The Crown Season 6: Netflix shares glimpses of Prince William and Kate Middleton

The Crown fans, gather! The cast of Netflix’s much talked-about historical drama series that chronicles the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II has some new additions. The streaming platform has shared the first glimpses of young Prince William and Kate Middleton - played by Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy - in the sixth and final season of The Crown, as the plot progresses towards the present day.

These images show the royal couple William and Kate holding hands, as the narrative is thought to portray the early days of their courtship at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. And that’s not all. In one of the images, you can see Kate looking up in a classroom, while William is spotted sitting on a brocade sofa at what is presumed to be a royal house. The two characters are expected to play pivotal roles in the latest edition of the series that has previously featured actors like Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, Vanessa Kirby and John Lithgow, among others. 

In another update about the award-winning series - which has also become more controversial, thanks to its portrayal of recent history - it was reported that acclaimed actress Gillian Anderson, who played the roaring ‘Iron Lady’ Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of The Crown, forced the producers to rewrite the script’, if she were to reprise her role for the final season. 

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The Sex Education star, who was honoured with an Emmy Award for her remarkable portrayal of the former British Prime Minister in the series, was expected to return to series for her role, but the chances were rather slim, apparently due to ‘scheduling issues’. 

A source told a leading publication in the UK that Gillian’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher was met with global critical acclaim and she was a huge asset to The Crown. “It had been hoped she would be able to make an appearance in scenes around the golden wedding, but sadly that has not been the case due to scheduling issues,” said the insider, adding, “The decision was another blow for producers, and it meant altering scripts, with claims that the original plan was for Gillian’s character to attend a dinner with the Queen and Prince Philip, but now the action will shift to another dinner, where the Iron Lady was not present.” However, a Netflix spokesperson later told Metro.co.uk that Gillian was “never intended to return as Margaret Thatcher”.

The streaming platform is yet to confirm when the final season will premiere, but it is likely to launch in November 2023.