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Olivia Colman takes over from Claire Foy in first footage from The Crown series 3

Netflix
Netflix

Olivia Colman makes her royal debut as Queen Elizabeth II in the first trailer for The Crown’s third series.

The new season of Netflix’s hit costume drama features a brand new cast as the action moves into the late '60s and '70s, with Colman replacing Claire Foy as the monarch and Tobias Menzies taking on the role of Prince Philip.

The 30-second clip neatly tackles the transition from Foy’s reign to Colman’s by focusing on the unveiling of a new royal portrait.

An image of Foy appears on an easel as a royal aide tells the Queen that “everyone is delighted with the new profile,” describing it as “an elegant reflection of Her Majesty’s transition from young woman to…” before letting the royal sharply finish the sentence with “Old bat?”

The aide then diplomatically replies with “Settled sovereign,” before as the camera lingers on a new photo of Colman.

The monarch then alludes to tumultuous storylines in the coming series, telling the group: “There have been a great many changes. Nothing one can do about it, one just has to get on with it.”

According to Netflix, the third series will see “a new guard sweep into Downing Street, as Queen Elizabeth and her family struggle to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing Britain,” attempting to adapt to “a new, more liberated, but also more turbulent world.”

Helena Bonham Carter will replace Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, while The Durrells star Josh O’Connor will join the cast as a young Prince Charles.

The series will also star Erin Doherty as Princess Anne, Ben Daniels as Lord Snowdon, Jason Watkins as Harold Wilson and Charles Dance as Lord Mountbatten.

The Crown series three launches on Netflix on November 17.

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