FOLLOWING a nationwide search, “The Crown” has found its Prince William in newcomer Senan West, a son of Dominic West who plays Prince Charles in the fifth season of the TV series.

Senan, 13, has been cast as a slightly older Prince William, portraying him as he begins to mature into a young man. He will make his on-screen debut in the final episodes of the season. It’s believed the young actor’s audition, submitted via tape by his agent, caught the attention of the producers.

William had only just turned 15 in 1997 when Princess Diana died in a car crash in Paris alongside her beau, Dodi Al Fayed. As Variety revealed in September, Al Fayed will be portrayed in the series by Khalid Abdalla (“The Kite Runner”). Although the Netflix TV series’ producers haven’t commented on whether Diana’s death will be depicted on the show, the casting suggests viewers will certainly see events leading up to and possibly following the crash.

The show, which changes its cast every two seasons to reflect the passing of time in the royal family’s lives, will see Imelda Staunton (“Harry Potter”) take over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II starting Season 5. Dominic West will take over from Josh O’Conner as Prince Charles in the highly anticipated fifth season. Elizabeth Debicki (“Tenet”) will play Princess Diana, replacing Emma Corrin.

Season 4, which came out in November 2020, ended in the late 1980s. Season 5 will follow the royal family through the 1990s. (SD-Agencies)