The Crown final episode guide: what to expect from the epic finale of the Netflix show – including Kate and Diana’s imagined ‘meeting’

• SPOILERS AHEAD
• Read More:  March of the Middletons! Eve Best is seen for the first time as Carole in The Crown

The Crown’s sixth and final season has come to a dramatic conclusion this morning when the remaining five episodes landed on Netflix.

Writer Peter Morgan, from London, has devoted a whole episode depicting Prince William and King Charles’ seemingly strained relationship in the wake of Diana’s tragic death.

What’s more, viewers are also introduced to Kate Middleton as a student at St Andrews – after appearing to meet her late mother-in-law by total chance on a shopping trip with Carole in London.

Meanwhile, the writers also delved into Princess Margaret‘s tragic final years and shows flashbacks from her night of freedom with Queen Elizabeth to celebrate the end of WWII in 1945. 

On top of this, the series digs up old wounds for the Royal Family by dramatising the inquest into Princess Diana‘s death – which investigated Mohamed Al-Fayed‘s damaging claims that the royal was engaged and pregnant at the time of the accident.

Pictured: Netflix’s reimagining of the Royal Family seen posing for an official portrait in the final season

Here FEMAIL reveals the full breakdown from each episode.

Episode Five: Willsmania

Episode five opens with a teenage Prince William listening to music on his headphone while having breakfast with his father in the immediate wake of Diana’s funeral.

Later, Charles drives William back to Eton – but tells him that he can stay at High Grove or Windsor if he prefers.

‘I just want you to move at your own speed,’ Charles tells him.

‘This is my speed,’ William says. ‘I just want things to go back to normal as quickly as possible.’ 

After dropping his eldest off at Eton, Prince Charles receives a phone call from Princess Anne. 

He tells her the exchange felt uncomfortable and it felt like William couldn’t wait to get away from him.

At Eton, William’s room master shows him a box filled with 600 letters of condolences from adoring royal fans – who tell him they’re sorry for his loss while also remind him of his ‘sexiness’.

The final episodes of the Netflix series recreate William being hounded by crowds of adoring fans

The Netflix series has even gone as far as recreating this famous sign that was held outside the airport in Vancouver

The member of staff says: ‘This one contains letters from all around the world – mostly from young ladies.’ 

The housemaster then informs William of his grandparent’s golden wedding anniversary celebrations – but tells him that he can skip the events if he wants. 

However, Prince William agrees to attend regardless and throws himself into sports and studying while grieving his mother.

The episode then cuts to the Royal Family posing for an official portrait together at Windsor, where William is repeatedly reminded that he needs to keep smiling.

Afterwards, Prince Harry approaches William with two teacups he’s discreetly filled with champagne. The pair discuss how much they want their family to start treating them as ‘normal’ again.

Prince Charles then brings them back into the room with the family and reminds them that they’ll be meeting dignitaries later.

While walking in the same procession as the Queen and Prince Philip, William is perplexed by the screaming young royal fans fawning over him.

Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry seen posing for a photocall on their holiday to Whistler in Canada

Speaking to Camilla on the phone later, Charles said: ‘It was madness – like he was some pop star.’

Camilla tells him: ‘The whole thing has a distinct feeling of deja vu.’

The pair discuss how William looks ‘remarkably’ like his mother and how William is a ‘shy old thing’ who isn’t ‘comfortable’ with the attention.

 After being told to be more comforting towards his son, Charles says that William only gives him monosyllabic answers and has been acting hostile.

Charles said: ‘It’ not as if I was given the best example to follow – and the Duke of Edinburgh was hardly the most communicative or, affectionate father to me. 

‘Hardly surprising given the delinquency of his own father’s parenting. I’m afraid we don’t do fathers and sons very well in this family.’

The episode then returns to Prince William at Eton – where his room master asks when he’d be available for a visit from his father and notes the two new stacks of fan mail for Valentine’s Day.

During the visit, Charles tries to cheer William up and asks if he would like to visit Diana’s grave with Harry.

After admitting that it was ‘maybe too soon’, Charles then says he wants both Harry and William to join him on an official visit to Canada – where they could later go skiing.

At the airport, Prince William attracts crowds of screaming young royal fans holding up signs, magazines and flowers.

