The Crown series six: Elizabeth Debicki’s body double transforms into Princess Diana to film her visit to a Bosnian war cemetery – after production was paused for one day following the Queen’s death
- The Australian actress is set to play Princess Diana in her later years for The Crown’s fifth and sixth series, and are currently filming her historic Bosnia visit in Barcelona
- Diana visited the country which had been devastated by land mines in the wake of its three-year war, meeting many villagers whose lives were affected by the deadly weapons
- Elizabeth’s double was filming the impromptu moment that Diana stopped to comfort a crying Bosnian mother in a war cemetery, after she lost her son during the conflict
- Filming for The Crown resumed earlier this week after being paused for just one day following the death of Queen Elizabeth II
- It’s since been confirmed that they will not film on the day of The Queen’s funeral, Monday September 19
Filming for The Crown’s sixth series resumed in Barcelona on Thursday, with Elizabeth Debicki’s role as Princess Diana covered by a body double for a dramatic recreation of the late royal’s visit to Bosnia.
The stunt performer was spotted on-set recreating the moment the Princess embraced a devastated Bosnian mother, during a three-day trip to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines.
On Friday, The Crown bosses confirmed that they were briefly suspending filming as a mark of respect after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s passing, but they have quickly got back to work on the show, after pausing production for just a single day.
Getting into character: Filming for The Crown’s sixth series resumed in Barcelona on Thursday, with Elizabeth Debicki’s role as Princess Diana (right) covered by a body double (left) for a dramatic recreation of the late royal’s visit to Bosnia
Elizabeth’s double recreated one of Diana’s relaxed outfits for the visit, donning a white linen shirt and cream trousers for the haunting stroll through a recreation of the war cemetery.
The scenes appeared to be a recreation of a historic moment which saw Diana embrace a devastated Bosnian mother who was weeping over her son’s grave, after he was killed in the Bosnian conflict.
Since Diana’s death, it’s been revealed that the visit was in impromptu one, as The Princess requested to make a stop at the Sarajevo War Cementary where victims of the three-year conflict were buried.
Moving: The stunt performer was spotted on-set (left) recreating the moment the Princess embraced a devastated Bosnian mother (right), during a three-day trip to raise awareness of the dangers of landmines
Casual: Elizabeth’s double recreated one of Diana’s relaxed outfits for the visit, donning a white linen shirt and cream trousers as she met locals in the country
Heartbreaking: The crew were in the midst of filming one of Diana’s most iconic moments, when she embraced a devastated Bosnian mother whose son was killed in the three-day war
Twins: Elizabeth’s double (left) recreated another look from Diana’s three-day trip (right), her last international engagement before she was tragically killed in a car crash just weeks later
The story was recently relayed in the 2017 documentary Diana, Our Mother: Life and Legacy by Diana’s friends Ken Rutherford and Jerry White, who were both anti-landmine advocates.
Jerry told Entertainment Weekly: ‘The image of her in a cemetery in Sarajevo, on the last day of our trip still haunts me. It wasn’t planned. It was never on the itinerary.’
Although they were running late for their final engagement, he said Diana was ‘mysteriously adamant’ she wanted to visit the nearby graveyard.
Important: Since Diana’s death, it’s been revealed that the visit was in impromptu one, as The Princess requested to make a stop at the Sarajevo War Cementary where victims of the three-year conflict were buried
Devastating: The story was recently relayed in the 2017 documentary Diana, Our Mother: Life and Legacy by Diana’s friends Ken Rutherford and Jerry White, who were both anti-landmine advocates
Impromptu: Jerry told Entertainment Weekly: ‘The image of her in a cemetery in Sarajevo, on the last day of our trip still haunts me. It wasn’t planned. It was never on the itinerary’
Important: He added: ‘She walked slowly, among tombstones and even yellow rose bushes’
Moving: It was during the walk that Diana came across devastated Bosnian mother Svetlana Dragon crying over her son’s grave, after he was killed in the war
He added: ‘She walked slowly, among tombstones and even yellow rose bushes.’
It was during the walk that Diana came across devastated Bosnian mother Svetlana Dragon crying over her son’s grave, after he was killed in the war.
While the pair didn’t exchange any words, Diana stopped to embrace her.
Comforting: While the pair didn’t exchange any words, Diana stopped to embrace her
Jerry added: ‘Diana didn’t speak Bosnian, and this mother didn’t know English. So they just embraced. So intimately, so physical, so emotional, mother-to-mother.’
In emotional images from the scene, Diana could be seen wiping away tears from the mother’s face as she tenderly comforted her.
According to the BBC, during her three-day trip to Bosnia, The Princess spoke for 45 minutes with Franjo Kresic, a former soldier who lost his leg in a mine blast during the country’s three-year war, which took place from 1992 to 1995.
