The Crown Season 5: 7 Shocking Real-Life Scandals And Controversies Explored In The Netflix Hit

The Crown Season 5, which premiered on Netflix on November 9, 2022, delves into one of the most tumultuous and intensely scrutinised periods in the history of the British Royal Family: the 1990s. This era, notoriously dubbed the Queen's "annus horribilis" in 1992, saw multiple royal marriages dissolve, public opinion turn against the monarchy, and a media frenzy unlike any other. The show's creator, Peter Morgan, did not shy away from the most explosive moments, presenting a dramatised look at the breakdown of the marriage between Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Windsor Castle fire, and the escalating public scrutiny facing Queen Elizabeth II in her middle years. The casting of an entirely new ensemble, led by the incomparable Imelda Staunton as the Queen, brought a fresh, yet intensely debated, perspective to these historical events.

The fifth season, consisting of ten episodes, covers the period from approximately July 1991 to August 1997, a time defined by seismic shifts in the public perception of the Crown. As of today, December 18, 2025, the season remains a definitive, though controversial, piece of historical drama, sparking renewed debate over the balance between artistic license and historical accuracy, particularly concerning the portrayal of living figures and sensitive topics like the infamous *Panorama* interview. The show successfully captivated audiences with its deep dive into the monarchy's struggle for relevance in a rapidly modernising world.

The Crown Season 5: Full Cast and Key Historical Figures

Season 5 marked the final full-scale recasting of the principal roles, bringing in a stellar ensemble to portray the royals in their middle to later years. This shift in actors was crucial for reflecting the ageing of the characters and the darkening tone of the decade. The new cast successfully captured the tension and drama of the 1990s royal crises.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

• Queen Elizabeth II: Imelda Staunton (taking over from Olivia Colman)
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: Jonathan Pryce (taking over from Tobias Menzies)
• Prince Charles (now King Charles III): Dominic West (taking over from Josh O'Connor)
• Princess Diana: Elizabeth Debicki (taking over from Emma Corrin)
• Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla): Olivia Williams (taking over from Emerald Fennell)
• Princess Margaret: Lesley Manville (taking over from Helena Bonham Carter)
• John Major (Prime Minister): Jonny Lee Miller
• Mohamed Al-Fayed: Salim Daw
• Dodi Fayed: Khalid Abdalla
• Prince William: Senan West (Dominic West’s real-life son)
• Princess Anne: Claudia Harrison
• Prince Andrew, Duke of York: James Murray
• Sarah, Duchess of York (Fergie): Emma Laird Craig

This cast faced the challenge of portraying events that are still vivid in the public memory, including the intense media scrutiny and the emotional toll of the royal separations. The performances, particularly Elizabeth Debicki's stunning and empathetic portrayal of Princess Diana, were widely praised for their nuance and depth.

The Annus Horribilis and the Dismantling of a Monarchy

The 1990s were, by all accounts, a disastrous decade for the House of Windsor. The season's central theme is the crumbling of the royal institution under the weight of personal scandals and public disapproval. Queen Elizabeth II’s famous 1992 speech, where she described the year as her "annus horribilis" (horrible year), serves as a perfect encapsulation of the era covered by the series.

The season meticulously details the events of that fateful year, which saw the separation of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the divorce of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, and the publication of Andrew Morton's explosive book, *Diana: Her True Story*, which exposed the depth of the marital crisis between Charles and Diana. Furthermore, the devastating fire at Windsor Castle added a physical and financial disaster to the family's woes, forcing the Queen to agree to pay income tax for the first time. The show uses these events to explore the Queen's struggle to modernise the monarchy while maintaining its ancient dignity.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The 4 Most Controversial and Explosive Plotlines

While the entire season is steeped in controversy due to its sensitive subject matter, four specific plotlines generated the most significant debate and media attention, pushing the boundaries of the historical drama genre.

1. The Leaked 'Tampongate' Phone Calls

One of the most shocking real-life events of the 1990s was the leak of a private, intimate phone conversation between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in 1993, often sensationalised as 'Tampongate.' The season controversially recreates this conversation, focusing on Charles's humiliating public exposure. The episode highlights the destructive power of the tabloid press and the deep personal embarrassment it caused the future King, framing it as a moment that irrevocably damaged his public image and relationship with Diana. The decision to include the dialogue was met with criticism regarding its necessity and taste.

2. The BBC *Panorama* Interview

The climax of the season is Princess Diana's 1995 interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC's *Panorama* programme, where she famously stated, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." The show’s depiction of how Diana was allegedly coerced into the interview—a topic that has been the subject of an independent inquiry finding Bashir used 'deceitful behaviour'—was a major point of contention. The episode focuses on the emotional and political fallout, showing how the interview created an irreparable rift between Diana and the rest of the Royal Family, particularly the Queen.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

3. Prince Philip and Penny Knatchbull's Relationship

A surprising focus in the season is the close friendship between Prince Philip and Penelope "Penny" Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma. The show suggests a deep, intimate bond, exploring how their shared interest in carriage driving and their mutual support following a personal tragedy brought them close. This portrayal drew criticism for implying an inappropriate closeness or infidelity, which many royal commentators dismissed as fictionalised drama, thereby adding to the overall controversy surrounding the show's accuracy.

4. The Queen's Relevance and the Monarchy's Future

A less scandalous but equally important plotline is the Queen's existential crisis. The season opens with a storyline about the potential ‘dismantling’ of the Royal Yacht *Britannia*, a powerful symbol of the Monarchy's historical reach. This plot device is used to represent the Queen's fear that she and the institution she represents are becoming obsolete and too expensive for the modern era. The episode featuring Prime Minister John Major's perceived disloyalty and the public's questioning of the monarchy's cost highlights the intense pressure on the Crown to reform and modernise.

The Legacy and Topical Authority of Season 5

Despite the controversies, *The Crown Season 5* cemented the series' topical authority as a definitive, if dramatised, chronicle of the modern British Monarchy. By tackling the most sensitive and well-documented period of royal history, the show forced audiences to confront the complexities of public duty versus private life. The season successfully integrated a vast number of relevant entities, from key political figures like Prime Minister John Major to international figures like Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and the emerging presence of Mohamed Al-Fayed and his son Dodi Fayed, whose tragic story would dominate the subsequent season.

The deep dive into the 'War of the Waleses'—the public battle between Charles and Diana—provided a powerful foundation for the final season, which would cover the tragic events of 1997. The season’s lasting impact lies in its ability to generate global discussion about the power of media, the nature of celebrity, and the enduring, yet fragile, role of the monarchy in the 21st century. The performances, especially Elizabeth Debicki's, are now considered a benchmark for portraying the late Princess of Wales in modern media.