Questions have swirled about what events The Crown season 6 could cover ever since it was announced, and Netflix’s recent tease has brought audiences closer to the answer. A dramatized retelling of historical events, The Crown chronicles the momentous reign of the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Since the show’s debut in 2016, there has been no clarity as to how far into Elizabeth’s life The Crown will go. However, a recent tease by Netflix’s social media provides a clear indicator of what the final season could cover.
Netflix tweeted a behind-the-scenes image from The Crown season 6 revealing that the show will cover the 2005 marriage of Charles III and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. While the show’s creator had stated that The Crown wouldn’t go past the 2000s, this is the clearest evidence of The Crown’s full timeline there has been. This photo from Netflix’s The Crown confirms that season 6 will span from 1998 to at least 2005, making it possible to speculate what other major events might be in store for the royals in the upcoming season.
10 Princess Diana’s Death
One of the most anticipated royal events for The Crown season 6 to cover is Princess Diana’s death. After a car chase in Paris involving the paparazzi, Diana was tragically killed in a fatal accident on August 31, 1997, along with her lover, Dodi Al-Fayed. Given that the previous season ended in 1997, Diana’s shocking, premature death is one of the major events that affected the Windsors that can be counted on to appear in The Crown season 6.
The fact that The Crown was going to cover Princess Diana’s death drew much debate, which was thankfully put to rest with the reveal that the Netflix show wouldn’t depict her death onscreen. Because of this, The Crown’s coverage of Diana’s death will likely surround the royal family’s reactions and grief. The sudden death of a family member is traumatic, and this would especially be the case for the royal family, particularly Prince William, Prince Harry, and the future King Charles. By including Diana’s death in The Crown season 6, the royal drama has a unique opportunity to show the inner emotions of the typically stoic Windsors.
9 Tony Blair’s Premiership
There has been a huge focus on the prime ministers who served during Queen Elizabeth’s rule in The Crown, which means that Tony Blair’s premiership will be a major arc for season 6. Blair was elected in 1997 and served as prime minister until 2007, meaning his premiership spans the entirety of The Crown season 6. During his time as prime minister, Blair saw several huge events in recent history, such as the Good Friday Agreement, making his premiership an important one.
Blair’s premiership will also be significant for The Crown season 6 because of the change that he represented for Britain at the time. Both the youngest prime minister for several years and emblematic of the “New Labour” movement, Blair was a beacon of modern ideas for the British government, even if some were controversial. The juxtaposition of the perceived modern change that Blair represented during his premiership and the longstanding rule of Queen Elizabeth II could prove to be an interesting dynamic, making Tony Blair’s premiership an event worth anticipating in the show.
8 Good Friday Agreement
A significant event that occurred early in Tony Blair’s premiership that could be covered in The Crown season 6 is the Good Friday Agreement. Signed in 1998, the Good Friday Agreement effectively ended the violence of the Troubles, which had plagued the UK and Ireland since the 1960s. Although The Crown has not extensively covered the Troubles throughout its first five seasons outside of Lord Mountbatten’s assassination, the Good Friday Agreement signaled a major change for the UK and the Crown’s sovereignty, making it an important event to be included in The Crown season 6’s timeline.
7 The Queen Mother’s Centenarian Celebration
In 2000, Queen Elizabeth’s mother celebrated her 100th birthday, which falls squarely in The Crown season 6’s timeline. During her later years, the Queen Mother was known for her longevity, and she became the first member of the British royal family to be a centenarian. Several celebrations were held in her honor, including a parade of her life’s achievements, a commemorative 20-pound note with her face on it, and a luncheon at Guildhall. Given the heavy nature of some of the other events that will appear in The Crown season 6, including the Queen Mother’s centenarian celebration could provide a spot of joyousness.
Outside of being an exciting milestone for the Queen Mother, the centenarian celebration is also significant for how it could impact Queen Elizabeth in The Crown season 6. In the Netflix show’s fifth season, the British monarch grapples with aging, and celebrating her mother’s 100th birthday could draw up those themes once again. The dramatic irony that Queen Elizabeth II wouldn’t reach the same milestone that her mother did makes the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday equally bittersweet as it is joyous, which is another reason it will be a huge event for The Crown season 6.
6 Princess Margaret’s Death
A year of personal loss and tragedy for Queen Elizabeth II, 2002 began with the death of her sister, Princess Margaret. Toward the end of her life, the Countess of Snowdon was plagued with health problems and a series of strokes, partially as a result of years of heavy smoking and drinking. After suffering another stroke, Princess Margaret passed away on February 9, three days after the 50th anniversary of her father, King George VI’s death. Given Princess Margaret’s passing was the second major death of a senior royal family member in five years, this is a major event that will take place in The Crown season 6.
