The Crown ‘will pay tribute to the late Queen during its final series and all THREE actresses who played her are returning – with a surprise newcomer’
The Crown is reportedly set to pay the ultimate tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth by featuring all three actresses who once played her as well as a surprise newcomer.
Scenes were shot with Claire Foy, 39, who portrayed the young monarch, and Olivia Colman, 49, who played her in middle age.
And they will be reportedly appearing in the sixth and final series of the show alongside Imelda Staunton, 67, who will play the elderly queen.
According to The Sun there will also be a previously unseen ‘wartime’ depiction of the younger princess Elizabeth, which will be played by Viola Prettejohn.
It comes after a TV insider revealed to The Sun that the idea likely come around during the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s death last September.
Tribute: Hit Netflix TV show The Crown is set to pay the ultimate tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth by featuring three actresses who once played her as well as a newcomer
Upcoming: Former stars Claire Foy and Olivia Colman are returning to film scenes for the final run, alongside Imelda Staunton, 67, who has played The Queen in her later years
The insider said: ‘Netflix are playing a clever hand with these four queens, bringing the story of Her Majesty to a sensational end after telling virtually all of her life story over 60 episodes.’
‘It also indicates the respect and affection which the creators have for the late monarch, even though they might not feel the same way about the royals as an institution’ They added.
The source continued: ‘The idea would most likely have been devised last year, around the time that the Queen passed away, as a way of paying tribute to her.
‘Getting the actresses together was no mean feat as both Claire and Olivia went on to bigger things after making The Crown and have packed schedules.’
It comes after Claire, who played the Queen in series one and two in 2016 and 2017, received lots of praise for her performance.
And Oscar-winner Olivia, who portrayed the Queen in series three and four in 2019 and 2020, was also critically lauded for her role in the hit TV show.
Imelda was nominated for a Best Actress BAFTA for her work in the fifth series, which aired last year.
All three actresses will be brought together in the ten-part series which is likely to air in November. MailOnline have contacted Netflix for comment.
Exciting: Claire, who played the Queen in series one and two in 2016 and 2017 will be in the show portraying the young monarch
Fit for a Queen: Meanwhile Olivia Colman, 49, who played as the Queen during series three and four in 2019 and 202 will be portraying the Queen in middle age
Late Queen: And Imelda Staunton, 67, (left) will be following Claire and Olivia into the Queen’s shoes as she will play the role of the elderly Queen in the final series
Unseen: According to The Sun there will also be a previously unseen ‘wartime’ depiction of the younger princess Elizabeth which will be played by Viola Prettejohn
It comes after Netflix released the first official photographs of Meg Bellamy as the Princess of Wales in the sixth series.
And series six, which is set to stream this year, will follow the royals into the 21st century, depicting Kate and William’s romance at St Andrew’s and closing with the king’s 2005 wedding to the then Camilla Parker Bowles.
Meg, 19, who was head girl at St Crispin’s School where she studied drama, stars alongside Ed McVey, who has been cast as her onscreen husband Prince William.
And in April the first official snaps were shared of the couple in the show, with one image showing the pair walking hand-in-hand through the streets of the Scottish city.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of The Crown’s final series, with the show already courting controversy as it plans to depict the tragic death of Princess Diana.
In another photograph, Kate appears to be shown in a classroom setting, while in another Prince William could be seen visiting one of the royal residences.
Both Meg and Ed shared the photographs on Instagram, alongside another snap as they posed out-of-character outside a cafe in the Scottish city.
A sign in the window of the cafe read: ‘Where Kate met Will.’
Meg had little experience before landing the major role in the drama. She once took to the stage as the gruesome Miss Trunchbull in an amateur dramatics production and her tutor says even then she was a ‘star in the making’.
Drama: It comes after Netflix released the first official photographs of Meg Bellamy as the Princess of Wales in the sixth series
Speaking to The Sunday Mirror teacher Claire compared Meg’s qualities to that of the Princess of Wales.
‘Meg is similar and ridiculously humble, she was very popular the type of student you had to encourage to come forward’.
She continued: ‘What’s amazing is that she took the initiative to do a self tape for The Crown and it’s become one of the stories you rarely hear of in the industry – a huge unknown plucked for a massive production. That reflects Meg.’
Claire said she believed the youngster’s loving family would help keep her grounded.
‘They’re such a sweet, loving family. She will stay private, she’s a sensible person and will approach all this carefully. Her mum will be an amazing support as well.’
The part of the future Queen Consort is Meg’s first major acting role and comes just months after she left her comprehensive school in Wokingham.
Taking to Instagram after the news was revealed last year, an excited Meg penned: ‘Pinch me please… So excited to announce that I will be playing Kate Middleton in Series 6 of Netflix’s ‘The Crown’.
‘It is such an honour to be joining the most incredible cast and crew, and I will strive to do Kate justice.’