'The Crown' star insists series will give King Charles' side of Princess Diana story

Dominic West, who plays the now King Charles in the new series of The Crown, on Tuesday said he hoped the Netflix hit would give viewers "perspective" on the monarch despite furore over untrue depictions of the family.

The Wire star West, 53, plays Charles during a tumultuous period in the then-prince's life, covering his affair with Camilla - now his wife - and his divorce from Princess Diana.

Before the show's stars gathered in London for the world premiere of its fifth season, West said he hoped the public would give Charles the "benefit of the doubt" after watching the latest instalment.

But he acknowledged the show would tackle sensitive issues, and "covers a time when he had bad press".

"It was a divorce and there's always two sides in a divorce. I suppose viewers heard one or the other," he told a news conference.

"And hopefully there's a bit of perspective now and I hope everyone gets a fair hearing.

"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."

Diana's bombshell 1995 television interview, emotional turmoil and the divorce are all set to get an airing, along with Charles' tensions with his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died two months ago.

The next series will deal with the death of Diana in a car crash in Paris in 1997, according to reports.

The strength of criticism over untrue storylines has forced Netflix to defend both itself and screenwriter Peter Morgan.