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Princess Diana’s relationship with Dodi Fayed is among the storylines teased in the first images released of the final series of The Crown.

Photography from the sixth season includes a picture of Diana, played by Elizabeth Debicki, in a car with Dodi (Khalid Abdalla), as well as scenes on a yacht belonging to his father, business tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed.

Inspired by real events, Netflix‘s fictional dramatisation tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and the political and personal events that shaped her reign. Following five hit series, this upcoming sixth season of The Crown is set to be the final instalment.

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
Salim Daw as Mohamed Al Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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Salim Daw plays Mohamed Al Fayed, who died earlier this year

It will be released in two parts, with the first four episodes launching on 16 November, depicting the couple’s relationship before the car crash in Paris in which they were both killed. The second part of the series will air from 14 December.

The images released by Netflix also give a glimpse of Mr Al Fayed, played by Salim Daw. The billionaire’s relationship with the Royal Family was first depicted in season five, during which Mr Al Fayed was seen getting to know a younger Diana.

“I think it’s a really unique challenge as an actor, to portray those days,” Debicki has said of playing Diana, while Abdalla described playing Dodi Fayed as “the honour of my life”.

Stars Imelda Staunton and Dominic West return as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles respectively, while Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards play William and Harry.

Dominic West as Prince Charles, with Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards as William and Harry, in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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Dominic West returns as Prince Charles, while Imelda Staunton (below) is back as the Queen

Imelda Staunton as the Queen in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix

Staunton, who took the role over from Olivia Colman and Claire Foy, said: “I’ve been living with her for a long time so, if anything, I felt more comfortable this time.

“I love her stillness and her ability to not be thrown by everything that must have constantly – throughout her whole life – gone on around her.”

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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The final series depicts the period of time around Diana and Dodi Fayed’s deaths

West said Charles has “got real sadness to him and real compassion” and that The Crown gives viewers the opportunity to “see these public figures in private”.

He added: “I suspect in private he’s quite emotional, well that’s the way I played him anyway… I talked to a lot of people who have met him because he’s met a lot of people, he’s met probably more than anyone except the Queen and Prince Philip. Almost everyone has extremely warm, kind things to say about him.”

According to the show’s producers, Prince William tries to integrate back into life at Eton in the wake of his mother’s death as the monarchy has to ride the wave of public opinion.

As she reaches her Golden Jubilee, the Queen reflects on the future of the monarchy with the marriage of Charles and Camilla and the beginnings of a new Royal fairytale in William and Kate.

Diana death to be handled ‘sensitively’

Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival in the summer, executive producer Suzanne Mackie said Diana’s death would be handled sensitively in the upcoming series.

Diana and Dodi Fayed, a film producer, died on 31 August 1997, when their car crashed in a road tunnel in Paris as they tried to outrun paparazzi photographers on motorbikes.

Mohamed Al Fayed died in August at the age of 94, with his family saying he “passed away peacefully of old age”.

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission’s probe into Prince Harry claims

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Sentebale war of words continues as charity calls for clarity on commission's probe into Prince Harry claims

The war of words over Sentebale is continuing, with the charity calling on the Charity Commission to provide clarity that its recent report did not specifically investigate claims of racism and misogyny against Prince Harry. 

Sources close to the Duke of Sussex claim they are “rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more”, describing their latest move as not “just provocative, it’s pitiful”.

A source at Sentebale has told Sky News: “We have written to The Charity Commission stating that the onus is on the commission to restate for the record that individual allegations of bullying have not been investigated or addressed in the commission’s report.”

It comes after the Charity Commission report stated that “based on the evidence provided and reviewed by the commission, it found no evidence of: widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity”.

However, the commission added that it “acknowledged the strong perception of ill treatment felt by a number of parties to the dispute and the impact this may have had on them personally”.

But sources at Sentebale believe the reporting around this statement – that Prince Harry has been cleared of bullying – has been inaccurate, as the charity watchdog did not specifically look at allegations made by the chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, including during an exclusive interview on Sky News.

