Filming for the sixth series of The Crown is well underway as the scene has been set in Winchester Cathedral for recreation of the Queen Mother’s funeral – while Ginger Spice appeared to make a cameo too.
Photos from the set showed what is thought to be a replica of the Queen Mother’s coffin, while Dominic West (who plays King Charles) was seen wearing a morning suit as he joined with actors portraying Prince William and Prince Harry to film the emotional scenes from 2002 after the Queen Mother died at the age of 101.
Dominic was seen at the church this afternoon wearing a morning suit, alongside two young actors who appeared to be playing William and Harry in the series. A Geri Halliwell lookalike was also spotted onset, dressed in Ginger Spice’s trademark Union Jack outfit with her hair in bunches.
The sixth series will depict the late 1990s until the early 2000s and are expected to cover the deaths of Princess Diana, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. As the Spice Girl strutted onset, the new series may well also feature Geri Halliwell and Mel B’s breaking of royal protocol during a Prince’s Trust performance in 1997.
Winchester Cathedral was transformed into Westminster Abbey this afternoon as The Crown series six production got underway filming scenes of the Queen Mother’s Funeral in 2002. Pictured: A coffin meant to be that of the Queen Mother
Ginger Spice and Scary Spice each kissed King Charles on the cheek during the performance at the charity gala, before referring to him as ‘very sexy’ and patting him on the bottom.
The former Spice Girl later told The Times: ‘I didn’t pinch Prince Charles’s bum, as was reported. I patted it. Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we’re all human.’
Dominic West joined actors portraying Prince William and Prince Harry as they donned morning suits to film The Crown’s version of a royal funeral today
A Geri Halliwell lookalike arrived on set this afternoon dressed in a Union Jack dress and boots evoking Ginger Spice’s iconic look
Geri Halliwell (pictured with King Charles, Mel C, Mel B and Emma Bunton) cheekily patted the King’s bottom in a 1997 charity gala performance for the Prince’s Trust
There were a number of younger actors on set today, who are believed to be depicting Prince William and Prince Harry in the drama
Meanwhile there were also a number of extras on the set earlier today, many of whom were dressed in black ensembles appropriate for a funeral
‘It was the premiere of our film, Spice World, in the late nineties. There was a lot of nervous energy – young women, happy antics.’
As the scene is set for series six, Winchester Cathedral is being used as a substitute for Westminster Abbey, where the Queen Mother’s funeral was held in 2002.
The cathedral’s website stated it was closed to visitors today and will remain closed tomorrow, when it is believed filming is taking place.
The cast and crew filmed Princess Diana’s funeral procession in October, the Royal Standard is draped over the coffin on the gun carriage – just as it was in real life – while actors dressed in the ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards march alongside.
The scene depicting a grief-stricken William and Prince Harry – then aged 15 and 12 – was filmed in secrecy at a disused RAF base.
The car accident that took Princess Diana’s life occurred shortly after midnight on August 31, 1997, in Paris.
Diana was alive when she was rushed to hospital, but eventually succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead hours later.
Dominic, who played Charles in the fifth series and is set to reprise the role for the sixth, chatted with a member of the crew on set
Apparently cold, Dominic wrapped up in a large puffer jacket as he spoke with a member of the crew who appeared to be tweaking his costume
In scenes depicting a royal funeral which were filmed at the Winchester Cathedral, Dominic appeared relaxed
The actor put his hands into his pockets as he wrapped up warm in a puffer jacket against the cool weather today
The Queen was vacationing with William and Harry, ages 15 and 12 at the time, at their Balmoral estate in Scotland at the time. In the middle of the night, she was informed of the accident through her secretary, but she decided to not wake the boys.
In December it emerged that crew members were reportedly disgusted that actress Elizabeth Debicki was made to lie in an open coffin and pretend to be the dead Princess Diana.
Shocking scenes from the script for the next season of the drama may start a fresh row for the streaming giant.
The sixth season of the show will feature medics covered in blood trying to save Diana, a distraught Prince Charles after seeing the body, and Prince William and Prince Harry at the funeral, The Sun reported.
The actor could also be seen picking up a cup of coffee as he walked across the cathedral set earlier today
Other extras donned fascinators and hats to complement their black outfits ahead of the funeral
Many actors were dressed in morning suits at the cathedral as they appeared to film a royal funeral
As well as the mourners, others were dressed as guards for the Queen, adding to the ceremony of the event
One actor appeared relaxed as he walked across the set while dressed in the black suit jacket and grey trousers
There are fears over the impact the scenes depicting Princess Diana’s final moments before her fatal Paris car crash in 1997 will have on the princes.
Onlookers on set told The Sun that cast members were visibly upset during the filming of the scene.
One said: ‘They actually made Elizabeth climb into a coffin and play dead as Diana. Viewers will see a French priest administering the last rites for Diana as she is pronounced deceased.
‘Prince Charles enters the room and is in floods of tears. In his hysteria he notices that Diana is missing an earring. It is all he can focus on as grief envelops him.’
They added: ‘Princes William and Harry never saw their mother dead in a coffin and they shouldn’t have to watch this. Nor should the British public.’
Meanwhile a number of female actors wore black ensembles with matching hats ahead of filming today
Extras could be seen chatting with members of the crew as they prepared for filming at the cathedral today
Crew members are said to be concerned that the scriptwriters and producers have gone over the top chasing ratings.
One spectator said: ‘Everyone was very uncomfortable doing the shoot. It is obscene and should be banned from broadcast.’
The next season will show scenes of Princess Diana lying on a table with frantic medics trying to save her.
Netflix has insisted the ‘exact moment’ of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama, which has come under fire for sensationalism and inaccuracy.
A friend of Diana’s said the show’s makers could face accusations of ‘insensitivity’ over the filming in Paris. Debbie Frank, who was Diana’s astrologer, said it would be ‘terrible’ for William and Harry to see a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother’s death
The royals were also seen mourning publicly at the Queen Mother’s funeral in April 2002 (pictured)
It’s obviously terrible for Diana’s children to have to see that again. It’s insensitive,’ she said.
She added: ‘I feel Diana’s death and the crash was the biggest shock our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.
‘I guess the makers of The Crown feel they are entitled to show a re-enactment of scenes leading up to her death and that it has dramatic impact. But relatives would think otherwise.’
Ken Wharfe, Diana’s former bodyguard, told The Sun that William will find the scenes ‘repulsive’ and Charles will be ‘appalled’.
Harry has confirmed that he watches Netflix’s controversial series The Crown – and ‘fact checks’ the show as he does.
The Duke of Sussex laughed as he revealed in a new TV interview that he has watched the ‘more recent’ episodes that portray ‘sensationalized’ accounts of his late mother Diana’s bulimia battle and her bitter divorce from his father.
The 38-year-old made the admission during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
‘Yes I have actually watched The Crown,’ Harry – who has a production deal with Netflix that is reported to be worth $100 million – told Colbert after the late night host asked if he had seen the series.
‘The older stuff and the more recent stuff.’
Harry then burst into fits of laughter and mimed taking notes as Colbert questioned whether he ‘fact checks’ the show – before admitting: ‘Yes, I do actually.’
