Although tabloids and royal watchers still can’t get enough of those rascally monarchs, Netflix is preparing to launch the last season of The Crown, which has somehow only been on TV since 2016. Sadly, no season will dissect Harry’s defection and subsequent Oprah interview, no matter how much those Markle heads demand it. The show will end, as many probably predicted, shortly after Diana’s death, and the new trailer for the sixth and final season really wants us to know it.
Opening on a lone Diana (Elizabeth Debicki) sitting at a piano, the first minute of the clip sees Diana “dashing around” in a gloomy haze of paparazzi flashbulbs as she gets in and out of limos, private jets, and yachts. “Unfortunately, Your Majesty, interest in the princess’ private life is unlikely to die down any time soon,” an offscreen voice warns Queen Elizabeth (Imelda Staunton). By the end of the first minute, Diana reads a note that asks, “Paris next week?” Subtlety has no place in Buckingham. Yes, the final season of The Crown will deal with the death of Diana and the fallout from it. As such, Netflix’s trailer spells out everything we’ll see this season.
Diana’s death, however, is foregrounded by her mother-in-law’s deep dislike for the woman. “You’ve finally succeeded in turning this house upside down,” Elizabeth tells Diana. “It’s nothing less than revolution.” Those words ring out as the phones blare and helicopters cross the channel, introducing the second half of the trailer, which teases Queen Elizabeth’s emergence as a leader. She would continue as queen until the end of the monarchy because without The Crown, kings and queens become mere symbolic figureheads, living freely in a palace paid for by public funds.
Since this is The Crown’s last go-round, Netflix has cloven the season in twain. Part One, consisting of episodes one through four and presumably ending with Diana’s death, will premiere on November 16, and Part Two, episodes five through ten, i.e., the boring part without Diana, will premiere on December 14. However, in that second part, royal watchers will get a few moments with Kate Middleton and her hats, so that’s something to look forward to.