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The Crown season 3: Trailer, Netflix release date, the cast and everything else we know so far

Netflix
Netflix

In three short years, The Crown has become one of the most successful shows on television.

The costly biographical retelling of Queen Elizabeth II’s life – from her marriage to Prince Philip right through to her present-day reign – will continue with a third season that has now completed filming.

Considering the series is hurtling through the years, the Netflix series will return in a rather different form, boasting a brand new cast reflecting the age change of its characters, meaning Claire Foy and Matt Smith are no longer involved with the series.

Below is everything we know so far about the return of The Crown.

When is it back?

The release date for season three has been confirmed as 17 November 2019, along with the first clip of Olivia Colman in character as Queen Elizabeth II.

You can view the first teaser trailer of the new season here.

New star Tobias Menzies accidentally revealed which month the show would be returning before Netflix announced the official date.

Excitingly, the fourth season is currently being filmed so expect a shorter wait between seasons.

How many episodes?

As with the first two seasons, the third will most likely be comprised of 10 episodes, which will bring its overall count to 30.

What era is it set in?

The next two seasons will chart the years of 1964 right up until the late 1972 with the early years of Queen Elizabeth II – 1947-1963 – previously covered in the first two. While showrunner Peter Morgan has remained tight-lipped on what to expect, a quick brush up on our Royal Family history tells us what we will probably see happen in future episodes.

This is the era in which Queen Elizabeth II worked closely with new Prime Minister Harold Wilson with the government leader set to be introduced in the third season. Britain's first female PM Margaret Thatcher will also appear, but likely toward the end of the third season if nor the the fourth.

This next batch of episodes is also expected to include Princess Margaret’s eight-year affair with baronet Roddy Llewellyn that culminates in her divorce from Lord Snowden.

Tobias Menzies has replaced Matt Smith as Prince Philip (Netflix)
Tobias Menzies has replaced Matt Smith as Prince Philip (Netflix)

Royal figures confirmed to appear in the back half of the third season include Camilla Parker-Bowles (Emerald Fennell) and Lady (later Princess) Diana Spencer who will reportedly be the focus of the fourth season. She'll be played by Emma Corrin.

Other key moments set to be ticked off include the birth of Prince Edward as well as the 1969 coronation of Prince Charles who will feature more prominently in the season ahead.

Who will star in it?

The identity of the actors replacing the show’s original stars has been the subject of a lot of speculation, but the confirmed cast members have taken shape (you can feats your eyes on first-look photos here):

Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II

Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip

Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret

Josh O’Connor as Prince Charles

Marion Bailey as Queen Mother

Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones

Jason Watkins as Harold Wilson

Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher

Erin Doherty as Princess Anne

Emerald Fennell as Camilla Parker Bowles

Charles Dance as Lord Louis Mountbatten

Emma Corrin as Princess Diana

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First look at Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip in The Crown

First look as Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in The Crown

First look at Olivia Colman as The Crown’s new Queen Elizabeth