See The Crown Season 6 Cast Side-by-Side with the Historical Figures They Portray

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth

Known for her role as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter film franchise and Lady Bagshaw in Downton Abbey, Imelda Staunton returns to play Queen Elizabeth in the final season of the historical drama.

Staunton is following in the footsteps of Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, who previously portrayed the late monarch in the earlier four seasons. She was originally cast in the leading role in 2020, and fans got a first look at her as the queen the following year.

She told Tudum of her role in season 6, “I felt more comfortable this time. I love her stillness and her ability to not be thrown by everything that must have constantly — throughout her whole life — gone on around her.”

“She captured the twinkle amid the dowdiness. She brought great softness to the stern side of the Queen,” Robert Lacey, the series’ historical consultant, told PEOPLE. “Those were the years of the family issues threatening to derail the family institution. You could say she kept it on the rails.”

Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana

Elizabeth Debicki returns to her Emmy-nominated depiction of Princess Diana after taking over the role from Emma Corrin, who portrayed a young Diana in season 4.

Part one of season 6 is set in 1997 and covers the relationship between Diana and Dodi Fayed.

"I don't think you come anywhere near sort of learning as much as I learned about this character and not feel that the only thing worth doing in life is putting love into the world,” the Australian actress, also known for roles in The Great Gatsby and The Night Manager, told PEOPLE at the season 6 premiere in Los Angeles.

“I think I learned things about the degree to which she had an enormous and wicked sense of humor, the difficulties that she was facing, the way that she triumphed through them, the way she used her voice in a way that was sort of very progressive at the time,” she added. “Yeah, I learned a lot.”

Dominic West as Prince Charles

Dominic West plays Prince Charles (who became King Charles in 2022) in season 6 of The Crown. His breakthrough role was in the HBO crime drama The Wire, and he is also known for his work in Showtime's The Affair.

The first part of the latest installment covers the death of Princess Diana, while the second includes Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles.

“There were some really heavy scenes this season and a lot of tears for Charles,” West told Tudum. “There are a lot of the scenes of Charles trying to come to terms with [Diana’s death] and breaking the news to his sons, trying to help his sons mourn and having varying degrees of success at that.”

Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip

Jonathan Pryce joined The Crown’s cast in season 5 as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Welsh actor stepped into the shoes of the British royal, who was previously played by Matt Smith and Tobias Menzies.

Pryce's credits include Game of Thrones as the High Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as Governor Weatherby Swann.

Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and Phantom Thread star Lesley Manville returns to the show as Princess Margaret, younger sister to Queen Elizabeth. She succeeds actresses Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter, both of whom brought to life the Countess of Snowdon in her earlier years.

Not only did Manville feel comfortable resuming her role of Princess Margaret in season 6, but she was at ease around Staunton, whom she considers an old friend. The two shared the big screen in 2014 and 2019, playing pixies in Disney’s Maleficent film franchise before entering the fictional Buckingham Palace.

“Working with her feels like coming home, really. It’s very easy to pretend I’m her sister. We’re both in the same glove. It’s terrific,” she told Tudum.

Khalid Abdalla as Dodi Fayed

Viewers were introduced to Khalid Abdalla as Egyptian filmmaker Dodi Fayed in season 5 and will see the summer romance between Dodi and Diana blossom before their untimely deaths in season 6.

Abdalla, whose additional credits include United 93 and Moon Knight, says that part of his interest in the role was creator Morgan gave Dodi and his father “equal space to the other characters in the royal family so that they’re given the dignity of a full story.”

He told Tudum, “I can tell you from my position as an actor of Egyptian and Arab descent, it’s a huge honor to take on that space because it’s not a space that we get often.”

Salim Daw as Mohamed Al-Fayed

In addition to the return of Abdalla as Dodi, Salim Daw is reprising his role as Dodi's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed. Daw’s past work includes Fauda and Kiss Me Kosher.

The actor paid tribute to Al-Fayed after his death on Aug. 30, 2023, with a heartfelt Instagram caption and a photo of their faces side-by-side.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about Mohamed Al Fayed's passing," he wrote. "A giant, who came from nothing and became everything. For two years I portrayed him on 'The Crown.' Such a rare and a distinctive character. I can only hope my portrayal of him did him justice.”

Daw continued, “I feel that I knew him, even though we have never met. It is no coincidence that he passed on my birthday. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace."

Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles

Olivia Williams joined the cast as Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla) in season 5 after taking over for Emerald Fennell, who appeared in seasons 3 and 4. Before joining the cast of The Crown, her movie and TV roles included Anna Karenina, The Danish Girl and Call the Midwife.

Williams told Tudum that the on-screen chemistry between Charles and Camilla is natural because she considers West a friend off-screen.

“I do think a sense of humor is at the heart of the triumph of Camilla and Charles’ relationship,” she shared. “And I think it’s probably the secret of the fact that Dominic [West] and I enjoy working together so much. We just laugh at the same things.”

