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When will ‘The Crown’ Season 4 return? Here's what to expect from Prince Charles and Princess Diana's rocky marriage

Josh O'Connor — who plays Prince Charles in the series — said that all across four, 'there's definitely a different side to Charles that we're going to see'

Chronicling the royal family's controversies on celluloid, ‘The Crown’ on Netflix has garnered quite a huge fan following over the years. Written and created by Peter Morgan, the series follows the trail of Queen Elizabeth II after she came into power in 1952. The third season ended in 1977 with Prime Minister Harold Wilson's resignation and the fourth installment is all set to bring the first lady prime minister Margaret Thatcher into the picture.

Not just that, one of the main attractions of the show will be Prince Charles and Princess Diana Spencer's rocky marriage. How far will the makers delve into Charles's love affair with Camilla Shand? Touted to be one of the most anticipated seasons, a few new cast members have been announced even though the majority of the characters will be played by the same actors in seasons three and four.

While Gillian Anderson will play Margaret Thatcher, Emma Corrin will be seen as Princess Diana. Tom Byrne is another addition to the cast who will essay the role of Prince Andrew.

Where we left off

The third time was a charm for ‘The Crown’ as it managed to show the cracks in the polished mirrors of the royal palace. Not just a tale about the Queen's struggle, the season highlighted how happiness was mysteriously elusive to all members of the family. 

Interestingly, it also showed a glimpse of the monarch's steadiest relationship with Prime Minister Harold Wilson after her strained associations with the heads of the British government one after another right from Anthony Eden to Harold Macmillan to Alec Douglas-Home. As the season comes to a close, bad news waits on her door: Wilson has Alzheimer's. He’ll be stepping down but, before he does, the Queen has dinner with him at Downing Street — an honor previously only given to Churchill. 

The series tapped into Princess Margaret and Tony's divorce and left many open ends in Prince Charles' love life. Those will be unraveled as the next season drops in. In an interview earlier with T&C, actor Josh O'Connor — who plays Prince Charles in the series — said that season four will show a “different side” of Prince Charles. “I don't want to give anything away, but I'll say that hopefully, people will feel sorry for Charles in season three, and then, maybe, we'll change that in season four,” adding, “Certainly, it feels like there's a definite shift being told in season three. And all across four, there's definitely a different side to Charles that we're going to see.”

What we'd like to see

One of the two most awaited characters in the show is Margaret Thatcher. In an official statement, actress Gillian Anderson said, “Thatcher was undoubtedly formidable but I am relishing exploring beneath the surface and, dare I say, falling in love with the icon who, whether loved or despised, defined an era.” The other one, undoubtedly, is Princess Diana. Corrin said in a statement about the role. “Princess Diana was an icon and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring. To explore her through Peter Morgan's writing is the most exceptional opportunity, and I will strive to do her justice.”

Moreover, the first look of Princess Diana's iconic wedding gown is already out. “The Emanuels, who designed the original, gave us the patterns, and then it was made for me,” Corrin told British Vogue. “We were filming the scene when you first see her in the wedding dress — I think it was Lancaster House in London — and I had a team of about 10 people helping me put it on, because it's massive. I walked out and everyone went completely silent.”

If that was not all, Corrin will be recreating one of Diana's iconic appearances at the Savoy Hotel and her famous flight on the Concorde in 1989. A glimpse of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1983 royal tour of Australia will also be seen. In fact, Connor had confirmed in an interview that this season will be Charles-Diana-centric. “I think this [season], you’re right, it’s very much the Diana and Charles years, and particularly focusing on what happened there and the ramifications of that going forward,” the actor said.

Fans are also waiting to witness Michael Fagan’s scandalous break-in to Buckingham Palace. The famous intruder, who broke into the Queen's bedroom in 1982, will reportedly make an appearance in the show's fourth chapter. Going by a Daily Mail report, actor Tom Brooke will essay the character. 

When is it returning

Ever since the last season premiered on November 17 in 2019, fans couldn't stop wondering when the next one would drop. O'Connor first hinted that season four could arrive later this year in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. “We’re well into it now,” he said back then. “We’ve got many months left, they’ve got a few episodes in, so it’s really exciting. And I think it will be the best yet, actually. I’m really looking forward to finishing that and then getting to share it sometime in 2020, I guess.”

In August this year, the official date was announced. “The monarchy. Above all else. @GillianA and Emma Corrin join Olivia Colman in Season Four of The Crown, arriving 15th November, a tweet from the official Twitter handle read. In the 33-second teaser, Olivia Colman who plays the Queen says, “Something as important as the monarchy... simply cannot be allowed to fail.”

Catch all ten episodes of ‘The Crown’ Season 4 once they drop on November 15 on Netflix. With just a few days remaining, binge-watch all the previous episodes so that you're all caught up with what happened last time.