The Crown, the world renowned historical drama created by Peter Morgan and chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II has been renewed for a sixth season. With filming currently underway, the cast and crew have made their way nearby; part of the show’s dealings with the decline of the British Empire, political disarray and monarchic drama (including its internal conflicts and controversies) have been recently filmed in Barcelona. Is it the rustling city and its crowds, or the calm, peaceful gardens that have sparked interest among The Crown‘s producers? Perhaps the historical monuments or emblematic architecture? Or, rather, is it Barcelona’s similarities to another iconic capital city that paint the best picture for this coming season?
In order to understand the ambiance chosen for this season, one must first understand the context from which it stems. Throughout seasons four (as season five is set to release on November 15th), the show focused on Queen Elizabeth’s life, beginning with the tales of the late 1940s, up until the late 70s. The beginning seasons center on the early sovereignty of the Queen (played by Olivia Colman), her ascension to the throne at age twenty-five (following the death of her father, King George VI), and the chaos that arose while establishing diplomacy towards the end of WWII. Succeeding the war, The Crown hones in on political rivalries, romances, and unveils the dark and frank realities that arise from such a position in power. As the show catches up to the last few decades, these truths and scandals remind us of their real-life counterparts, and how they have shaped the last few decades of the twentieth century.
The ending of season four, however, allows one to take a closer look into what could have been the reasoning behind choosing Barcelona as the filming location. Season four covers the time period between 1979 to 1990, in which Lady Diana is introduced. The ending also recounts the decaying state of Charles and Diana’s relationship. This is where Barcelona’s sights come into play. As most know, Princess Diana passed away in a car accident in Paris in 1997. Prior to filming, in Jardinets de Gràcia, (between October 20th and 23rd), The Crown crew set up posters in French, advertising a ballet performance of Giselle; in other words, a set reminiscent of Paris. Among these signs was one advertising Jean Racine’s play ‘Bérénice’, which was performed from June to November, 1997. These references to a 1997 Paris prompted speculation on whether this was to be a reenactment of her final days.
However, what actually happened? As seen on video, the filming included scenes using a replica of the car in which Princess Diana died. The car was utilized during a paparazzi chase scene, which included more than a dozen cars, four motorcycles, and a bus from the era. There were also French police officers, which added to the transformation of the street into a Parisian boulevard. (The commotion caused traffic cuts in a part of the Francesc Macià square, and also in Avinguda Pau Casals.) Such information has added to the ever growing speculation that The Crown’s producers were indeed recreating Princess Diana’s tragic death.
Although the filming was accomplished in time, it had been postponed from its original date (beginning of September) due to the Queen’s death. In a statement released by Peter Morgan, the creator explained that production would be delayed “out of respect. The Crown is a love letter to her and I’ve nothing to add for now, just silence and respect” (Catalan News). This was also reported by SER Catalunya radio the day of supposed filming, as they had spotted The Crown crew dismounting sets just north of Passeig de Gràcia. After the month and a half-long deferment, production continued on Thursday, October 20th, and ended the following Sunday.
Overall, we can only hope to see great things in the coming season. Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, and Tobias Menzies (who play Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana and Prince Philip respectively) have successfully interpreted the historical importance and dramatics of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and we can only look forward to Barcelona’s sights further enriching the experience of this upcoming season. Who knows? In a few months time, you might even see yourself lingering in the background of a 1997 Parisian boulevard.
Watch filming here.
Bibliography:
Catalan News. “Filming of ‘The Crown’ in Barcelona Halted After Queen’s Death.” www.catalannews.com/culture/item/filming-of-the-crown-in-barcelona-halted-after-queen-s-death. Accessed 26 Oct. 2022.
News Desk. “Filming of Netflix ‘The Crown’ in Barcelona Suspended ‘Out of Respect.’” Spain in English, 14 Sept. 2022, www.spainenglish.com/2022/09/09/filming-the-crown-barcelona-suspended-out-of-respect. Accessed 25 Oct. 2022.
Catalan News. “Hit Series the Crown Resumes Filming in Barcelona This Weekend.” www.catalannews.com/culture/item/hit-series-the-crown-resumes-filming-in-barcelona-over-a-month-after-queens-passing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2022.
Rutter, Harry, and Paul Smith. “The Crown Resumes Filming New Series in Barcelona After Queen’s Death.” Daily Record, 14 Sep. 2022, www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/crown-resumes-filming-new-series-27993082. Accessed 27 Oct. 2022.