{"id":41846,"date":"2023-12-14T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T12:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1943685"},"modified":"2023-12-14T13:42:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T12:42:37","slug":"how-does-the-crown-season-6-address-the-queens-death","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/how-does-the-crown-season-6-address-the-queens-death\/","title":{"rendered":"How does The Crown season 6 address the Queen\u2019s death?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Crown’s final episode is now available on Netflix. <\/p>

By James Hibbs\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 12:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

**Warning \u2013 contains full spoilers for the final episode of The Crown season 6**<\/strong><\/p>\n

It has long been confirmed, as The Crown<\/a> has got ever closer to the present day, that it would never catch up with current events, and that it would instead end around 2005, and the wedding of Charles and Camilla<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, earlier this year the show\u2019s creator Peter Morgan confirmed that he had changed the script for the final ever episode in light of the Queen\u2019s death last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He told Variety<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019d all been through the experience of the funeral. So because of how deeply everybody will have felt that, I had to try and find a way in which the final episode dealt with the character\u2019s death, even though she hadn\u2019t died yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

So how does the final episode of The Crown address Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s death? Read on for everything you need to know.<\/p>\n

Does The Crown show Queen Elizabeth II\u2019s death?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Imelda\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown season 6.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix\/Justin Downing<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It doesn\u2019t. Despite Peter Morgan having admitted that he changed the final episode\u2019s script following the Queen\u2019s death, he has not changed his plan to end the show\u2019s timeline in 2005.<\/p>\n

The final episode ends shortly after Charles and Camilla\u2019s<\/a> wedding, and it does not include any flash-forwards to 2022 or the present day.<\/p>\n

In a Variety interview earlier this year, it was revealed by the\u00a0co-chief executive officer of Netflix, Ted Sarandos, that when the series was first being developed there had been discussion about concluding it with the Queen\u2019s death, but that she effectively outlived the show.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Morgan said that ending the show in 2005 was \u201cthe cutoff to keep it historical, not journalistic\u201d, adding that it\u2019s \u201cdignified\u201d to stop \u201calmost 20 years before the present day\u201d.<\/p>\n

How does The Crown address Queen Elizabeth\u2019s death?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Imelda\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown season 6.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix\/Justin Downing<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Despite The Crown not showing the Queen\u2019s death, it does address it in a substantial way during the finale. This is achieved by having a central storyline be both Elizabeth and Philip preparing for their own funerals, with Elizabeth getting involved in the planning for Operation London Bridge.<\/p>\n

While Philip is shown to be \u201cstimulated\u201d by planning for his funeral, Elizabeth is more skeptical and emotional about the prospect.<\/p>\n

During a planning meeting, the Queen later says that her preference for a funeral would be a \u201cquiet service in Scotland, out of sight and over in 20 minutes\u201d. However, her advisors note that people will want to celebrate her reign, as the longest-serving monarch in history.<\/p>\n

The Queen asks to speak with the Piper to the Sovereign, who suggests the song Sleep, Dearie Sleep for her funeral \u2013 this also serving as the title of the episode, and indeed the song that was played during her funeral in real life.<\/p>\n

Throughout the rest of the episode the Queen is seen reflecting on her life (including some insightful, imagined conversations with the younger versions of herself<\/a>, played by Olivia Colman and Claire Foy).<\/p>\n

During this time she considers making a speech, announcing she will abdicate and let Charles ascend the throne. However, she later changes her mind.<\/p>

After Charles and Camilla\u2019s wedding, Philip and Elizabeth talk in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, and he expresses his doubts that those who will come after her are \u201cremotely ready\u201d to take on the crown, saying Elizabeth was \u201cborn ready\u201d and that she is one of a kind. He says they won\u2019t have to worry about that, as once someone else takes over, they will be buried in that very chapel.<\/p>\n

He says they are a \u201cdying breed\u201d and that while everyone will continue on \u201cpretending all is well\u201d, in truth the \u201cparty\u2019s over\u201d when it comes to the monarchy, expressing that \u201cthe system no longer makes sense\u201d.<\/p>\n

Philip leaves, and Sleep, Dearie Sleep plays as Elizabeth acknowledges the women she has previously been, before leaving the chapel on her own.<\/p>