Later, Harry and William sneak a drink in their hotel room and toast to Diana.

Harry then teases William about the attention and jokes: ‘I’m just jealous. In the history mankind, nobody has ever screamed for somebody with red hair.’

Following their engagements in Vancouver, the family then head to British Colombia to ski – where Prince William argues with Prince Charles over having to do a photocall with press. 

Charles says: ‘Willy, that’s how it works. We give them something snd they leave us alone.’

William replies: ‘No I hate that stuff. It’s already been a thousand times more than I agreed to.’

He then reminds his father that he isn’t the one with the ‘image problem’ but reluctantly agrees to meet the photographers.

Once they return home, Charles tells the Queen about William ‘hating’ photocalls and asks for advice on how to help him navigate his grief.

Prince Philip then suggests that William come to Windsor for lunch and surprise him with Prince Charles’ presence.

After being forced to confront his father, William yells: ‘She should never have been anywhere near the Fayads. She should have been safe with us and the fact that she wasn’t – IS your fault. 

‘I know you didn’t actually drive the car but you drove her into the arms of this that did – but making her so unhappy, By loving someone else.’

A devastated Charles then replies: ‘Well if you want to make that connection, thats your right but I find it very upsetting and deeply unkind. 

‘My responsibility for mummy ended a long time before she got to Paris. That accident was not in any way may fault and to even suggest it was is courageous. I resent the accusation.’

When Prince William returns to school, he finds Prince Philip in his bedroom and studying the photos of supermodels on the walls.

Philip comforts William about feeling uncomfortable in the spotlight and suggests that perhaps he is harbouring anger because his mother ‘left’ him. 

He tells his grandson: ‘So you take it out on someone else and blame him for the fact that she’s gone. An accusation I’m sure he’s leveled at himself a hundred times – as have we all. 

The end of this episode shows Prince Philip – played by Jonathan Pryce – looking wistfully at his son and grandson hugging

‘But it’s not our fault. And its not his fault. And one day, when you’re a father, and your own skin is staring at you with murderous yes and you’re praying for his forgiveness as your father is currently praying for yours and as I have on shamefully on too few occasions, prayed for his. Well, maybe you’ll remember this chat.’

Prince Philip then drives William to High Grove to reconcile with Charles and looks at them wistfully from a distance as they hug.

The episode ends with William rowing a boat across a lake to lay flowers at his mother’s grave.

Episode Six: Ruritania 

Episode six opens with the Queen having a dream about Tony Blair being crowned King at Westminster Abbey with his wife Cherie. 

At breakfast, she is then presented with papers raving about the PM – and tells her advisors that she’s concerned about how he is ranking above her in every poll.

As a result, the monarch asks her advisors how she could improve her image. 

After holding a focus group with 2000 members of the public, the Queen is told that 69 per cent felt the Royals were out of touch with ordinary people while 53 per cent agreed that they lacked compassion. 

Episode six opens with the Queen having a dream about Tony Blair being crowned King at Westminster Abbey with his wife Cherie

Meanwhile, 66 per cent agreed that they had failed Princess Diana in death as much as they had in life.

Only 10 per cent agreed that the monarchy should continue in its present form.  

Following these findings, the Queen is presented as being obsessed and jealous with Blair’s popularity – and worries he may become as favourable as Winston Churchill.

The episode then cuts to Blair delivering a successful speech on the Serbian war. 

After this, viewers are shown the Queen visiting the Women’s Institute, where she delivers a speech that has members in hysterics.

However, the Queen can’t shake her jealousy towards Blair – who is labelled ‘King Tony’ in the US media following a visit to Chicago.  

Describing how Tony is ‘walking on water’, the Queen tells him during a private meeting: ‘It’s one thing to have popularity but its quite another to have influence so I offer you my congratulations.’ 

The Queen then confides that the crown is not having such a good time and reluctantly asks what he suggests in order to turn things around for the Royal Family. 

This scene ends and returns to Queen’s advisors saying that she rarely puts a foot wrong until this moment.

After Blair returns to Downing Street, Cherie jokes: ‘You’d be better off trying to modernize Stone henge.’ 

The following week, Blair suggests the royals alter the line of primogeniture – meaning firstborn girls could become Queen over their younger brothers.