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From March 2025: Charity chair’s bullying claims on Sky News

A source close to Prince Harry and the former board of trustees has hit back, and said: “It’s remarkable, just yesterday Ms Chanduaka was applauding the Charity Commission’s findings, yet today, after a flurry of unflattering headlines, she’s back on the warpath.

“Issuing yet another media statement only reinforces the commission’s criticism about using the press to air internal disputes.

“Rehashing unsubstantiated allegations of bullying, misogyny and more, which the commission found no evidence of and dressing them up as veiled threats isn’t just provocative, it’s pitiful.

“If Ms Chanduaka has genuine concerns, she should spell them out plainly or, better yet, redirect her energy toward something truly worthwhile, like raising money for the children Sentebale exists to support.”

It’s understood Prince Harry and his supporters have also been left unsatisfied by the scope of the report, including their concerns about money spent on consultants that was authorised by Dr Chandauka.

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Responding to Sky News, the Charity Commission said: “We have issued the charity with an action plan which sets out steps the current trustees need to take to improve governance weaknesses and rectify findings of mismanagement.

“We now urge all involved to put their differences behind them and allow the charity to focus on its work and beneficiaries”.

Their report, released on Wednesday, was highly critical of all parties for allowing their disagreement to play out so publicly and allowing it to severely impact the charity’s reputation.

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Bromley burglary: £500,000 worth of gold stolen from home

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Bromley burglary: £500,000 worth of gold stolen from home

Police have launched an appeal after £500,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from a house in southeast London.

The incident took place at a home in Bickley Road, Bromley, on 30 December last year.

Footage showed three men entering the property through a forced bathroom window.

The group, who entered the home at 5.40pm and left at 6.25pm, carried out the theft while the owners were home.

Pics: Met Police
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Pics: Met Police

The Metropolitan Police have now shared images of the stolen jewellery in a new appeal for information.

No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary so far.

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Pics: Met Police
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Pics: Met Police

Detective Constable Jamie White, of the Met’s South Area Command Unit, said: “While the monetary value of this theft is enormous, the sentimental value is priceless – with many of the pieces being passed down through generations of the family.

“Helpfully, a number of the pieces stolen are unique, so we are hoping that releasing these photographs will jog someone’s memory.”

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Three charged with showing support for Palestine Action

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Three charged with showing support for Palestine Action

Three people have been charged with showing support for Palestine Action after the group was banned as a terror organisation.

Two women and a man were arrested in Westminster following a protest in central London on 5 July, the Metropolitan Police said.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney in London, were charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation, under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The trio are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September.

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What’s happening to Palestine Action?

The charges come ahead of a planned protest in support of the group on Saturday afternoon in Parliament Square in London, which organisers expect more than 500 people will attend.

Defend Our Juries, which is organising the demonstration, said protests will continue until a High Court challenge over Palestine Action’s ban in November.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law.

“These charges relate to three people arrested in central London on 5 July.

“We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day.

“I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.”

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The latest charges bring the total number of people charged with offences under the Terrorism Act related to Palestine Action to 10 across England, Wales and Scotland, Counter Terrorism Policing said.

Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Our role is to enforce the law where we suspect offences to have been committed and we will continue to do so, without fear or favour.

“At this time, it remains illegal to be a member of or encourage support for the group Palestine Action. This legislation is specific to that group and does not interfere with the right to protest in support of the Palestinian cause.

“Operational plans are in place to ensure this right can be preserved over the coming days with protests expected in several major cities, including London.

“As well as robust plans to respond to activity in support of this proscribed group, resources are also in place to investigate offences that may be identified or reported following such events.”

More than 220 people have been arrested at protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month, as part of the campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries, including on suspicion of membership of, inviting support for and showing support for Palestine Action.

The ban on the group came after two Voyager aircraft suffered around £7m worth of damage at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June.

Three days later, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, calling the vandalism “disgraceful” and saying the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage”.

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