Netflix’s The Crown Season 3: Here’s what we know so far...

The Crown has become an award-winning historical drama series in just two seasons and is widely expected to impress us with an all-new cast and narrative in Season 3.

The new season is expected to be released some time this year, but Netflix has yet to confirm an exact date or release an official trailer. Instead, audiences on social media have been drip-fed with photos and statements of the new cast, filled with Britain’s TV and film royalty.

Here’s what we know so far – and what we may see in the latest season of The Crown.

The Queen during the Swinging Sixties

Season 3 will continue chronologically from the previous season, covering Queen Elizabeth’s reign from 1964 to the mid-1970s.

Scenes reportedly referenced in the upcoming season include the Apollo 11 Moon Landing in 1969 and Prince Charles’ studies at Cambridge University.

In world history, the ‘60s included the assassinations of Martin Luther King, John F Kennedy, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam war. Although much of the turbulence occurred in the USA, we wonder how much of these pivotal moments we’ll see cross the pond into Westminster Palace. (After all, Season 2 did feature JFK and Jackie Onassis.)

The Swinging Sixties also gave us The Beatles, the hippie movement, startling fashions, technicolour and a new feminist agenda. In 1967, the contraceptive pill was legalised and in 1968, British newsreaders covered 850 women who went on strike at the Ford factory in Dagenham demanding equal pay with male co-workers.

Getting a “behind-closed-doors” reaction from our conservative Queen about Beatlemania and “peace, love and rock’n’roll” will be rather exciting.

Olivia Colman will play Queen Elizabeth, taking over from Claire Foy

Colman won an Oscar last year for her role as Queen Anne in The Favourite, but tells media that the two characters are entirely different despite sharing the royal title.

Of her predecessor, Colman says, “I think Claire Foy is an absolute genius. She’s an incredibly hard act to follow. I’m basically going to rewatch every episode and copy her!”

Tobias Menzies will play Prince Philip, taking over from Matt Smith.

By the end of Season 2, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth seemed to patch things up, with the new baby Andrew in tow. We hope that Prince Philip will do away with the lunch club and trips to St. Moritz, but we can only hope …

“I look forward to becoming her ‘liegeman of life and limb’,” says Outlander star, Tobias Menzies.

The beginning of Charles and Camilla’s love story, pre-Diana

Before Prince Charles wed Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, he was besotted with Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall – or Camilla Shand at the time. The story goes that the two met at a polo match in 1970 but Camilla went on to marry Andrew Parker-Bowles after Charles left for naval duties overseas.

Jason Watkins will play Prime Minister Harold Wilson

We end Season 2 with the 1963 Profumo Affair. The scandalous affair, where the Secretary of War John Profumo lied in the House of Commons regarding his relationship with a woman who was also seeing a Russian military attaché, created a public distrust of politicians in the ‘60s.

“They’ve been too old, too ill, or too weak,” says Queen Elizabeth of the three prime ministers who had come and gone in Season 2.

Less than a year later, Harold Wilson becomes prime minister, and the new season will follow the rapport between Queen Elizabeth and the Labour leader. It is known that the queen and Wilson had a very strong relationship, with Wilson often telling her about the state of British affairs with no pretence.

How the queen navigates her relationship with the prime minister in a time of contempt for government will be interesting to see.

Emerald Fennell will play a young Camilla Shand

Of the role, she says, “I am very grateful that my teenage years have well prepared me for playing a chain-smoking serial snogger with a pudding bowl hair cut.”

Josh O’Connor will play the young Prince Charles

O’Connor says, “Seasons 3 and 4 will follow some of the most turbulent events in the Prince of Wales’ life and our national story and I’m excited to be bringing to life the man in the midst of it all.”

He has also been “reliably informed I have the ears for the part and will fit right in.”

Emma Corrin will play Lady Diana Spencer

That’s right, we’re going to see our precious Princess Di! Announced on April 11 through The Crown’s social media, newcomer Emma Corrin has been cast to play the most iconic princess of our time.

For a little history refresh, Lady Diana’s noble family had rubbed shoulders with the royals throughout the ‘70s, but it wasn’t until 1981 that Prince Charles officially proposed to a 19-year old Diana. She married at age 20.

Corrin says, “To explore her through Peter Morgan’s writing is the most exceptional opportunity and I will strive to do her justice.”

Helena Bonham Carter will play Princess Margaret

Our favourite Tim Burton royal will pick up the role of Princess Margaret from Vanessa Kirby, who won a BAFTA Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of the princess in the first two seasons.

Arguably the most controversial figure in the royal family, and Queen Elizabeth’s only sibling, poor Princess Margaret will have her fair share of heartache. Divorce and dalliances with men thereafter are sure to shake-up royal decorum in Season 3.

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