Blair conveys Diana's desire to retain her HRH title to effect broader change, and he does so with unwavering composure. The monarch, in her characteristic stoic manner, clarifies that the Princess of Wales cannot be a part-time Royal, emphasizing the need to be fully committed to the role. The subtle comparison between Diana's struggles and the Sussexes' departure is difficult to overlook in this cleverly scripted dialogue sequence. In an article for Esquire, royal author Henry Wong observed that, while the show may come across as somewhat mean-spirited, it draws unsavory parallels between Diana's fate and the experiences of the younger son and his wife.
This lack of subtlety, Wong notes, is not a hallmark of the series, which relies on our interest in the institution of the monarchy as well as the individuals within it. Part one of season six of Netflix's "The Crown" debuted on November 16th and primarily explores the relationship between Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed before the tragic car crash that claimed both of their lives on August 31st, 1997. Part two shifts its focus to Prince William, highlighting his budding romance with Catherine Middleton, who would later become the Princess of Wales. While the limelight shines on William and Kate in this final installment, royal expert Tessa Dunlop points out that the show's emphasis on William's role helps contextualize Harry's feelings of being the "spare."
Prince Harry's portrayal in "The Crown" as an alcoholic and drug-addicted individual, as well as a jealous and embittered figure, corresponds with his controversial past actions. In January 2005, Prince Harry attended a birthday party with a "Natives and Colonials" theme, where guests donned various costumes. Notably, Harry wore a desert uniform resembling General Erwin Rommel's Africa Corps attire, complete with a prominently displayed swastika armband. The Africa Corps was a German expeditionary force during World War II's North African campaign, serving to maintain Italy's territorial gains in the region. General Rommel was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany and remains an iconic symbol in post-war popular culture, even inspiring the Rommel myth as a key symbol of the German Nazi party.
The choice to wear a swastika symbol, which is banned in several countries due to its associations with hate and genocide, was met with outrage and condemnation, particularly from Jewish communities. Harry's actions were deemed especially insensitive as the party took place just two weeks before the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, where over a million Jews were brutally murdered. Despite this controversy, Prince Harry managed to retain his spot at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, a decision that "The Crown" season 6 suggests was influenced by intervention from Prince Philip.