Touching: In emotional images from the scene, Diana could be seen wiping away tears from the mother’s face as she tenderly comforted her
Eery resemblance: Elizabeth’s double (left) was filling in for the actress (right) who just two days earlier had been filmed scenes for Diana’s visit
Getting into character: Ahead of filming the scenes, Elizabeth’s double was spotted arriving on the set wearing a robe
A BRUTAL WAR AND AN HORRIFIC GENOCIDE THAT LEFT 250,000 DEAD
The three-year Bosnian war was set off when a government dominated by Slavic Muslims and Croats declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992.
The war ended in late 1995 with an estimated 250,000 dead and another 1.8 million driven from their homes.
Paramilitary units and the Bosnian Serb army expelled the non-Serb population, destroyed their homes and separated families while forcing thousands into detention camps where many were tortured and later executed.
The country’s post-war authorities have for years faced accusations that they are not doing enough to hunt down war crimes suspects.
The UN tribunal in The Hague has sentenced six Bosnian Serbs for war crimes committed in the Prijedor area to up to 40 years in jail.
And the Bosnian war crimes court, set up in 2005 to ease the caseload of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, sentenced seven Bosnian Serbs to up to 20 years in jail.
She also visited the homes of land mine victims and met local disability groups and rehabilitation specialists.
The Princess’ trip to Bosnia was organised by The Land Mines Survivors’ Network, a group founded in 1995 by two American victims of land mines, Ken Rutherford and Jerry White, and as part of the visit, the Princess made a surprise visit to the Suljkanovic family in their modest home in the small village of Dobrnja near Tuzla.
Several weeks earlier, the father of the family, Muhamed Suljkanovic, had lost both his feet after stepping on a land mine in the forest outside his house, a remnant of Bosnia’s three-year war, and his wife recalled Diana brought him some cake for his birthday.
Just weeks after Diana’s visit, the family were devastated to learn the Princess had been killed in a car accident in Paris, but were stunned when they were giving a donation from the Royal Family, after Diana promised financial support for Muhamed for a new prosthesis, and just a couple of months after she died.
Another land mine victim, Malic Bradaric, was 13 in 1996 when he stepped one of the deadly weapons while playing in his village of Klokotnica, and the incident left him without most of his right leg.
On Friday it was revealed that filming for The Crown been suspended for one day as a ‘mark of respect to the Queen’, who passed away aged 96 on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle.
Filming will also not take place on the day of the Queen’s funeral, Monday September 19.
In a move that could be branded insensitive by fans, when the cast and crew return they will be covering Princess Diana’s death in 1997 and the Queen could be seen in mourning clothes.
The potentially controversial scenes will be filmed while the nation comes to grips with the loss of their late Queen during a 10 day mourning period which will end with a state funeral.
On Thursday, star Imelda Staunton, who is playing an older version of Her Majesty in the Netflix series following predecessors Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, was seen in character as she prepared to leave the set.
Raising awareness: According to the BBC, during her three-day trip to Bosnia, The Princess spoke for 45 minutes with Franjo Kresic, a former soldier who lost his leg in a mine blast during the country’s three-year war (1992 to 1995)
Important: She also visited the homes of land mine victims and met local disability groups and rehabilitation specialists
No work today! On Friday it was revealed that filming for The Crown been suspended for one day as a ‘mark of respect to the Queen, who passed away aged 96 on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle
Sad news: The monarch’s death was announced by Buckingham Palace last week, sparking a period of national mourning
Sad occasion: Filming will also not take place on the day of the Queen’s funeral, Monday September 19
A scene covering Princess Diana’s tragic death in Paris in August 1997 was scheduled to be filmed on Friday in Barcelona, Spain.
As series five of the drama is set to air this autumn, filming for the sixth series is well underway with Elizabeth taking on the role of the late Princess of Wales alongside Imelda as the late Queen Elizabeth II.
However, SER Catalunya have reported scenes that would cover Princess Diana’s death in August 1997 were being suspended following the death of Her Majesty.
Emotional: In a move that could be branded insensitive by fans, when the cast and crew return they will be covering Princess Diana’s death in 1997 and the Queen could be seen in mourning clothes
In the works: As series five of the drama is set to air this autumn, filming for the sixth series is well underway with Elizabeth taking on the role of the late Princess of Wales alongside Imelda as the late Queen Elizabeth II
The set, which had been built in a district of Barcelona, had been modified to resemble a Parisian street with French road signs.
A reporter for the outlet tweeted a video and photos of the set which now looks completely empty.
The decision not to film comes as the Netflix show announced it will also suspend filming on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.
A Netflix spokesperson said: ‘As a mark of respect, filming on The Crown was suspended today. Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.’
