Despite unfolding decades prior to Prince Harry's tumultuous departure from the Royal Family with Meghan Markle, the show's final season slyly takes a timeless jab at the erstwhile royal couple.
With unwavering composure, the monarch asserts that the Princess of Wales cannot straddle royal duties on a part-time basis.
"I always say it's challenging to be halfway committed; you're either fully in or out," she articulates.
The Queen further illuminates that Diana is grappling with the dichotomy between official royal status and life beyond the monarchy.
The nuanced parallels between Diana's tribulations and the Sussexes' exit resonate in the intricately woven dialogues.
In an analysis for Esquire, royal author Henry Wong observes, "Apart from its slight mean-spiritedness and the uncomfortable connections drawn between Diana's fate and the experiences of her youngest son and his wife, the scene lacks the finesse characteristic of The Crown."
He continues, "Subtlety has never been The Crown's forte, and instances like these pose a potential threat to the entire series, which, yes, relies on our intrigue in the institution but equally on the individuals it encapsulates."
