Netflix’s award-winning drama The Crown, chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family throughout her reign is back for Season 5 after a two-year hiatus.
Creator Peter Morgan’s latest episodes will premiere on the streaming service this week, and fans are eager to see what unfolds in the new instalment of the highly anticipated six-season show.
Every season or two, the whole cast is switched out for a brand-new (and slightly older) set of royal lookalikes who take on the mantle. We’ve seen Queen Elizabeth II transform from Claire Foy to Olivia Coleman, Prince Phillip played by House of the Dragon actor Matt Smith and Game of Thrones' Tobias Menzies, and King Charles grow into a fittingly gangly Josh O’Connor.
But which actors are next in line?
Here's a quick The Crown Season 5 cast guide at your service:
Imelda Staunton as The Queen
Imelda Staunton, best known for her roles in the Harry Potter film series as Professor Umbridge and the British period drama Downton Abbey, is taking the reins of playing the late royal. The role was earlier essayed by actors Claire Foy and Olivia Colman with great finesse.
Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales
The season 5 ">trailer shows Debicki nailing Diana's famed pout and coy glance. The actor is known for her performances in The Night Manager, The Great Gatsby and Tenet.
Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles
Olivia Williams is coming on as Camilla Parker Bowles, who was previously played by Emerald Fennell. From the look of it, Williams completely disappears into Camilla, absolutely rocking those bangs. Williams is best known for her performances in The Postman, The Sixth Sense, Lucky Break, The Ghost Writer, and 2020s The Father.
Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret
Manville’s Margaret is a sad, shrunken version of the former party princess. The role was previously played by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter. Lesley has been seen in All or Nothing, Phantom Thread, Maleficent, and A Christmas Carol among many other projects.
Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne
Claudia Harrison portrays Princess Anne in The Crown Season 5. Her film credits include Alone, The Cat’s Meow and the TV film, Murphy’s Law – which the television series was based on.
A medley of new characters will also be introduced, including Jonny Lee Miller as Prime Minister John Major, Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Al-Fayed and Prasanna Puwanarajah as Martin Bashir. Marcia Warren has been cast as the Queen Mother, previously played by Marion Bailey Senan West is playing a young Prince William.
Suggested Reading: More Trouble In Monarchy? What Should You Look Forward To In Crown Season 5?