See the Cast of The Crown vs. the People They Play in Real Life
The Princess Diana similarities are uncanny.
Netflix's The Crown depends heavily on suspension of disbelief. The Peter Morgan-led drama charts the course of the royal family during the years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, and dozens of actors have stepped in to play characters many of us recognize from the news. It’s vital that the cast be up to the task of embodying, exemplifying, and mimicking that with which we’re already familiar—and they can’t just act the part; they need to look it too. For numerous seasons, The Crown has risen to the occasion and cast the best possible actors to play some of the world's most fascinating (and mystifying) people.
Season 6, to be released in two parts in November and December 2023, will focus on the death of Princess Diana, Prince William’s budding relationship with his future wife, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. This means the adorable kids that played Prince Harry and Prince William in season 5 have been replaced with older actors, and we’ll get our first glimpse of Kate Middleton. It will also feature returning actors, like Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, and Dominic West as Prince Charles.
Ahead, a look at all the main players in The Crown—and how they compare to their real-life counterparts.
Ed McVey / Prince William
In his on-screen debut, newcomer Ed McVey is depicting Prince William as he begins to date Kate Middleton at St. Andrews University, where the future king and queen consort first met.
Meg Bellamy / Kate Middleton
In her first major role, Meg Bellamy is playing a college-aged Kate and is basically a dead ringer for the royal.
Luther Ford / Prince Harry
Luther Ford is making his acting debut playing Prince Harry during the second half of the final season, which takes us to 2005.
Rufus Kampa / Prince William
In his first acting credit, Rufus Kampa is playing a teenage Prince William in the first half of season 6.
Fflyn Edwards / Prince Harry
Fflyn Edwards—seen here with Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Princess Diana—is portraying a young Harry, alongside Kampa. You might have previously seen the young actor in Shadow & Bone or 1899.
Imelda Staunton / Queen Elizabeth II
Imelda Staunton, who famously appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as the love-to-hate Dolores Umbridge, stars as the sovereign in seasons 5 and 6, taking over from Olivia Colman.
Jonathan Pryce / Prince Philip
After starring in the Oscar-nominated The Two Popes, Game of Thrones, and Tomorrow Never Dies, Jonathan Pryce plays an aging Prince Philip in seasons 5 and 6.
Lesley Manville / Princess Margaret
Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) plays the queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, in seasons 5 and 6, taking over for Helena Bonham Carter.
Elizabeth Debicki / Princess Diana
Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager, Tenet) is radiant as Princess Diana in seasons 5 and 6, following Emma Corrin, who played her as a young woman first meeting Charles.
Dominic West / Prince Charles
The Affair and The Wire's Dominic West plays Prince Charles (now known as King Charles III), following Josh O'Connor, who played the royal in his youth.
Olivia Williams / Camilla Parker-Bowles
Olivia Williams, seen in films like The Ghost Writer and The Sixth Sense, stars as Camilla Parker-Bowles in seasons 5 and 6, following Emerald Fennell.
Marcia Warren / Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother
Known for titles like Leap Year and Vicious, Marcia Warren plays Queen Elizabeth's mother in seasons 5 and 6.
Senan West / Prince William
Dominick West's own son, Senan, plays Charles and Diana's oldest son, Prince William, in season 5.
Will Powell / Prince Harry
Young actor Will Powell plays a young Prince Harry in season 5.
Claudia Harrison / Princess Anne
Claudia Harrison (The Cat's Meow, Murphy's Law) plays the queen and Prince Philip's daughter, Princess Anne, in seasons 5 and 6.
Khalid Abdalla / Dodi Al-Fayed
Khalid Abdalla, who has starred in The Kite Runner and Hanna, plays film producer Dodi Al-Fayed, who famously dated Princess Diana, in seasons 5 and 6.
Salim Daw / Mohamed Al-Fayed
Salim Daw (Gaza mon amour, Tyrant, Fauda) plays Mohamed Al-Fayed, a successful business man and Dodi's father.
Humayun Saeed / Hasnat Khan
Veteran Pakistani actor Humayun Saeed plays Hasnat Khan, who was in a relationship with Diana from 1995 to 1997.
Jonny Lee Miller / John Major
Elementary and Trainspotting's Jonny Lee Miller plays Prime Minister John Major, who served from 1990 to 1997, following Margaret Thatcher.
James Murray / Prince Andrew
Known for shows like Coronation Street and Suspects, James Murray portrays Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
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