Massive royal scandal The Crown refuses to go near in final season

The creator of the controversial Netflix series has admitted the final season doesn’t “go anywhere near” one key royal controversy.

The Crown has come under fire over its depiction of plenty of sensitive and controversial royal moments, especially in relation to the late Princess Diana – but there’s one huge scandal it refuses to touch.

Speaking to Variety, Crown creator Peter Morgan revealed they “haven’t gone anywhere near” the Prince Andrew controversy, involving pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, which has dominated endless headlines.

In early 2022, King Charles’ younger brother paid an undisclosed sum to settle a civil sexual assault case brought forward by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with him in several locations in 2001.

Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations and the settlement did not include an admission of liability.

Prince Andrew’s scandal won’t be covered. Picture: Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The sixth and final season of The Crown will cover the years between 1997 and 2005 – which includes the key period in which Giuffre’s allegations are set.

The timeline also allows the series to completely avoid recent dramas engulfing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, including their resignation from royal duties and subsequent feud with his family.

Ed McVey as Prince William in the final season. Picture: Justin Downing/Netflix

Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) will be portrayed during her final days. Picture: Netflix

The Crown season six is split into two parts: the first, featuring episodes one to four, deals mostly with Diana and her tragic death and will premiere on November 16 on Netflix.

The second, episodes five through to 10, premieres on December 14 and will see the show refocus on then-Prince Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth II, including Charles’ wedding to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.

It also covers Prince William and Prince Harry as they struggle to deal with the death of their mother, the burden of royal responsibilities, and life in the public eye as teenagers.

“Peter did such an amazing job at weaving all of these stories together and really leaving us with such a powerful emotional ending,” Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria told Variety ahead of the final season’s premiere.

“It really does give you the feeling of honouring the queen’s entire reign.”

Originally published as Massive royal scandal The Crown refuses to go near in final season