Everything We Know So Far About Season 5 of 'The Crown'

Netflix shares new pics, including young Will and Harry!

The Crown is returning just a few months into the reign of King Charles III ... and it seems an "all-out war" between the former Prince and Princess of Wales awaits viewers in season 5.

According to Netflix's Tudum, the penultimate season will explore "the breakdown of the marriage between" Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who in real-life separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

Following the release of a teaser, The Telegraph reported that a senior royal source stressed that the series is “a drama not a documentary.”

Dominic West, who is taking over the role of Prince Charles from Josh O’Connor, told Tudum, “I think people understand, because the cast has changed every two seasons, that this is not an imitation."

“This is an evoking of a character. That’s really where the show lives: in the imagined conversations of their private life, which is something that no one knows. I think that’s what it gets a lot of criticism for," he added. "How can you know what they talk about in their private lives? The obvious answer is we don’t, but we have an incredible writer, a dramatist, who imagines based on exhaustive research, and that’s really part of the fascination of the show.”

From who will be playing Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana this time around to the premiere date, here is everything we know so far about The Crown season 5.

Related: How Accurate Is The Crown?

When is The Crown season 5's release date?

The fifth season premieres Nov. 9, 2022.

What time will The Crown season 5 be released?

The new season will be released in the states at 3 a.m. ET.

Is there a trailer for season 5 of The Crown?

Less than a month before the premiere, Netflix dropped the official trailer on Oct. 20. “The royal family is in genuine crisis,” a voice says in the trailer, which shows Diana sitting down for an interview saying: “I won’t go quietly. I’ll battle till the end.”

As Netflix noted, it is "The beginning of the end." Watch the official trailer below:

Ahead of the trailer's debut, the streaming giant shared official first look images from season 5 featuring the brand-new cast. We see Dominic West's Charles and Olivia Williams' Camilla Parker Bowles together, as well as shots of the onscreen Prince William and Prince Harry, among others.

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How many episodes will there be in season 5 of The Crown?

Fans can look forward to 10 episodes for The Crown season 5.

Who will play Queen Elizabeth in season 5 of The Crown?

Imelda Staunton's reign as Queen Elizabeth II will begin in season 5. After playing the monarch for two seasons, Olivia Colman, who won a 2021 Emmy for her portrayal of the Queen, will be passing the crown to Staunton.

Who will play Princess Diana in season 5 of The Crown?

Elizabeth Debicki is taking over the role of Princess Diana, which was originated by Emma Corrin in season 4. “Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many,” Debicki previously said in a statement when her casting was announced. “It is my true privilege and honor to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.” The Australian actress is set to play the Princess of Wales in the show's final seasons.

Related: Royal Life Was a 'Mix Between The Truman Show' and 'a Zoo'—The Biggest Revelations From Prince Harry's New Interview

Who will play Prince William in season 5 of The Crown?

In an example of art imitating life, Senan West, the son of The Crown's new Prince Charles (Dominic West) will portray his dad's character's on-camera offspring, Prince William! According to Variety, "Senan has been cast as a slightly older Prince William, portraying him as he begins to mature into a young man. He will make his on-screen debut in the final episodes of the season."

Who else will be in The Crown's season 5 cast?

Like season 3, the Netflix series will have an entirely new cast for season 5. The cast includes:

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II

Dominic West as Prince Charles

Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip

Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret

Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed

Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed

Given that season 4 introduced Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Harry, it's possible that viewers might also see the Queen's relatives played by new actors in season 5.

Related: Meet The Crown's Real-Life Royal Fans and Foes! 

What will happen in season 5 of The Crown?

The synopsis for season 5 reads: "The Queen is approaching the 40th anniversary of her accession. Setting off on Britannia for her annual tour of Scotland’s Western Isles, she reflects on a reign that has encompassed nine Prime Ministers, the advent of mass television and the twilight of the British Empire. However, as a new decade enters its stride, the old certainties are no longer guaranteed. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong signals a seismic shift in the international order and presents the monarchy with both challenges and opportunities, but trouble is brewing closer to home."