On hold: The decision not to film comes as the Netflix show announced it will also suspend filming on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral
Not yet: A Netflix spokesperson said: ‘As a mark of respect, filming on The Crown was suspended today. Filming will also be suspended on the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral’
Filming was due to start in Majorca next week and run to late October following casting for extras for the forthcoming series – but plans changed after news of the Queen’s death broke.
Netflix had reportedly devised a plan, also named Operation London Bridge like the official funeral plan for the Queen, to outline what the production company for The Crown would do in the event of her passing.
One of the show’s creators Stephen Daldry said when the show first premiered in 2016 the cast would likely stop production, saying: ‘It would be a simple tribute and a mark of respect. She’s a global figure and it’s what we should do.’
Peter Morgan, writer of the drama, was quoted after news of the Queen’s death was confirmed late yesterday/on Thursday as saying: ‘The Crown is a love letter to her and I’ve nothing to add for now, just silence and respect. I expect we will stop filming out of respect too.’
History: The last two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family in the 1990s to 2003. The crew will be picking up the story where it left off in the fourth season
The last two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family in the 1990s to 2003. The crew will be picking up the story where it left off in the fourth season.
The breakdown of Charles and Diana’s relationship will be a central part of the new series.
The fourth series of The Crown, which streamed in November last year, told the story of the early romance between Charles and Diana.
It was announced last year that Elizabeth would take over from Emma Corrin and play Diana for the fifth and sixth series, which will cover Diana’s death in 1997.
The actress said of her casting last year: ‘Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many.
‘It is my privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.’
Her Royal Highness: The very first image of Imelda Staunton in character as Queen Elizabeth II was revealed last week
Congrats! Lesley Manville has been cast as Princess Margaret (right in 1966) for the fifth and sixth seasons of The Crown
New role: The Two Popes actor Jonathan Pryce, 73, (left on set) is set to place the role of Prince Philip, The Duke Of Edinburgh (right in 2020), and said he is ‘confident’ to take on the ‘daunting’ role
New role: Dominic West is set to play Prince Charles in the final two series of The Crown
Meanwhile Dodi Fayed is expected to play a large part in the next series of The Crown, with British actor Khalid Abdalla, 39, who starred in the 2007 film The Kite Runner, cast in the role.
There are several poignant moments which could be used, including the Queen making a speech on her 40th anniversary of her accession in 1992, in which she called the year an ‘annus horriblis’.
She was referring to the breakdown of three of her children’s marriages; Prince Andrew, Princess Anne’s and Prince Charles’ divorce from Princess Diana.
The Crown series 5: James Murray is set to take on the role of Prince Andrew following his TV appearances in Cutting It and Primeval (James pictured in 2018)
Royal role: The Crown’s fifth season will feature The Thick Of It star and London deli owner Theo Fraser Steele playing Princess Anne’s husband Timothy Laurence (pictured on-set on Tuesday)
Who’s who? The actress playing Princess Anne in The Crown’s fifth season has been revealed as The IT Crowd and Humans star Claudia
Other notable events during the time period included a fire at Windsor Castle, her golden wedding anniversary in 1997, and the deaths of Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and the Princess of Wales.
Imelda Staunton is taking over the role of Elizabeth II from Olivia Colman who won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in 2020 and 2021.
Also joining The Crown in series five is Lesley Manville, 64, who is set to star as Princess Margaret. Meanwhile Jonathan Pryce, 73, will take over the role of Prince Philip. James Murray will take on the role of Prince Andrew, replacing Tom Byrne, who played the Queen’s second son in series four.
The Crown’s fifth series will return to Netflix in November.
Key historical moments involving the Royal Family between 1999 and 2003
The last two series of The Crown will cover the Royal Family in the 1990s to 2003. Here, MailOnline takes a look at the key historical moments involving the Royal Family which occurred during that time…
1999: The marriage of the Queen’s son Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex: The wedding took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
2000: The Queen celebrates the Millennium: Millennium celebrations take place throughout the UK. The Millennium Dome in London is officially opened by HM The Queen on January 1.
2001: Queen Elizabeth reacts to 9/11 terrorist attacks: A week after the tragedy she sent a message to the British ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer to offer her condolences.
2002: The Queen’s Golden Jubilee: The Queen celebrated the milestone on February 6 and it was an international event to mark the 50th anniversary of her ascension to the throne.
2002: The Queen dines at 10 Downing Street with the five living former Prime Ministers who served under her. She met with Tony Blair, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and Edward Heath.
2002: The death of Princess Margaret: The Queen’s younger sister dies after suffering a stroke aged 71. The pair had had a troubled relationship after The Queen said she couldn’t marry her love Peter Townsend.
2002: The Queen Mother dies: She passed away aged 101 at Royal Lodge Windsor.
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