The Crown reveals first look at Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Prince Charles and Princess Diana
THE CROWN bosses have released the first pictures of Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Charles and Diana — and they are the spit of the troubled couple.
The new series of the Netflix hit starts in 1990 and sees the pair’s relationship fall apart before the princess’s tragic death.
The Night Manager actress Elizabeth, 30, takes over as Diana from Emma Corrin, 25, while The Wire star Dominic, 51, plays Charles, previously portrayed by Josh O’Connor, 31.
The pics released yesterday show how the drama’s creators have nailed the couple’s distinctive look at the time, with both appearing deep in thought.
A TV insider said: “The images show Diana as she became increasingly self-aware and comfortable with her own image.
“As she enters the Nineties, she has shorter, sexier hair and her distinctive black eyeliner as well as clothes which showed off her svelte physique.
“But the prominence of her blue sapphire engagement ring is a reminder that, despite her growing independence, she’s still tied to the Royal Family.
"As her star is rising, Prince Charles’s youthful looks are seen fading, with a fuller frame, greying hair and a stuffy wardrobe.
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“The new image also sees him with a trademark hand in his suit pocket, looking bewildered as he surveys his home on the Highgrove Estate.”
The Sun revealed last year that Dominic had been offered the role and was desperately trying to fit it into his hectic schedule. After he agreed, actress Olivia Williams, 53, was cast as Camilla Parker Bowles, now 74, earlier this year.
She takes over from Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell, 35.
Season five is set to be aired next year, and will cover the period up to Diana’s 1997 death, aged just 36, in a Paris car crash.
The new images come two weeks after Netflix released the first picture of Imelda Staunton, 65, as The Queen. Filming started this month and covers the most traumatic years of her life, with the separation of her two sons from their wives and the great fire at Windsor Castle.
Imelda, 65, is the third actress to take on the role after Claire Foy, 37, and Olivia Colman, 47. She will also play her in what is likely to be the sixth and final series.
Claire was widely acclaimed as the young Princess Elizabeth, who was later crowned Queen, while Olivia received more mixed reviews as the middle-aged monarch.
The Sun revealed two years ago how the sought-after role was going to Imelda, whose husband is Jim Carter, 72 — the butler Mr Carson in ITV period drama Downton Abbey.
Imelda is also resuming her role as Maud Bagshaw in the second Downton movie alongside Crown co-star Dominic in an as-yet-unknown part.
Jonathan Pryce, 74, will portray Prince Philip in the final two series of The Crown, with Cutting It actor, James Murray, 46, as Prince Andrew.
The Crown seasons 1-4 are available on Netflix now.
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