The Crown offers first-look at Kate Middleton with new filming photo

Netflix is taking us back to the early Noughties.

By Joe Anderton

12 Dec 2022

The Crown's recently released fifth season is still causing all sorts of royal-related online discourse – something the Harry and Meghan documentary has only exacerbated – but the Netflix series is quietly undergoing production on its sixth and final run.

Season 5 of the royal drama finished in early summer 1997, a few months after Tony Blair became prime minister and just weeks prior to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a Paris car crash.

Filming on season 6 of The Crown moves things ahead in time further, with one of the big scenes being a key meeting between Prince William and Kate Middleton, as she was then, in 2002 at a student fashion show.

In photos from the set, we see Meg Bellamy, who plays Kate, coming out of her trailer. She's wearing a large coat to hide an all-black outfit similar to the one that the now-Princess of Wales wore on the night in question.

meg bellamy as kate middleton, the crown

Dean / Click News Media / SplashNews.com

Netflix isn't actually filming at the University of St Andrews in Fife, which is where William and Kate met, but at Royal Holloway, University of London in Surrey.

The Crown is the first major role for 19-year old Bellamy, while 21-year old theatre actor Ed McVey makes his transition into big budget screen acting as Prince William.

Rufus Kampa will also play William at the age of 15, around the time at which the prince lost his mother – taking over the role from Senan West, who played him in season five.

They are joined by returning cast members Imelda Staunton (Queen Elizabeth II), Jonathan Pryce (Prince Philip), and Dominic West (Prince Charles, now King Charles III). Elizabeth Debicki will also return as the late Diana.

Netflix

Speaking to Digital Spy, West recently spoke about the advice he got from his predecessor as Charles on The Crown, stating: "I couldn't believe how many clothes he wears, and how often he changes them.

"Josh O'Connor showed the world and me how to do Charles getting out of the car when he checks his tie and his handkerchief and his collar and his cuffs. I didn't realise that that's a tic or a nervous thing that he does when he's about to greet a crowd.

"But it's also because if you do wear this many clothes and outfits and you have to look immaculate at all times, which he does do, you have to check that your cuffs aren't too long, and your thing is here, and your tie is up here."

The Crown seasons 1-5 are streaming on Netflix. Seasons 1-4 are also available on DVD and Blu-ray.