The new season of The Crown focuses on one of the most tumultuous and contentious episodes in modern British history: King (then Prince) Charles’ divorce from Princess Diana. The public breakdown of the royal marriage in the 1990s was global tabloid fodder and harmed both Charles and the British Royal Family’s image. This season, Dominic West, who plays Charles, believes the show will give him a “fair hearing.”
The Crown follows Queen Elizabeth II throughout her life and reign. The first four seasons spanned the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. Every two seasons, the main cast is replaced. The fifth season features an all-new cast led by Imelda Stanton as Elizabeth, as well as a deep dive into some of the most turbulent years in recent British history. The divorce of Charles (Dominic) and Diana is the most notable (Elizabeth Debicki).
Dominic West discussed the possibility of viewers viewing Charles differently after season 5 at the show’s global press conference on Tuesday, which Hindustan Times attended. “He is one of the most scrutinised, publicised lives in the world,” he said. As a result, it’s difficult to know what people know about him. This time span encompasses the period following his divorce. A divorce has two sides, and I’m sure the viewers saw or heard one of them. Hopefully, there is now some perspective and everyone is given a fair hearing. That’s one of the reasons we’re doing it.”
After playing Charles on the show, the actor said he grew to sympathise with him and hoped the audience would as well. “I obviously adore him.” I’ve never heard it put better than Johnny did about having to fall in love with the character. You have to take their side and give them the benefit of the doubt at some point, and I hope that happens when people see Charles in this,” he added.
Peter Morgan is the creator of The Crown. The new season will be available on Netflix on November 9. Jonathan Pryce, Lesley Manville, and Jonny Lee Miller round out the cast.