It will at least be two years before The Crown season 5 premieres on Netflix as the drama series based on the British royal family will not begin production until June 2021. However, there's a high anticipation for the show's next season since it will feature more tragedies, including Queen Elizabeth's annus horribilis.
The Crown season 5 will likely open with the horrific fire that gutted Windsor Castle in 1992. Thousands of valuable historic items, including paintings and manuscripts from the Royal Library, had to be taken out or moved at the north terraces by dozens of members of the fire brigade, the police, and the Royal Household.
While no one was killed in the fire, a few of the firefighters and members of the Queen's staff burned their hands or had minor injuries. But the fire's major damage to the structure of Windsor Castle was catastrophic following the collapse of the Crimson Drawing Room, the Green Drawing Room, and the Queen's Private Chapel with a 19th-century organ.
Another blow came to the royal family with the divorce of Queen Elizabeth's only daughter, Princess Anne, from Mark Phillips in 1992. That same year, the Princess Royal married Timothy Laurence, the man she was dating during her separation from her first husband.
The Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, also had marital troubles in 1992. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the Duke and Duchess of York, decided to separate after six years of marriage and two children.
With the Windsor Castle fire and two divorces among her children, Queen Elizabeth apparently referred to 1992 as hermost horrible year. But the worst was yet to come a few years later.
In 1996, the York royals officially divorced but so did Prince Charles and Princess Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, following years of squabbles as a separated couple. The Wales' marital problems and the heir to the throne's adultery with Camilla Parker Bowles were all over the papers and television, which was followed by the worst news of all: Princess Diana's untimely death.
In 1997, the Princess of Wales' passing was mourned by millions not only in Britain but in the Commonwealth countries and even in the United States. The royal family also received a lot of criticisms for the way they allegedly treated Princess Diana. Fans expect this monumental time in British history will be depicted in The Crown season 5.
But, the dreadful decade turned a corner for the royals as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their youngest son, Prince Edward, also married Sophie Rhys Jones in 1999 and they became the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The Crown season 5 will feature new actors for the major roles. Imelda Staunton will lead the cast as the monarch, replacing Olivia Colman. Elizabeth Debinki, on the other hand, will play Princess Diana, replacing Emma Corrin.
Also joining The Crown season 5 are Jonathan Pryce (Prince Philip) and Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret). Rumors stated that Dominic West has been cast as the new Prince Charles but Netflix nor the actor has not confirmed the reports. It's also unclear who will play Prime Ministers John Majors and Tony Blair, who worked alongside Queen Elizabeth in the 1990s until the new millennium.
