As we eagerly await the upcoming season of Netflix’s The Crown, more and more details are slowly being revealed about the final fifth and sixth seasons.
The royal drama left us with season four’s ending in 1990, as Margaret Thatcher ‘stepped down’ from her role as Prime Minister, and Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ relationship in turmoil.
Season five is expected to explore the House of Windsor during the ’90s, exploring the time both prior to and following the death of the Princess of Wales.
Read on to see which actors have been tasked with portraying the royal family for The Crown’s fifth and sixth seasons.
Dominic West as Prince Charles
Rumour has it Dominic West will take on the role of Prince Charles, with Variety reporting the actor is in late-stage discussions for the role which would take over from Josh O’Connor.
The actor, who is known for his roles in The Wire and The Affair, is yet to publicly comment, however, now that the cat’s out of the bag, let’s take a look at all the cast members that have been confirmed to appear in the fifth and sixth seasons.
Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana
The Australian actress was confirmed to take on the coveted role earlier this year.
“Princess Diana’s spirit, her words and her actions live in the hearts of so many. It is my tru privilege and honour to be joining this masterful series, which has had me absolutely hooked from episode one,” she said in a statement announcing the news.
Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II
British actress Imelda Staunton, known for her role as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter series, is set to depict Queen Elizabeth II after Olivia Colman.
“I have loved watching The Crown from the very start. As an actor, it was a joy to see how both Claire Foy and Olivia Colman brought something special and unique to Peter Morgan’s scripts. I am genuinely honoured to be joining such an exceptional creative team and to be taking The Crown to its conclusion,” she wrote.
The series’ showrunner Peter Morgan also took to praising the actress upon confirming the news.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to confirm Imelda Staunton as Her Majesty The Queen for the fifth and final season, taking The Crown into the 21st century. Imelda is an astonishing talent and will be a fantastic successor to Claire Foy and Olivia Colman,” he said.
Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip
While he’s come to be known for playing ‘villains’ like Game of Thrones’ High Sparrow, Oscar-nominated Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce will play Prince Philip in the upcoming final seasons, succeeding Tobias Menzies and Matt Smith.
Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
Another Oscar-nominated star joining the cast is Lesley Manville, who will be taking over the role of the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, from Helena Bonham Carter and Vanessa Kirby.
Excited over the score, she shared a statement that read: “I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret. The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down. Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy.”
Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles
While Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell took on the role of Prince Charles’ then-lover Camilla Parker Bowles in season four of The Crown, it’s been leaked that The Nevers actress Olivia Williams will take over the role for its fifth and sixth season. Williams is best known for her roles on stage with London’s National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company and films like Sixth Sense and recent Oscar-winner The Father.
The actress is expected to portray Camilla before and after Diana’s death, a time that was rumoured to be the most tumultuous of the couple’s relationship.
Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton
While the majority of The Crown season six cast is compiled of award-winning famous faces, the 19-year-old actress who has been chosen to play a young Kate Middleton is someone unknown. Scoring the role as the young Duchess, this will be newcomer Meg Bellamy’s first professional acting role, after she submitted self-taped auditions for a casting call posted on social media.
Ed McVey as Prince William (Aged 19)
Bellamy isn’t the only brand-new face hitting our screens, Ed McVey has been confirmed as the actor who’ll portray 19-year-old Prince William in the show. The 21-year-old actor has no prior acting experience, but is set to star as the Duke of Cambridge during his late teens, around the late 1990s to early 2000s.
Rufus Kampa as Prince William
As we know, The Crown season six will cover several years of the young Prince’s life, which is where Rufus Kampa comes in. Starring as Prince William, the 16-year-old actor will star in the episodes of the show that depict how the family coped with the death of Princess Diana.
