespectful to memory of The Queen.

Who plays Princess Margaret in The Crown Season 5?

Esteemed British actress Lesley Manvilletakes the role from Helena Bonham Carter. ‘I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret’, she said. ‘The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down. Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.’ Season five revisits her doomed love affair with Peter Townsend.

Who plays Princess Anne in The Crown Season 5?

Claudia Harrison steps into the role of Princess Anne after Erin Doherty's portrayal in seasons three and four. Season five touches on Anne's divorce and relationship with Commander Timothy Lawrence.

Who plays Prince Charles in The Crown Season 5?

Dominic West, star of The Affair and The Wire, picks up the mantle from Josh O'Connor. West's real-life son, 13-year-old Sennan West plays a young Prince William in the new season too.

Who plays Princess Diana in The Crown Season 5?

The Night Manager actress Elizabeth Debicki plays Diana in the final few years of her life. 'Princess Diana's spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many,' Elizabeth said. 'It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.'

On playing the role she said: '[I]n the journey of The Crown so far out of all the seasons, this is the most visual content we have of the Royal Family. In the 90s everything had started to be filmed and also it was the birth of the 24-hour news cycle so there's just this incredible amount of content that we have access to.'

Who plays Camilla in The Crown Season 5?

British actress Olivia Williams takes over from Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker-Bowles. While Camilla was portrayed harshly in the press in the 90s, Williams hopes the new season of The Crown dispels ‘the trope of the marriage breaker that the press fed at the time’.

Who plays John Major in the Crown Season 5?

Jonny Lee Miller - star of Trainspotting and Elementary plays the Conservative Prime Minister, who Queen Elizabeth was reportedly fond of.

Who plays Prince Andrew in The Crown Season 5?

The Primeval and Cutting It actor, James Murray plays Prince Andrew. Murray replaces Tom Byrne, who played the prince in season four.

Previously, a representative from the Crown was forced to deny reports that the show were 'struggling' to cast an actor for the role.

The actress Emma Laird Craigwill play Prince Andrew's wife Fergie.

Who plays Penelope Knatchbull in The Crown Season 5?

As well as many cast replacements, new characters like aristocrat Penelope Knatchbull, aka Lady Romsey will appear in season 5. Stepping into the role of Prince Phillip's confidante is Californication and Designated Survivor's Natascha McElhone.

Will Season 5 of The Crown depict the Martin Bashir and Princess Diana Interview?

Season five does recreate the famous Panorama interview with Martin Brashir and Princess Diana in 1995. This bombshell interview sparked headlines worldwide as the Princess referred to the Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles affair. Her famous words, 'there are three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded' sent shockwaves through the royal family and beyond.

The Daily Mail reported that Prince William was 'frustrated' by the show’s decision to dedicate an entire episode to the Panorama interview. He previously slammed the BBC for it's 'deceitful measures' to secure his mother's interview with Bashir. At the time he expressed in a statement, 'It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialized by the BBC and others.'

The Crown Season 5 Reviews: what have the critics said?

The first reviews of The Crown S5 are divided, with some calling it 'boring and bitty' and others praising the 'lavish' drama, and Elizabeth Debicki's performance as Princess Diana in particular.

Will there be six seasons of The Crown?

Yes, the sixth season will be the final instalment of The Crown and filming has already started on the sixth season, with the show having cast a teenage Prince William and a young Kate Middleton.

WATCH The Crown Season Five trailer