The Crown: The Official Podcast

Before Season 6 of The Crown drops on Netflix November 16th, join Edith Bowman to catch up on story so far. This special pre-season episode of The Crown: The Official Podcast guides you through the key moments in the journey of Queen Elizabeth and her family, from Season 1 to Season 5, as we await the final ever season of The Crown. And of course, join Edith on The Crown: The Official Podcast from November 16th to follow Season 6 episode by episode, and say goodbye to this epic royal drama. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures. Host: Edith Bowman

In the run up to the general election of 1997, New Labour - under the leadership of Tony Blair - are way ahead in the polls. But Blair's modernising ideas include getting rid of the Royal Yacht, Britannia - a vessel very close to the Queen's heart. When Blair wins with a landslide, it becomes clear Britannia is to be decommissioned which devastates the Queen but Charles sees an opportunity to align himself with the new PM and start to forge a future with Camilla by his side. What none of them sees is the threat hurtling towards them all when Diana accepts Mohamed Al Fayed's offer to join him and his family on a summer holiday in St Tropez. In the final episode of this season, Edith Bowman reunites with Writer Peter Morgan, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, Director Alex Gabassi and the actor behind Princess Diana, Elizabeth Debicki. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures. Host: Edith Bowman Guests: Peter Morgan, Annie Sulzberger, Alex Gabassi, Elizabeth Debicki.

As a consequence of the Panorama interview, the Queen writes to both Prince Charles and Princess Diana requesting that they divorce as swiftly as possible. The ensuing divorce process becomes quite heated and so the Queen asks the Prime Minister, John Major, to act as an intermediary between the two warring parties. But when Prince Charles employs a young press advisor (Mark Bolland) to help Camilla whose life has become a living hell as a result of Diana's interview, things turn a corner. When the divorce papers are signed, Charles pays Diana a visit where they dissect what went wrong in the marriage but things inevitably turn sour with both parties left in a stalemate once more. In this episode, Edith Bowman meets Executive Producer Suzanne Mackie, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, Director Christian Schwochow and the actor who plays Camilla Parker-Bowles, Olivia Williams. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

An internecine conflict at the heart of the BBC between its Chairman and Director General provides the modernising DG, John Birt, with the ammunition he needs to sign off on Bashir's Panorama interview with Princess Diana. With Prince William settling in at Eton, he and the Queen start to have regular 'teas' together and the Queen realises William is concerned about his mother. But neither of them is prepared for what comes out in Diana's explosive Panorama interview. In this episode, Edith Bowman continues her discussion with Director Erik Richter-Strand, and talks with Archive Producer Victoria Stable, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, and the actor portraying Martin Bashir, Prasanna Puwanarajah. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Newly separated and with Prince William now gone to Eton, Diana feels lonely and stuck in no man's land between marriage and divorce. Increasingly paranoid that Prince Charles's team is briefing against her, she is susceptible to the manoeuvres of BBC journalist, Martin Bashir, who wants to land an interview with the Princess for the Panorama programme. Having recently met and fallen for a Pakistani heart surgeon, Hasnat Khan, Diana starts to wonder if by doing the interview, she'll have a newfound freedom she longs for. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Director, Erik Richter Strand, Costume Designers Amy Roberts and Sidonie Roberts, Head of Research, Annie Sulzberger, and the actor behind Princess Diana, Elizabeth Debicki. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

After the fall of communism and the collapse of the USSR, the new President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, comes to Britain on an official visit. During his lunch at Buckingham Palace, the Queen brings up the uncomfortable topic of the slaughter of the Russian royal family in 1918 and the fact the location of their remains is still a great mystery. Yeltsin promises to locate their remains so the Queen's relatives can have a proper burial. But in uncovering what is believed to be the Romanovs’ bones, scientists need the help of Prince Philip - one of the closest living relatives of the Tsar's family - in order to correctly identify the remains. This unearths a fascination in Philip to find out more about his Russian heritage and with the help of Penny Romsey, he uncovers an unpalatable truth about how the Romanovs met their demise. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Director Christian Schwochow, Production Designer Martin Childs, and Head of Research, Annie Sulzberger. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Newly separated, Prince Charles has a new lease of life and really starts to prove himself worthy of the title King-in-waiting. However, when a recording of an intimate phone call between him and Camilla is leaked to the press, his reputation lies in tatters. But far from destroying him, it further motivates him to distance himself from the traditionalists of his mother's court and plough his own path as a modern, future King. He takes part in a controversial interview with Jonathan Dimbleby and sets up his own 'rival' court in St James's Palace leaving the rest of the royals with no choice but to sit up and take heed. In this episode, Edith Bowman welcomes back Writer Peter Morgan, Director, May el-Toukhy, Head of Research, Annie Sulzberger, meets the actor portraying Prince Charles, Dominic West. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

