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The first instalment of the final series of Netflix’s blockbuster The Crown is back. 

The first four episodes detail the harrowing circumstances of Princess Diana’s death – culminating in the recreation of several scenes that are embedded into the nation’s memory.

Here Sky News details the four biggest moments of the final season’s first instalment.

Warning, spoilers ahead.

The car crash

While The Crown’s producers said last year they would not show the car crash in Paris that killed Princess Diana, Dodi al Fayed and his chauffeur Henri Paul, the viewer is confronted with the paparazzi chase into the Pont de l’Alma tunnel within the first two minutes of episode one.

The crash is not recreated but the viewer hears the brakes screeching and glass breaking. The motorbikes chasing Diana and Dodi come to a halt and later the blue flashing lights of emergency vehicles are seen.

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Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix

The first four episodes released this morning cover the eight weeks in the lead-up to her death in August 1997, as well as her deteriorating relationship with the paparazzi and her relationship with Dodi al Fayed.

While the world is familiar with the shocking events leading up to and after the princess’s death, nothing reduces the impact of seeing the crash and its aftermath recreated for high-brow television.

Diana’s ghost… and Dodi’s

It was one of the talking points of the controversial series before season six’s partial release – Diana’s ghost appears not once but twice to both Charles and the Queen.

On the plane home from collecting Diana’s body in Paris, the princess appears opposite Charles for one last poignant conversation.

Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix

He tells her: “You were always the most beloved out of all of us” before she says she loved him “so deeply, so painfully too”.

Her ghost returns later in episode four to comfort the Queen.

Their conversation is less emotional, with the monarch remarking: “You’ve finally succeeded in turning me and this house upside down.”

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix
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Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix

She adds that the outpouring of grief from the public after Diana’s death is “nothing less than revolution”.

But it’s not just Diana’s ghost that features – Dodi al Fayed returns from the dead to have a conversation with his father, Mohamad.

They plead for forgiveness from each other after Mohamad comes to terms with the fact he had “unfair expectations” of his son.

Prince William goes missing

While planning Diana’s funeral with then Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles is informed the young Prince William has gone missing.

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 as Prince Charles, with Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards as William and Harry, in the sixth and final series of The Crown. Pic: Netflix

A large search operation, which includes Prince Harry, scours the lands around Balmoral for most of the day before we see Prince William walking back to the castle in the pouring rain after 14 hours missing.

His simmering grief and the weight of being the future King are obvious in this first instalment, with episode four culminating in Prince Philip supporting him as he walks behind Diana’s coffin.

Diana vs the Royal Family

The worsening relationship between Diana and Charles – as well as the rest of the royal family- is on full show in the first instalment of season six.

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

The divorced couple engage in rival media briefings in an effort to win the public’s affection in the war of the Waleses – Charles is furious in the first episode when Camilla Parker-Bowles’ 50th birthday is overshadowed by photographs from Diana’s holiday with the al Fayeds.

A meeting of the wider royal family became angry when being forced to address Diana’s burgeoning relationship with Dodi with the Queen referring disdainfully to her as “that girl”.

Even after her death, the Queen says Diana was the “person who caused me the most pain” and wanted her funeral to be a “Spencer family matter”.

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Jessie J cancels tour dates ahead of second breast cancer surgery

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Jessie J cancels tour dates ahead of second breast cancer surgery

Jessie J has been forced to rearrange or cancel all upcoming tour dates as she will be having a second operation as part of her treatment for breast cancer.

The 37-year-old announced in June that she had been diagnosed with early breast cancer. She had her first operation later in the same month.

The singer, whose real name is Jessica Cornish, was due to tour the UK and Europe in October, before gigs in the US in November.

In a video posted on Instagram, she’s now told fans: “Unfortunately, I have to have a second surgery, nothing too serious, but it has to be done before the end of the year and unfortunately, that falls right in the middle of a tour that I had booked.”

The UK and Europe dates have been postponed until April next year while the US tour has been cancelled.

“So that is what it is, and I’m sorry,” the performer said. “I feel frustrated and sad, but also it is what it is, and I need to be better.

“I need to be healed, and I know this is the right decision to make. So I’m postponing the tour till next year.”

The star has asked fans to “please bear with us for the US tour”, adding that it’s “something that I want to do, but when the time is right”.

“You guys know how much I want to do all of it, but I just can’t,” she said. “And I have to be realistic.”

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Jessie J has battled numerous health issues, including being diagnosed with a heart condition when she was eight years old and suffering a minor stroke aged 18.

The singer-songwriter has had three number one songs in the UK singles chart, with Price Tag and Domino – both released in 2011 – and 2014’s Bang Bang, a collaboration with Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

She won the Critics’ Choice prize at the 2011 BRITs and bagged four Mobo awards in the same year.

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‘I’m shocked at how fragile I am still’: Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media

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'I'm shocked at how fragile I am still': Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.

It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.

The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.

‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’

But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.

And 49-year-old Cumberbatch – whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.

“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.

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“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.

“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.

“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”

Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.

Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
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Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures

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“I’m afraid I am very thin-skinned.

“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’

“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.

“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”

‘Don’t do it… delete it all’

Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.

“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.

“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”

The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?

Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?

Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.

“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.

Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.

The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.

Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.

“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.

“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”

“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.

Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.

The Roses is out in UK cinemas now.

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Top Boy and Eddington actor Micheal Ward granted bail as he appears in court on rape charges

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Top Boy and Eddington actor Micheal Ward granted bail as he appears in court on rape charges

BAFTA-winning actor Micheal Ward has been granted bail after appearing in court charged with two counts of rape.

The 27-year-old, who appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court this morning, is also accused of two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.

The offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023.

Ward, who starred in the popular British series Top Boy and was awarded BAFTA‘s rising star honour in 2020, spoke to confirm his name, address and date of birth during a short court hearing.

He did not enter any pleas and was granted conditional bail until a further hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 25 September.

In a statement issued after the charges were announced last month, Ward denied them “entirely” and said he had co-operated with police throughout their investigation.

The actor’s film credits include Blue Story, The Old Guard and Empire of Light, as well as the current Hollywood Western Eddington.

He was also twice nominated for BAFTA’s best supporting actor prize.

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