"As the fairy tale marriage breaks down, Prince Charles pressures his mother to allow him to divorce Diana, presenting a constitutional crisis of the Monarchy. Rumors circulate as husband and wife are seen to live increasingly separate lives, and as media scrutiny intensifies Diana decides to take control of her own narrative, breaking with family protocol to publish a book that undermines public support for Charles and exposes the cracks in the House of Windsor. It could not have come at a worse time for the Royal family, with the public questioning their role in 90’s Britain," the synopsis continues. "Observing events is John Major, Margaret Thatcher’s successor as Prime Minister. As he navigates relations with the Palace, whilst dealing with a global recession, Major faces the constitutional challenge of his life: the divorce of the Prince and Princess of Wales. With cracks to The Firm clearly on show, Mohamed Al Fayed arrives on the scene and, driven by his desire for acceptance of the highest order, harnesses his self-made wealth and power to try and earn him and his son Dodi a seat at the Royal table."

The '90s were full of royal splits and tragedy for Queen Elizabeth's family. Events of the time period include John Major becoming Prime Minister in 1990, Charles and Diana separating in 1992, the 1992 Windsor Castle fire, and Diana's bombshell 1995 interview. Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips' marriage was dissolved in 1992, while Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.

Her Majesty referred to 1992 as an “annus horribilis,” a Latin phrase that means horrible year. "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilis,'" the Queen said in a speech to mark the 40th anniversary of her succession.

Related: The Crown Author Explains Why We Loved Queen Elizabeth II So Much

What happened in season 4 of The Crown?

The Diana years finally arrived in the most recent season of the critically acclaimed series. Viewers saw Prince Charles meet a young Diana at her family home and their brief courtship, which was encouraged by his family and lover Camilla Parker Bowles. The season explored the royal couple's troubled marriage and their desire to end it. Over the course of season 4, Princes William and Harry were born, Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson and Queen Elizabeth faced off against the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher.

But, let's breakdown that final episode, shall we?

In the finale titled "War," Charles tells his mother that he has done his "very best," but he is "suffering" in his marriage to Diana. However, the Queen, who is aware of all of Charles and Diana's issues, including infidelity and "psychological problems," gave her firstborn a dressing down.

"They know you're a spoiled, immature man endlessly complaining unnecessarily, married to a spoiled immature woman, endlessly complaining unnecessarily," she tells Charles. The Queen declares that he and Diana will "not separate or divorce or let the side down in any way." The monarch tells her son if he expects to be King, which he does, she suggests that he starts behaving like one.

While Charles discussed his marriage with the Queen, Diana spoke about her troubles with her father-in-law, Prince Philip, who assured her that his son will come around eventually when he realizes he can never have Camilla.

"If this family can't give me the love and security that I feel I deserve, then I believe I have no option but to break away, officially and find it myself," Diana says, to which Philip replies, "I wouldn't do that if I were you." "Why not," the Princess asks. "Let's just say I can't see it ending well for you," the Duke answers. "I hope that isn't a threat, sir," Diana responds.

Philip reminds his daughter-in-law that everyone in the family is a "lost, lonely, irrelevant outsider" apart from the only person who matters...the Queen.

Related: Olivia Colman Recalls 'Accidentally' Meeting Queen Elizabeth II

When will The Crown end?

The Crown was originally supposed to end after season 5, however, the streaming giant announced in July 2019 that the series was being extended another season. Creator Peter Morgan explained in a statement, “As we started to discuss the storylines for Series 5, it soon became clear that in order to do justice to the richness and complexity of the story we should go back to the original plan and do six seasons.”

He added, “To be clear, [season] 6 will not bring us any closer to present day–it will simply enable us to cover the same period in greater detail.” (In other words: No Harry and Meghan, probably.)

Next: Who Is Playing Kate Middleton in the Final Season of The Crown?