In a speech celebrating her 40th year on the throne at the end of 1992, the Queen recounts that her year has been an 'Annus Horribilis', an accurate description for the year in which she saw three of her four children separate or divorce and Windsor Castle suffer a devastating fire. But her more private pain is the accusation by her sister that she is responsible for Margaret’s lifetime of unhappiness by refusing to allow her to marry Peter Townsend. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Director May el-Toukhy, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, and the actor playing the character of Princess Margaret, Lesley Manville. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

From his early childhood in Alexandria, through the building of his multi-million pound global empire, Mohamed Al Fayed had an unwavering fascination with the British Royal Family culminating in his purchase of the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in Paris. After extending an invitation to the Queen to visit the refurbished 'Villa Windsor', Mohamed is disappointed when the Lord Chamberlain comes in her place and takes back several of the items he has had lovingly restored. Still hoping to win the Queen's favour, he attends the Windsor Horse Show and has a fateful meeting with Princess Diana who he introduces, for the first time, to his eldest son – Dodi. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Writer Peter Morgan, Director Alex Gabassi, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, and the actor portraying Mohamed al-Fayed, Salim Daw. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

After the death of her young daughter to cancer, Penny Knatchbull is encouraged by the Duke of Edinburgh to take up carriage driving as a way of coping with her grief. At the same time, Princess Diana is dealing with her own kind of grief - being trapped in a loveless marriage - and so when approached via an intermediary to cooperate with journalist, Andrew Morton, on a book exposing the truth about her marriage, she agrees. But knowing how explosive the book will be, Diana must have total deniability regarding any involvement. In this episode Edith Bowman talks with Movement Coach and Choreographer Polly Bennett, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, Director Jessica Hobbs, and the actor playing Prince Philip in Season 5, Jonathan Pryce. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

As the Prince and Princess of Wales depart on their 'second honeymoon' in an effort by Charles's team to convince the public that their marriage is back on track, the Queen and Prince Philip set sail from Portsmouth on the annual Western Isles tour aboard Britannia. But when the Sunday Times publishes a poll saying the public would favour the Queen to abdicate in favour of Prince Charles, John Major fears that a divided royal family will threaten national stability. In the opening episode of the series, Edith Bowman meets Writer Peter Morgan, Director Jessica Hobbs, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, and talks with the actor portraying the final iteration of Queen Elizabeth, Imelda Staunton. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The Crown returns for season 5 on November 9th and The Crown: The Official Podcast is back to follow the show episode by episode, diving deep into the stories and speaking with many of the talented people involved. Host Edith Bowman takes you behind the scenes in conversation with the likes of Show Creator Peter Morgan and new cast members Imelda Staunton, Elizabeth Debicki, Dominic West and Jonathan Pryce. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Bonus Episode : Season 4 Cast and Creatives in Conversation. As we patiently await the next season of Netflix’s ‘The Crown’, host of The Crown: The Official Podcast Edith Bowman caught up with the cast and creatives to reflect on Season 4. Join Edith in conversation with show creator Peter Morgan as well as season 4 cast members Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Gillian Anderson, Josh O’Connor and Emma Corrin. Unfortunately the team couldn’t get in a physical room together due to COVID-19 protocol, so this was recorded online.

Margaret Thatcher's position as Prime Minister hangs in the balance as members of her cabinet turn against her. Meanwhile, Princess Diana is set to take on her first official solo trip overseas to New York, despite Prince Charles’ doubts. Will Thatcher be able to secure her position? Will Diana's trip be a success? Is war the only way forward? In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Show Runner Peter Morgan, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger, and the actors behind the Queen and her first female prime minister, Olivia Colman and Gillian Anderson. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

It’s 1988 and Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage is at an all-time low. After Prince Charles narrowly escapes death in an avalanche whilst skiing, Diana becomes determined to reconcile their relationship. However, the near-death experience has the opposite effect on Charles, who vows to find a way to be free of the marriage and be with Camilla. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Show Runner Peter Morgan, director Jessica Hobbs, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger and Visual Effects Supervisor Ben Turner. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The Queen finds herself at odds with her Prime Minister as Margaret Thatcher refuses to join the 48 other Commonwealth nations in backing sanctions on Apartheid South Africa. The Queen and Thatcher come to blows over the issue, and their fallout becomes public knowledge after the story is leaked to the press frominside the palace. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with director Julian Jarrold, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger and the actor who plays Margaret Thatcher, Gillian Anderson. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