Ed McVey as Prince William

Ed McVey makes his entrance as Prince William in the second half of season 6. The British actor succeeds Timothée Sambor and Senan West, who played the future king in season 5, along with Rufus Kampa, who portrays a teenage William in part one of the final season.

Speaking with Cosmopolitan U.K., Ed revealed how he prepped to play the future Prince of Wales. "He’s been documented from birth, so I was able to watch him grow up and really study him. He has a very specific voice," he told the outlet, adding that he worked with "a movement coach" to get his body language right.

As for his work on-screen, Pryce teased to Tudum that he’s looking forward to expanding on the close relationship between Philip and William in season 6. “There’s a kind of handing over from his early mentorship of Diana to become a mentor and a comforter to William,” he said.

Luther Ford as Prince Harry

Another fresh face is joining the cast In the second half of season 6. Luther Ford will be taking over the role of Prince Harry, who is played by Fflyn Edwards in the first part of the final season.

Ford studied directing at Arts University Bournemouth and has produced several shorts, Deadline reported. The Crown marks his professional television debut.

Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton

Meg Bellamy plays a college-aged Kate Middleton in season 6 of The Crown, who meets, and later falls in love with, Prince William at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

The actress saw a casting call on social media and auditioned with directors after submitting self-taped videos, according to Deadline, which was the first to report the news last year.

Bellamy confirmed the origin of her role in an interview with The Telegraph. She decided to pursue the role after a neighbor encouraged her, saying she looked like Kate. The actress also revealed she grew up acting and singing in England, and though she only watched season 1 of The Crown, she instantly connected with her character.

“I’m not sure I had any really strong feelings about them,” she said. “But I remember key events, like Kate and Will’s wedding. I was at home and my mum had a little party. Us kids were more interested in the cake, but I remember saying, ‘Tell me when they kiss, tell me when they’re on the balcony.’ I sat watching the TV and was totally in awe of her, like we all were.”

Matilda Broadbridge as Pippa Middleton

Another newcomer in the cast is Matilda Broadbridge, playing the role of Kate’s younger sister, Pippa Middleton.

Sharing a photo of herself outside a trailer with Pippa’s name on it, Broadbridge wrote on Instagram, “So grateful to have been a tiny part of this production and for this experience, keep your eyes peeled.”

Marcia Warren as the Queen Mother

Marcia Warren built a lengthy career onstage and in film and TV before signing on to portray the Queen Mother in seasons 5 and 6 of the Netflix series. Her past major roles include the BBC sitcom No Place Like Home and ITV's Vicious.

The Queen Mother died "peacefully in her sleep" on March 30, 2002, at age 101, in Windsor — less than two months after the death of Princess Margaret, on February 9, at age 71. It is speculated that both of their deaths will be a storyline in the second part of season 6.

Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne

Claudia Harrison, who has had roles on TV shows like The IT Crowd and Delicious, returns as the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Princess Anne. Harrison was cast for season 5 following Erin Doherty, who portrayed the senior royal in seasons 3 and 4.

Harrison was one of thousands who queued at Westminster Hall to pay respects to the late monarch after her death in September 2022, but her perspective was more unique than most in line.

"You don't know how you're going to feel. You feel one thing, being a British citizen and this lady's been part of the fabric of your country for as long as all of us remember,” she told Town & Country.

The actress continued, "And then of course, we've spent the last two years playing her family. We're watching these people on television. You just can't help feeling that you think how they might be feeling."

Theo Fraser Steele as Timothy Laurence

Theo Fraser Steele, who has appeared on TV shows including Genie in the House and Keen Eddie, is reprising his role of Timothy Laurence in season 6.

Viewers saw the equerry fall in love with Princess Anne in The Crown's season 5. Laurence and Princess Anne first met in 1986 and married in 1992, a few months after her divorce from Mark Phillips was finalized.

James Murray as Prince Andrew

Best known for his role as Liam Carney in BBC’s Cutting It, James Murray is returning as Prince Andrew in season 6.

Actor Marlo Woolley originated the character in season 3, and Tom Byrne made him more visible in season 4; Murray gives a further glimpse at Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's third child in season 5. He was brought up in dialogue regarding his separation and divorce from Sarah Ferguson, which will further play out in the new season 6 episodes.

Sam Woolf as Prince Edward

Sam Woolf returns as the youngest of Elizabeth and Philip's four children, Prince Edward. He is also known for his roles in C.B. Strike and Humans.

Bertie Carvel as Tony Blair

Bertie Carvel joined the cast of The Crown in the final episode of season 5 as Tony Blair, who served as prime minister from 1997 until 2007. His film and television credits include Les Misérables, Doctor Who, Sherlock and the title role in Dalgliesh.

Carvel was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor in a leading role in a musical for his work as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical, and won the Tony Award for best actor in a featured role in a play after his performance as Rupert Murdoch in Ink.