Princess Margaret’s life was a significant focus during the first two seasons of The Crown, which will make her death a huge blow in the Netflix show. The event will also have a huge effect on Queen Elizabeth II, who, despite having had a complex relationship with Margaret over the years, will be devastated by the loss of her younger sister. As both a tragic conclusion to Margaret’s troubled life and another reflection of Queen Elizabeth’s struggles with aging, Margaret’s death will be a major event both for the plot and themes of The Crown.
5 The Queen Mother’s Death
Not only did Queen Elizabeth lose Princess Margaret in 2002, but the Queen Mother died that year as well. After Margaret’s death, the Queen Mother’s health began to deteriorate, and she passed away just a month after Princess Margaret on March 30 at the age of 101. Experiencing so much death in such close succession would be a struggle for any person, but especially Queen Elizabeth II, who had close relationships with her mother and sister throughout The Crown. Having to process such a high volume of personal loss will challenge Elizabeth’s ability to sacrifice emotions for duty, which makes the Queen Mother’s death a major event for season 6.
4 Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee
One of the more joyous events that The Crown season 6 can cover is Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee. The Golden Jubilee is one of the more important milestones in the Queen’s reign, marking 50 years since she ascended the throne in 1952, making it an important event for The Crown. After the deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, the press questioned whether the Golden Jubilee would be successful. However, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s extensive tour went off without too many hiccups, and there was an impressive turnout during London’s jubilee celebration, demonstrating a continued reverence for the monarch.
The Crown has questioned what role the monarchy should still have in modern-day Britain throughout the show’s run, and as time went on, Queen Elizabeth has questioned herself as a monarch as well. However, the success of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in the wake of so much personal tragedy in her life demonstrates that she still has a role to play in British life during The Crown despite the changing times. Because of this, the Golden Jubilee is a triumphant major event that could appear in The Crown season 6.
3 Prince William & Kate Middleton Start Dating
Another major event that will be focused on in The Crown season 6 is the early days of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship, which has been a huge focus in the media since its inception. The future Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met at university and were initially friends prior to beginning a romantic relationship together in 2002. Prince William and Kate’s relationship became public knowledge in 2004, spawning lots of media interest. Based on what is known about The Crown season 6’s timeline, the show won’t go far beyond the beginnings of their romance, but that doesn’t make it any less important for the series.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship could be an interesting focus for The Crown not just for the juicy details, but also as a counterpoint to the marriage of William’s parents. The latter half of The Crown has spent much time on the tumultuous relationship between Charles and Diana, and showing how this has affected their children in future romances would be an interesting approach. Because of the thematic significance it could hold, William and Kate’s early dating history will be an interesting event for The Crown season 6.
2 Charles & Camilla’s Wedding
Recent teases from Netflix confirm that one of The Crown’s biggest events in season 6 will see the marriage of Charles and Camilla. The Crown has documented Charles and Camilla’s story extensively, from their early days to their secret affair to the scandal of its publicity. Despite the turmoil their relationship caused in both Charles’ first marriage and within the royal family, it will be satisfying to see the then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall finally get their happy ending. The conclusion of Charles and Camilla’s seasons-long arc in The Crown season 6 makes it one of the most significant personal events that will be covered.
The marriage of Charles and Camilla is not only significant for the couple involved but for the monarchy as well. Netflix’s The Crown has documented the monarchy’s difficult history with condoning marrying divorcees, from the denial of Princess Margaret’s marriage to Peter Townsend to Edward VIII’s abdication to marry Wallace Simpson. Charles and Camilla finally being allowed to marry despite not being a conventional royal match signals progression for the British monarchy as The Crown moves into the future.
1 7/7 London Bombings
The Crown has not shied away from depicting some of the UK’s biggest tragedies during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, and the 7/7 bombings in London are one of the most significant in recent memory. On July 7, 2005, four Islamic extremists detonated four bombs on the London Underground, killing a total of 56 people including the perpetrators. The events of 7/7 shook the British people’s trust and made the threats of terrorism feel much more real and personal for Britain.
The 7/7 bombings are some of the most major British events of the 2000s, which makes them worthy of depiction in The Crown, but 7/7 also has an important thematic significance. It’s the perfect example of the ancient institution of the Crown having to confront modern issues. An event such as the 7/7 bombings that shook British life and values to the core draw questions about how the rigid monarchy can manage these complex problems in an ever-changing world, making 7/7 an important event for The Crown season 6 to cover.