He then suggests an annual report which outlines their performance, assets and accounts so the public see themselves as ‘shareholders’ rather than subjects.

On top of this, Blair suggests getting rid of roles in the Palace – including the herb grower, swan warden, glassware supervisor, royal astronomer, linens keeper.

When asked how Blair feels about working with the incoming President Bush in the following meeting, the PM tells the Queen: ‘Lets not forget – I’ll be the senior partner now so I hope to be able to influence President Bush.’ 

Ultimately, the Queen decides not to take Blair’s suggestions about cutting jobs into account – telling him: ‘Tradition is our strength, respect for our forebears and the preservation of generations of their wisdom and learned experience. Modernity is not always the answer – sometimes antiquity is too.’  

After this, the Queen’s private secretary congratulates her before announcing that he is stepping down from his post.

The episode ends with Blair delivering a critically panned speech at the Women’s Institute, which resulted in members of the audience heckling and slow clapping him.

Episode Seven: Alma Mater 

 Elizabeth Debicki and Ed McVey seen filming scenes where Princess Diana and Prince William are selling The Big Issue in London

The episode opens with a teenage Kate Middleton shopping for dresses with her mother Carole in London.

While exiting a shop, they notice Princess Diana and Prince William selling copies of The Big Issue across the road. 

Carole gives her a £1 coin to contribute to the collection – prompting Kate to ask if she has any more cash.

Kate then walks up to Diana, who thanks her for the ‘very generous’ donation. The Princess then asks Kate for her name and tells William to thank her.

William and Kate exchange a knowing look as he hands her a copy of the magazine.

Afterwards, Kate is seen cutting out pictures of Prince William from magazines – prompting Carole to appear at the door and say: ‘Someone obviously made an impression.’

Kate says: ‘He seems kind. He has a nice face.’

Carole then proceeds to tell Kate how Michael was ‘way out of her reach’ when they first met and tells her to ‘underestimate’ herself. 

She adds: ‘Never think there’s anything in this world you’re not good enough for.’

The episode then jumps to William and Harry on a night out which appears to be for William’s 18th birthday.

The following morning, William gives his first ever press conference – where he is quizzed about his university plans and if he has any romances on the go.

Kate is pictured at St Andrew’s with ‘Rupert’ her boyfriend before William

After this, it jumps ahead to results day – where William achieves a C in biology, A in geography and B in History of Art.

Prince Harry then gives him a box of flavoured condoms as a present for getting into university.

Carole Middleton is seen listening to Prince William on the radio as it is announced he will be taking a gap year to do some travelling before heading to St Andrews University.

The episode then jumps ahead to William’s first day of university, where he is approached by students for autographs.

The first time Kate appears on screen, William’s friend ogles her as she walks past and says: ‘Honestly, what I wouldn’t give…’ 

During a phone call with Harry, William’s little brother tells him: ‘University is just sex – with books. Get stuck in. Sire some illegitimate bastards and alter the lines of succession. Or swallow some hallucinogenic mushrooms and have a fistfight with the local oiks.’ 

After kissing a girl at a party, Prince William then gets up early for a run – where he comes across Kate again.

Later that day, Kate is seen waitressing in an Italian restaurant – when she spots Prince William with his arm around a girl called Lola Airdale Cavenish Kincaid walking through the streets.

Kate and William continue crossing paths at university – but only speak for the first time when he asks to borrow some of her library books as they are on the same course.

During their first conversation, Kate reveals that she is living in the room above William and the pair discuss their near identical gap years.

Lola then joins the conversation, which comes to an abrupt halt when a student asks for an autograph.

William says: ‘I get that all the time. You have no idea what its like to live with that kind of attention day in and day out.’

Kate then replies: ‘What being ogled? Looked at and judged constantly. Try being a girl.’

‘A fit girl,’ William mutters.

‘No try being any any girl,’ Lola says. ‘Failing that , you could at least try being a human being while not reducing every woman to whether she’s fit.’

During a trip to Balmoral, William is forced to miss a ‘razor party’ where students cover themselves in shaving cream – and is pining after Kate, whose single ‘ship is sailing’ according to his friends.

