Fans of hit Netflix series The Crown don’t have long to wait until the show returns for season four and, in the lead-up to the new season, the streaming platform has unveiled some new behind-the-scenes pictures.
One of the photographs shows actress Emma Corrin, who joined the ensemble as Princess Diana this season, wearing an almost-identical replica of the late royal’s iconic bridal gown – complete with 25 foot train. The incredible dress was created by costume designer Amy Roberts, in collaboration with David Emmanuel who, along with former wife Elizabeth Emmanuel, was responsible for the Princess of Wales’ show-stopping dress and train.
“Amy wanted to pull in many of the style choices and create the same spirit of David & Elizabeth Emanuel’s original design, but make something new,” A Netflix spokesperson said. “Without access to the original patterns, Amy collaborated with David Emmanuel. He was enormously helpful, talking the design team through the detail of many of the original drawings to help them create this gown for Emma Corrin.”
The dress took a whopping four months to complete, with three people spending a collective 600 hours on the frock. The gown is made up of 95 metres of fabric and 100 metres of lace, with a train that is approximately 30 metres long.
“The Nottingham based team who made the lace on the Emmanuel’s original dress also made the lace for this one,” the spokesperson added. “Sadly the man who worked on the real-life dress passed away, but it’s his son who worked on the one you’ll see in The Crown.”
While Corrin will play Diana in season four, which drops on Netflix on November 15, an Australian actress will assume the role for the show’s final instalments. In August it was revealed that Elizabeth Debicki had been cast as Princess Diana for seasons five and six.
“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many,” Debicki said in a statement. “It is my true privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one.”
Debicki will join Oscar-nominated Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Imelda Staunton as Her Majesty the Queen and British screen legend Lesley Manville as the monarch’s younger sister Princess Margaret.