The Crown is the shining jewel in the crown of Netflix’s original tv shows, and its fourth season will be released on November 15th. In this season we will see Olivia Coleman continuing on her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, whilst the historical drama takes us into the era of Thatcher’s Britain.
So far in seasons 1 to 3 of The Crown, we have followed major events in the lives of the British Royal Family from November 1947 to June 1977. These episodes have tackled world-famous historical events, such as the Queen’s coronation following the death of her father, King George VI; Winston Churchill’s time as Prime Minister; John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy’s visit to Buckingham Palace; and the Apollo 11 moon landing, to name but a few.
Source: Harper’s Bazaar
Many (including myself) are most excited to see the icon that is Gillian Anderson take on the Iron Lady, as well as Emma Corrin’s take on the role of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Emma Corrin has previously spoken out about her excitement to be joining the cast and expressed her admiration of the Princess of Wales, saying “Princess Diana was an icon, and her effect on the world remains profound and inspiring.”
Source: E! Online
In the trailer for Season 4, we see Emma Corrin in a replica of Princess Diana’s wedding dress in 1981 – a moment that certainly set fans excitement through the roof. In a recent piece by Town and Country, however, it was revealed that the most-watched royal wedding of all time will not be played out in full on the small screen.
The upcoming season will also introduce audiences to Prince William and Prince Harry as we see Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s relationship covered from the 1970s to the 1990s.
Olivia Coleman, Tobias Menzies and Helena Bonham Carter are each reprising their roles as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Margaret, respectively. In some rather exciting casting news, critically acclaimed Clair Foy (who played Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 1 & 2) is reportedly also going to be appearing in flashbacks across the season.
The show’s creator, Peter Morgan, has also confirmed that The Crown will return for seasons 5 and 6 – however, these will be the final chapters of The Crown as we approach the present day. Rumoured to premiere in 2022, Season 5 will see Imelda Staunton take over as Queen Elizabeth II – a role that Staunton has said she is “genuinely honoured” to take on.
This is arguably one of the most exciting time periods in British history to be played out in a drama. From the controversy surrounding the rise of Thatcherism to Lady Diana Spencer gallantly changing the British Royal Family forever, season 4 is sure to be an extremely insightful and compelling piece of television for many to enjoy over the winter months – or in a matter of days if you have a tendency to binge-watch The Crown immediately as I do!
Words by Caitlin Parr
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