Back at university, William walks past Kate with her new boyfriend Rupert Finch and takes the opportunity to apologise for how he behaved in the library. 

During Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, the Queen notices William is quiet and asks if it’s an ‘affair of the heart’.

Meanwhile, Rupert arrives for Christmas at the Middleton’s home – which disappoints Carole.

After he leaves, Kate tells her mother: ‘You’ve always loved the idea of me and William together. I was all set to go to Edinburgh university straight after school with all my friends and then you suggested I changed it to St Andrews after a gap year – with none of my friends. That was no coincidence.’

After insisting they were all coincidences, Carole tells her daughter: ‘I think you’re special. I also happen to think that poor boy needs a nice normal girl.’ 

One of the final scenes shows Prince Harry confiding in William about Charles finding out about him smoking weed and being sent to a rehab for a day. Meanwhile, Prince William admits that he is considering leaving university.

He says: ‘He went ballistic. Said I could have got myself expelled. Now he wants me to go to a treatment centre to spend the day with some addicts. Bit of an over reaction, I said. Remorse and responsibility he said. Thanks.’ 

The episode ends with Prince William receiving a text from Kate asking him not to leave St Andrews.

Episode Eight: Ritz

The royal sisters have been recast for the fourth time in the show’s four-year history – with Viola Prettejohn, 18, stepping into the role of the late Queen while Beau Gadsdon, 14, takes on Princess Margaret

The episode opens with a flashback Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret celebrating the end of WWII in London.

The sisters sneak out of the Palace with the Queen’s friend Porchy to join the crowds in Trafalgar Square before Margaret suggests they go to the Ritz.

It then jumps back to the present (early 2000s) where the Queen and her sister are playing cards, with Margaret suggesting they celebrate VE Day for the 50th anniversary.

‘It was quite a night,’ Margaret says.

The episode then shows Margaret in her holiday home in Mustique, where she is drinking a martini and entertaining guests with stories. 

Suddenly, she appears to have a stroke and drops her martini glass – prompting staff to escort her away. 

The following day, Margaret informs the Queen of her condition from a hospital in Barbados. 

Netflix has released a photo showing Princess Margaret – played by Lesley Manville – looking particularly frail as she sits in an empty hospital room

After being flown home on a commercial plane, Margaret has an MRI and is told she needs to make some adjustments to her lifestyle.  

She tells the Queen: ‘No more chesterfields, no more whisky, no more sweet treats – just lean barley water, nicotine gum and lots of rehabilitation exercises.’

Despite doctor’s orders, Margaret returns to Mustique and suffers another stroke while in the bath – resulting in her scalding her feet.

Back in London, Maragret – who has impaired speech – tells her sister that she wants to celebrate her 70th birthday at The Ritz.

This prompts the Queen to have a flashback to when two black American servicemen suggested she dance the jitterbug, which had been banned for injuring people, with them. 

In the present, the Queen is seen getting ready for Margaret’s birthday and tells Philip that she’s taking Porchy with her in his absence.

At the party, the Queen delivers a touching speech as a tribute to her sister.

After calling the Queen to thank her for the speech, Margaret suffers another stroke and collapses on the floor after staggering out of bed to find her medication.

Once she’s returned home from hospital, Margaret is informed that Porchy has died of a heart attack on the day of 9/11.

When her sister visits, Margaret tells her: ‘Poor you, he was such a special friend. He was devoted to you.’ 

After this, Margaret outlines her funeral plans – including the dress she wants to wear and how Swan Lake should play as people arrive for the funeral.

The Queen then climbs into Margaret’s bed and they read her diary account of VE Day.

Margaret says: ‘If people dont know about that night, they’ll never fully understand the scale of the sacrifice you’ve made. How much of your tire self you’ve locked up, hidden away. You caused havoc that night.’

The final flashback shows the Queen dancing the jitterbug with the American servicemen after disappearing from the group.

While walking back to Buckingham Palace, Margaret teases the Queen about being drunk – while Elizabeth laughs that she may have acquired her chewing gum from kissing soldiers. 

Episode Nine: Hope Street

The episode opens with Mohamed Al-Fayed giving a television interview where he claims Dodi and Diana’s death was not an accident and labels the royal family ‘gangsters’ and ‘terrorists’.

