The stories of romance and rivalries within the royal household and political world have had viewers hooked for years now – and as The Crown moves into the Thatcher and Diana era, things are about to get even more interesting.
First-look images from the upcoming fourth series of the hit Netflix drama have been released, giving fans a good glimpse at the much-anticipated new characters set to feature heavily as the show picks up at the end of the 1970s.
Margaret Thatcher is played by Gillian Anderson, who sports the first female prime minister’s famous helmet of hair as she waves to photographers on the steps of 10 Downing Street, dressed in a traditional blue skirt and matching jacket as she stands alongside husband Denis (Stephen Boxer).
The photos show Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, surrounded by photographers
Viewers saw Emma Corrin as Diana for the first time in a trailer released in August – with a dramatic shot showing her from behind on her wedding day – but the new images show her striking resemblance to the Princess of Wales.
In one of the pictures, the actress can be seen wearing a strapless purple gown, accompanied by Josh O’Connor as the Prince Of Wales, as photographers watch their every move at a glamorous event.
Corrin’s Diana also meets Camilla Parker-Bowles (Emerald Fennell) for the first time
Helena Bonham Carter can also be seen in her return as Princess Margaret in the first-look photos
Another picture shows her in a yellow skirt suit as she meets Camilla Parker-Bowles, played by Emerald Fennell.
The photos also show Oscar-winner Olivia Colman returning as the Queen, and Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret.
The series will show tensions between the Queen and Baroness Thatcher
Olivia Colman and Tobias Menzies once again play the Queen and Philip
The fourth series of The Crown follows Colman’s Queen Elizabeth II and her family as they find themselves preoccupied with safeguarding the line of succession by securing an appropriate bride for Charles, who is – shock horror! – still unmarried at 30.
It also documents tension between the monarch and Baroness Thatcher, which grow worse as the prime minister leads the country into the Falklands War.
Tobias Menzies also stars as the Duke of Edinburgh, while Erin Doherty plays Princess Anne and Marion Bailey is the Queen Mother.
Watch trailer for next series of The Crown
Billed as the story of an “empire in decline, a world in disarray, and the dawn of a new era”, The Crown covers the events that shaped the second half of the 20th Century.
While the launch of the fourth series is still weeks away, details of seasons five and six have already been released.
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They will focus on the Queen’s reign into the early 21st century, including several royal crises that led to the monarch’s infamous 1992 “annus horribilis”.
It has previously been announced that Imelda Staunton will replace Colman as the Queen, while Jonathan Pryce will play Philip, Elizabeth Debicki will play Diana and Lesley Manville will play Margaret.
The fourth series of The Crown will stream on Netflix from 15 November.