Royal fans, the time has come as the final part of The Crown just dropped on Netflix and we're saying a sad goodbye to the award-winning, critically acclaimed series after seven years and six seasons.
The series follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the day she was crowned, and throughout her time as Britain's longest reigning monarch, with season six seeing the fateful relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed plus the beginning of Prince William and Kate Middleton's love story.
The Crown has millions of viewers around the world, including myself, and while I'm no royalist, here's why the second part of the final season had me completely hooked.
In season six, part two, we follow the aftermath of the tragic death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. In particular, we see a young Prince William, played by Ed McVey, deal with his grief as well as the media and public attention around him – dubbed 'Willsmania' – that followed.
Now, as a certified member of Gen Z, this is a part of royal history that I actually remember. Sure, the previous seasons of The Crown that were great in their retelling of events that happened during the Queen's earlier reign, but they didn't interest me quite as much or feel as relevant as the portrayals of the young William, Harry and, of course, Kate Middleton.
Plot wise, to see a young Prince William deal with such intense grief as well as the relatable issues of going to university, relationships and fitting in, makes this season way more engaging and helped me, as a viewer, to sympathise with the young royal in a way I didn't before.
Plus, I just can't mention this season without talking about how much I loved the portrayal of William and Kate's relationship. Meg Bellamy, who plays Kate, shone as the young Princess - and an intense, slow burn romance like theirs? It's my favourite fictional trope!
From the emotionally-charged looks exchanged in lectures to the moment they finally kiss, it's giving teenage romance in the best way possible. I was also so interested to learn about her Kate's mother's alleged role in setting the two up. Sure, I know it's a fictional, dramatised version of events, but I was still hooked by the role of the meddling mother.
Then, the representation of William and Harry's relationship was realistic and a refreshing change from the sensationalised, tabloid headlines that we're so used to seeing about the pair. It shows their arguments and feud in a way that is probably relatable to so many siblings. That quiet scene where Harry says he would never take his brother's place? TV gold.
Plus, I have to give a special shout out to the portrayal of the relationship between the princes and their grandmother, the Queen. So wholesome, I can't cope. Oh, and the party scenes at school and university? I'm obsessed with the idea that Prince William and Harry would be up all night then have to attend serious, royal press conferences the next morning.
So, with The Crown now coming to an end after seven years on screen (can't believe it's been that long!), I'm sad to say goodbye to the series that gave people like me, who are pretty indifferent or not the biggest fans of the royal family, a glimpse into royal life. With all of its controversies, it's been an amazing series that will go up there with the classics in years to come!
The Crown is streaming on Netflix now.
