The Crown's Dominic West hopes Charles gets the 'benefit of the doubt' when the new series of the highly-anticipated Netflix show starts on Wednesday (November 9).
The smash-hit series is now is in its fifth season and will document Martin Bashir’s controversial Panorama interview with Diana as well as the subsequent media storm surrounding her relationship with Charles.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Dominic, 53, who plays the then Prince of Wales, said: “[Charles] is one of the most scrutinised, publicised lives in the world. So it’s hard to know what people know about him.
“This period covers a time when he (had) bad press.
“It was a divorce and there’s always two sides in a divorce (so) I suppose viewers heard one or the other.
“And hopefully there’s a bit of perspective now and I hope everyone gets a fair hearing. I think that’s part of the reason for doing it.
“I obviously love the guy and… inevitably, you take their side or you give them the benefit of the doubt and I hope that will maybe happen and people see Charles in this.”
Season five of the controversial drama chronicles the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Princess Diana, who is played by Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki.
The leaked 'tampongate' conversation Charles had with the current Queen consort, who is played by Olivia Williams in the series, will be also included.
Dominic spoke of his "deep sense of sympathy" for the then-Prince during the infamous scandal in which an amateur radio fan claimed to have come across the couple's private conversation while moving between audio channels.
The transcript sparked fireworks within the Royal Family as it exposed the relationship between Charles and Camilla – who at the time was married to Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles.
However, Dominic told the Radio Times: “I never really thought about it at the time, but the research showed me how badly Camilla was treated.“
While conceding he, “like most people“ thought the discussion was “embarrassing“, the actor reckons it was an “intensely personal conversation“ that should never have been up for public consumption.
Last month, Netflix put a disclaimer in the description of its YouTube trailer for the fifth series of The Crown, saying the production is a “fictional dramatisation” and “inspired by real events”.
The series has already faced criticism from the likes of Dame Judi Dench and former prime ministers Sir John and Sir Tony Blair as a result of its 'outlandish' plot lines.
* The Crown returns to Netflix on November 9