It's 1985 and Princess Margaret is at an all-time low. She's lonely, her health is failing, and she loses her status as Councillor of State when Prince Edward turns 21. At her lowest point, Margaret discovers a terrible family secret that two of her first cousins who she believed dead have been institutionalised for decades. In search of answers, she comes to believe that it is not just the cousins who have been cast aside by the family, but all those who don't fit in. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with director Jessica Hobbs, Head of Research Annie Sulzberger and the actor who plays Princess Margaret, Helena Bonham Carter. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The year is 1983 and two years into their marriage Prince Charles and Princess Diana are sent on a 6-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. It’s Diana’s first official royal overseas tour as The Princess of Wales, and at her insistence, a 9-month-old Prince William is brought along as well. Away from prying eyes, Charles and Diana rekindle their relationship, but as Diana’s growing popularity hits fever pitch, Charles struggles with being outshone and cracks begin to appear in the marriage once more. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Director Julian Jarrold, Location Manager Mark Walledge and the actor who plays Prince Charles, Josh O’Connor. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

It’s 1982 and ordinary citizens are suffering under Thatcher’s economic policies. One such person is Michael Fagan, who decides to break into Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen to step in and help people like himself. Elizabeth is left feeling more remote from her subjects than ever as security is stepped up and her concerns over the impact of Thatcher’s policies are ignored as the Prime Minister basks in the glory of winning the Falklands war. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with ‘Fagan’ Co-Writer Jonathan Wilson, Director Paul Whittington and The Crown’s Royal Protocol Consultant Major David Rankin-Hunt. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Devastated by her son Mark going missing in the desert whilst competing in the Paris-Dakar rally, Margaret Thatcher reveals to the Queen that she prefers him to her daughter. Shocked that a mother can have a favourite, the Queen embarks on one-on-one meetings with her four children in a bid to get to know them better, and consider the family legacy she will one day leave behind. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Show Runner Peter Morgan, Hair and Make Up Designer Cate Hall, Director Paul Whittington, and the actor who plays Princess Anne, Erin Doherty. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

It’s 1981 and Prince Charles has proposed to Lady Diana Spencer. The Queen decides to move the 19-year-old bride into Buckingham Palace to prepare her for life as a royal, while Prince Charles jets off on an overseas tour. In his absence, Diana discovers the true nature of Charles’s ‘friendship’ with Camilla Parker Bowles and as the wedding fast approaches, what began as a fairy tale turns into a nightmare. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with director Ben Caron, The Crown’s Costume Designer Amy Roberts with Assistant Costume Designer and Head Buyer Sidonie Roberts and the actor who plays Princess Diana, Emma Corrin. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis are invited to holiday at Balmoral, the royal residency in rural Scotland. As the pressure for Prince Charles to find a wife mounts, Lady Diana Spencer is also invited to join for a weekend. But who will sink and who will swim in the eyes of the royal family? In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with director Paul Whittington, The Crown’s Head of Research Annie Sulzberger and head set decorator Alison Harvey. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

It’s 1979 and the Queen is intrigued by Margaret Thatcher's landslide victory to become Britain’s first female prime minister. Meanwhile, despite Lord Mountbatten’s encouragement, Prince Charles refuses to settle down, growing distant from the family. But when Mountbatten is assassinated by the IRA, Charles finally takes his great uncle’s advice and turns his attentions to the young Lady Diana Spencer. In this episode Edith Bowman talks with writer and show runner Peter Morgan, The Crown’s Head of Research Annie Sulzberger and the actors behind Prince Charles and Prince Phillip: Josh O’Connor and Tobias Menzies. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The Crown returns for season 4 on November 15th and The Crown: The Official Podcast is back to follow the show episode by episode, diving deep into the stories and speaking with many of the talented people involved. Host Edith Bowman takes you behind the scenes in conversation with the likes of Show Creator Peter Morgan and cast members Olivia Colman, Gillian Anderson and Helena Bonham Carter.

Welcome back to The Crown: The Official podcast. While we patiently await a new season of The Crown, we wanted to share some bonus episodes this summer. Today we have an intimate one-on-one chat with the royal sisters, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter. Please be aware, this chat was recorded remotely during COVID-19 so please forgive the imperfect audio quality. Enjoy, and we’ll be back soon with more of The Crown.

A bonus episode for Season 3. Enjoy a roundtable discussion with some of the cast and crew of The Crown, led by Joe Utichi, editor at Awardsline. He’s joined by Creator Peter Morgan, director Jessica Hobbs and stars Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Josh O'Connor and Erin Doherty. This discussion was recorded remotely during COVID-19 so please forgive the imperfect audio quality. Enjoy, and we’ll be back soon with more of The Crown.

