The Crown season V

Backstage just as juicy as in the series

Yesterday, season 5 of The Crown premiered (which, with 17.6 million viewing hours, is one of the most-watched series in recent years), something we all – hello winter time – were really looking forward to. There has been much discussion about whether it is appropriate to show their personal drama so soon after the death of Queen Elizabeth. A tricky discussion, because what is the right moment then? In any case, the series now has an official this-is-drama disclaimer, maybe that's a soft plaster. The facts are, as always, dazzling.

Dominic West plays Prince Charles and tried to get in touch with him before he started acting.
He received a response from Charles's secretary with the words: ‘Do what you like, you’re an actor, it has nothing to do with us.’

Elizabeth Debicki, the woman who plays Diana, is just as tall as Diana was.
And that is quite exceptionally tall and also taller than both Charles and Dominic West. So if you watch and think: is that right, then it really is.

It is the first season that starts with a disclaimer.
There is quite a bit of criticism of this series. It covers a period that took place only twenty years ago (that's why I find it delicious, because I still remember it all and can't wait to have it served again), but that can make it hurtful and painful for the protagonists of the story. Moreover, the Queen has only just passed away, so the question is whether it is appropriate to rip off all the scabs from the recently healed family wounds. Under pressure from the government and at the behest of actress Judi Dench, each episode now has a disclaimer stating that it is ‘fictional dramatization, inspired by real life events‘. Jonathan Pryce, the actor who plays Philip this season, was also publicly angry with colleagues.

Filming was halted when the Queen passed away, as a sign of respect.

Camilla made jokes about The Crown when she met Dominic West.
Camilla herself doesn't seem to be really afraid of what this season will bring. Probably because everyone has already heard the most embarrassing (tampongate for example). When she met Dominic West somewhere last year, she greeted him with ‘your majesty’.

Jemima Khan stepped back as a consultant.
Do you remember Jemima Khan, that beautiful ex of Hugh Grant? She was involved with Peter Morgan in the series and advised them on the scripts and storytelling. She felt that fragments in this season regarding Diana were not presented respectfully enough and stepped back.

350 props from the set were stolen with a total value of 200,000 euros.
Think of Fabergé eggs, golden candlesticks, and so on.