He then goes to sensationally claim the royals had Diana killed because she was pregnant with a muslim child.

It then jumps to the Queen being briefed about the interview, including a study which found ’78 per cent of Britons believing some element of foul play may have been involved’.

The Netflix series shows Kate and William’s first kiss being interrupted by the death of the Queen Mother. In reality, these events took place four days apart

Prince William is seen putting on his running shoes and listening to the radio as it’s announced that Diana’s body may be exhumed to investigate Al-Fayed’s allegations.

Later, he is told that Kate is single again and participating in a student fashion show. 

After finding out that William is attending, Kate phones her mother – who tells her to wear ‘heels not flats’ and to ‘show off those legs’.

Kate giggles: ‘Honestly, you’re worse than Mrs Bennett.’

Backstage, Kate is seen picking out a dress to wear and locks eyes with William as she reaches the end of the catwalk.

Later, the pair are seen sitting at the bar – where Kate cracks a joke about Prince William’s bodyguard always being present.

She then tells the royal that she wanted to do ‘something drastic’ to see if William was interested – to which he replies: ‘Of course, I’m interested.’ 

He adds: ‘I’ve always been interested – bordering on obsessed. To the point where I thought if I couldn’t be with you , I’d sooner not be here at all.’

The pair then lean in for their first kiss, which is interrupted by William’s bodyguard – informing him of ‘Operation Taybridge’, which is code for the Queen Mother’s death.

Promotional image also show Mohamed Al-Fayed – played by Salim Dau – looking solemn as he appears on TV claiming his son and Diana were murdered

Following the Queen Mother’s funeral, William and Harry discuss the inquiry into Diana’s death and William reveals he’s been asked to be interviewed by the police to give insight into her state of mind.

Later, Charles is seen watching a police car arrive at High Grove. 

During the interview, Charles was told that Diana’s butler Paul Burrell found a letter from the late royal claiming that Charles was plotting a brake failure in her car to remove any obstacles to his new marriage.

Following this, police directly ask Charles if he ever contributed to any plans to assassinate his ex-wife.

The Crown’s Prince Charles responds: ‘Of course not.’ 

What’s more, Prince William is seen overhearing the conversation after lingering in the doorway at High Grove. 

Afterwards, William is driven to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen – where they briefly discuss the strained relationship between Harry and Charles.

The Queen then tells William how Tony Blair suggested he take a more active role in the Golden Jubilee celebrations – but says she is going to ignore this advice because she wants him to have a ‘normal life’ for as long as possible. William then confides in his grandmother about his new relationship.

In one of the final episodes, the Queen looks particularly solemn as she inspects the figurines lining up outside the Mall

The Crown filmed scenes on the exact street where William and Kate lived in 2002. Pictured: Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey in character

Later, the results of the inquest into Diana’s death reveal that she was not engaged or pregnant at the time of the accident.

Prince William then accepts Kate’s invitation to join her family in watching the Golden Jubilee celebrations at their home.

William later tells Kate that even though the Queen said he could skip it, he feels like he should be with her and travels back to London.

He arrives at Buckingham Palace just in time to make an appearance on the balcony. William later tells Kate on the phone: ‘It makes you realize the pressures of the job.’

The final scenes of the episode involve William asking Kate if she would be interested in living with him in their second year of university.

During a phone call after the Golden Jubilee, the Prince of Wales tells his future wife of his plans to live with Fergus and another friend – but revealed they had an empty room to fill.

He then tells her that living with a girl could keep the house ‘civilised’ and asked if she would consider it.

The episode ends with Kate and William having dinner with friends in their new home and the Prince receiving a framed photo of the Queen and Prince Philip during the early days of their marriage from his grandmother.

Episode 10

Pictured: Dominic West and Olivia Williams in character as King Charles and Queen Camilla in episode 10

The final episode of hit Netflix series depicts Charles and Camilla’s wedding in Windsor in April 2005.

The couple’s big day was noticeably less lavish than King Charles’ wedding to Princess Diana in July 1981 – which was held at St Paul’s Cathedral and watched by over 750m people from around the world.

Instead, Charles and Camilla – who had both been divorced – opted for a civil ceremony which was followed by a religious blessing.

Source: Read Full Article