Imelda Staunton’s Queen Elizabeth II is revealed in a new image from Season 5 of The Crown

The first photograph of actress Imelda Staunton in the Netflix series The Crown as Queen Elizabeth II has been revealed. Staunton will succeed Olivia Colman, who played the Queen in seasons 3 and 4, in the role. The Crown continues to explore the narrative of Queen Elizabeth II’s political conflicts and romances, as well as the important events in the monarchy that defined the second half of the twentieth century.

Season 5 of The Crown will focus on Prime Minister John Major’s term, Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ marriage and subsequent divorce, and Princess Diana’s death in 1997.

During the final two seasons of The Crown, Staunton will portray the governing monarch. Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 1 and 2 and seasons 3 and 4, respectively, will be followed by the actress.

The rest of the cast, including Colman and Foy, will be replaced by other performers, some of whom have already been confirmed. Staunton is most recognised for her roles in the Harry Potter films as Dolores Umbridge, Hefina in Pride, Vera in Vera Drake, and Maud Bagshaw in Downton Abbey.

Queen Elizabeth II

The latest photograph (through The Crown’s Twitter) depicts Staunton on set, dressed as Queen Elizabeth II. She is dressed in a gold-toned patterned dress in the manner of the ruling monarch, with a wig that is identical to the queen’s hairstyle. Her neck is adorned with pearls, and her left wrist is adorned with Queen Elizabeth’s ever-present handbag.

Furthermore, it will be fascinating to watch how Staunton performs as the Queen in a more contemporary environment than her predecessors. When The Crown season 5 arrives on Netflix in 2022, viewers will be able to see a comparison between Staunton and the modern-day queen.

It remains to be seen whether Staunton keeps loyal to the queen’s public attitude and temperament or instead chooses to go deeper into her understanding of the real person behind the title.