In our final bonus episode, Edith Bowman catches up with showrunner Peter Morgan to find out what we can expect from the next season. We’ll also discover what happened when host Edith Bowman joined Olivia Colman on the set of Season Four, and popped over to Helena Bonham Carter’s house to talk all things Princess Margaret. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

As the Queen prepares to mark 25 years on the throne with her Silver Jubilee, her sister Princess Margaret is in crisis. With her marriage crumbling, she embarks on a relationship with a younger man with heartbreaking consequences. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with showrunner Peter Morgan, Executive Producer Suzanne Mackie, Production Designer Martin Childs and Director Jessica Hobbs. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The death of the Duke of Windsor has had a profound effect on Prince Charles, who had come to recognise a true kinship with his great uncle. Host Edith Bowman speaks with showrunner Peter Morgan about the similarities between the Duke of Windsor and the Prince of Wales. She also visits hair and makeup designer Cate Hall on set where they talk wig lace, oxygen facials and tiara masterclasses. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The Queen visits the dying Duke of Windsor, who asks her forgiveness for choosing love over his duty, and urges her to help Prince Charles find a wife he loves before becoming King. Meanwhile, Prince Charles starts to fall for Camilla Shand, and the situation becomes complicated when Princess Anne plays the field with Camilla’s ex Andrew Parker Bowles. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with director Sam Donovan, costume designer Amy Roberts, and the actor behind Princess Anne, Erin Doherty. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures. Episode Eight of Season Three of The Crown, Dangling Man, was written by David Hancock and Peter Morgan.

It’s 1969 and while the astronauts from Apollo 11 are landing on the moon, Prince Philip ponders what he might have accomplished had circumstances in his life been different. Host Edith Bowman is joined by actor Tobias Menzies and director Jessica Hobbs to discuss the character of Philip and the episode’s themes of loss, faith and mid-life crises. Edith also chats to composer Martin Phipps about writing the music for Season Three. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

In preparation for his investiture as the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle, Prince Charles is sent to spend a term at Aberystwyth University. For Charles this is an opportunity to connect with the Welsh people and their language, as well as his own identity as a member of the royal family. For the Queen and her government, however, it is a chance to ease relations with the growing Welsh Nationalist movement. In this episode, Edith Bowman talks with Executive Producer Suzanne Mackie, Director Christian Schwochow and meets the talent behind Prince Charles in season 3, actor Josh O’Connor. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Upon the devaluation of the pound, recently ousted Chief of Defence Staff Mountbatten is approached to lead a military coup against Wilson’s government. Meanwhile, Elizabeth visits international horse breeders and gets a glimpse of the life she could have led, where she’s free to pursue her passions. In this episode, Edith Bowman catches up with director Christian Schwochow, head of research Annie Sulzberger, and BAFTA award-winning actor Jason Watkins, who plays the role of former prime minister Harold Wilson. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

As Prince Phillip spearheads a PR initiative to improve the royal family’s image, he fears that his deeply religious mother’s presence in the Palace will derail his plans and expose his traumatic childhood to the outside world. In this episode, we hear from executive producer Suzanne Mackie and lead director and executive producer Ben Caron, plus host Edith Bowman meets the actor behind Princess Alice, Jane Lapotaire. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

On the 21st of October 1966, a devastating tragedy befell the Welsh mining village of Aberfan, claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults. In this episode, we hear from head of research Annie Sulzberger, lead director and executive producer Ben Caron, and BAFTA award-winning actor Jason Watkins, who takes on the role of former prime minister Harold Wilson. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

At a low point for the ‘Special Relationship’, the Queen is forced to ask unpredictable Princess Margaret to charm American President Lyndon B. Johnson into saving Great Britain from financial ruin. Helena Bonham Carter shines as the dazzling Princess Margaret in episode two of the third season of the Netflix Original Series, The Crown, entitled 'Margaretology'. Host Edith Bowman speaks with creator Peter Morgan about his portrayal of the Queen’s ‘number two’, talks to lead director and executive producer Ben Caron about his career with The Crown and Head of Research Annie Sulzberger gives us an insight into what the 36th President of the United States really thought about British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

Winston Churchill dies, the Queen’s first Labour Prime Minister takes office and there are rumours of a Russian spy in Downing Street. With an entirely new cast in place, it is all-change in episode one of the third season of the Netflix Original Series, The Crown. Host Edith Bowman speaks with creator Peter Morgan about Olivia Colman taking over the role of the Queen, his role as the showrunner and the allure of writing real-life characters. Speaking about the massive re-casting are casting directors Nina Gold and Robert Sterne. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.

The Crown returns for season 3 on November 17th. This series will follow the show episode by episode, diving deep into the stories, taking you behind the scenes, and speaking with many of the talented people involved, including Show Creator Peter Morgan, Casting Director Nina Gold and members of the brand new cast. The Crown: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Somethin’ Else, in association with Left Bank Pictures.