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Season 4 is just around the corner, and here’s what we know about the anticipated portrayal of the Princess of Wales
Excitement for the next series of The Crown is intensifying (especially as they’ve announced there will be a sixth, final season), and we’ve slowly been getting more images of the cast as they take on members of the royal family. We recently saw Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher and now photos have been snapped of newcomer Emma Corrin as Diana, Princess of Wales, and more recently with God’s Own Country star Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles. And this week, it was announced that Tenent star Elizabeth Debicki would take over from Corrin as the late princess for the two final seasons.
“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one,” Debicki said in a statement.
Princess Diana, who was born in 1961, will be introduced in the upcoming fourth season with actor Emma Corrin. And here’s what we know so far:
Related: First look at Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown
The third season saw the introduction of Camilla Parker-Bowles, so it’s only natural that we will also meet Princess Diana – especially given the turbulent relationship that was always depicted between all three royals. Diana welcomed Prince William into the world in 1982, before having Prince Harry in ’84 but after a tumultuous and unhappy marriage, Diana and Charles announced their divorce in 1996, largely due to Charles’ lengthy affair with Camilla.
Season 4 will focus on Diana and Prince Charles’ courtship and subsequent marriage in 1981 when the late princess was 20.
Just this week, new shots emerged of Corrin wearing a purple smock dress as she films scenes set over Easter 1984, when Princess Diana was pregnant with second child Prince Harry. In one shot, the actress is holding her character’s firstborn Prince William with O’Connor as Prince Charles.
Earlier this year, the actor was spotted in Manchester filming an episode for the fourth season of the Netflix series, dressed in a pink, green, and yellow houndstooth skirt suit, among other outfits.
Later, the actor was photographed wearing a white beaded floor-length gown – most definitely a recreation of her royal character’s trip to New York City in 1989, during which she attended a gala dinner at the Winter Garden.
Finally, late last year, and taken while on set in Spain, actors Corrin and O’Connor meticulously recreated Diana and Charles’ 1983 royal tour of Australia, wearing nearly identical outfits to their royal counterparts when they visited Uluru at Ayers Rock — Collins in a white button-down dress cinched in at the waist (right down the windswept hair) and O’Connor in a safari-esque suit.
Corrin was also pictured in a head-to-toe pink look worn in Perth.
It’s expected that the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage – as well as the rekindling of his romance with Camilla Parker-Bowles, which started in the most recent season – will be explored next series.
“[I’m] beyond excited and honoured to be joining The Crown for its fourth season,” Corrin said in a statement. “I have been glued to the show since the first episode and to think I’m now joining this incredibly talented acting family is just surreal. Princess Diana was an icon, and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To be given the chance to explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity, and I will strive to do her justice!”
Best known for her guest role in ITV’s Grantchester in 2019 she will go on to star as Esme, a key role in the upcoming 10-part Warner Brothers/EPIX series Pennyworth.
Claire Foy will reportedly make a return appearance. Olivia Colman took over the role of Queen Elizabeth from Foy for season three — and will continue on for season four. However, Foy was recently spotted filming a flashback scene for the series, rumoured to be a re-creation of the famous radio broadcast then Princess Elizabeth made from South Africa in 1947 to commemorate her 21st birthday.
It will air in November. Netflix announced this week – despite previous reports we wouldn’t see season 4 until 2021 – it will air on November 15th
Related: WATCH: Netflix releases a sneak peek of The Crown Season 4
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Related: Gillian Anderson officially joins Season 4 of The Crown