Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ Shares First Look at Dominic West, Elizabeth Debicki in Prince Charles and Princess Diana Roles

Netflix viewers are getting their first look at the new faces of the British royal family. On Tuesday, the streamer released the first official photos of Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Dominic West as Prince Charles in The Crown Season 5. The image follows the first-look photo of Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming season of the popular historical drama, which officially began production in the U.K. last month.

In the first of the two images, which were shared to the show’s official social media accounts, West’s Charles stands in a suit outside on what appears to be one of the royals’ country estates. He looks away from the camera. The second image is of the late Diana, who was first introduced into the series in Season 4. In the photo, Debicki’s Diana lounges on a sofa with a letter on her lap, the contents of which aren’t clear.

The two stars join the series as replacements for Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin, who portrayed the royal couple in Season 4, which depicted the early days of their relationship and marriage. O’Connor also took on the role in Season 3. Netflix announced in August 2020 that Debicki would be taking on the role of Diana, with the Australian actress saying in a statement, “Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.”

Given that the Netflix series covers a full decade of Queen Elizabeth’s reign per season, West and Debicki will not be the only newcomers in the final two seasons. Along with Staunton, Season 5 will also star Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, and Dominic West as Prince Charles. Johnny Lee Miller, meanwhile, will portray John Major, who served as prime minister and leader of the UK’s Conservative party from 1990 to 1997.

Season 5, which does not yet have a premiere date, is set to cover the ’90s, a decade that proved difficult for the British royals. The decade notably included the Queen’s self-proclaimed “annus horribilis” in 1992, the year during which three of her four children separated from or divorced their partners, including the divorce of Charles and Diana, as well as the scandal that was Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Later in the decade, tragedy struck the family when Diana died in a car crash in 1997, leaving behind their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, though it remains unclear how or if The Crown will tackle that tragic moment in Season 5. As fans await the new batch of episodes, they can catch up on past seasons of The Crown on Netflix. Stay tuned to PopCulture for the latest updates!