Dominic West says he stopped his son from playing Prince William in the final series of The Crown to avoid the scene of Charles breaking the news of Princess Diana’s death

Dominic West stopped his son from playing William in the final series of The Crown to avoid the scene where his character Charles breaks the news of Diana’s death.

Senan West performed as the young prince alongside his father in series five of the Netflix drama.

The young actor, 14, was invited by The Crown’s makers to return to the role for series six.

But Dominic, 54, said he did not want to act out the highly-charged scenes of Princess Diana’s death with his own son.

He told the Radio Times: ‘I didn’t fancy doing the scene at Balmoral, telling a boy his mother has died.

Dominic West and Senan on the red carpet for the World Premiere of  The Crown (Season 5)

Senan West performed as the young prince alongside his father in series five of the drama

West and Elizabeth Debicki in The Crown

When Senan got the role, Dominic told him: ‘Do you know how lucky you are? Bloody lucky!’

Elizabeth Debicki, Will Powell, Senan West and Dominic West in Season 5 of The Crown

‘They invited Senan back because he did such a good job but I did slightly baulk at that. It was unfair of me, because he did want to do it.’

Senan appeared in the final episodes of series five as a ‘slightly older’ William in his early teenage years.

His appearance in The Crown was his first ever acting role, which some viewers criticised as being a result of ‘nepotism’.

However, speaking to Town and Country, Dominic claimed that the decision to include his son was a result of a casting agent telling him that the show was struggling to fill the role.

When Senan bagged the role, Dominic told him: ‘Do you know how lucky you are? Bloody lucky!’

He revealed that he then told his son to ‘listen, enjoy and learn’ from the esteemed actors in the series, including during his first scene which sees him having tea with the late Queen portrayed by Imelda Staunton, 67.