‘The Crown’ is looking for actors to play a young Kate Middleton in season six

A favourite amongst fans and critics alike, The Crown has garnered 63 Emmy nominations (and an impressive 21 wins) in the course of its first four seasons. A show all about the British royal family, it’s been reeling viewers in since it first premiered six years ago and has drawn continuously high ratings all the way through. 

Currently putting the finishing touches on season five, Netflix confirmed that new episodes will land on the platform in November of this year. Introducing Imelda Staunton as the new Queen Elizabeth II, she’s not the only new face to join the cast with both Dominic West (Prince Charles) and Tenent star Elizabeth Debicki (Princess Diana) also being added to this season’s line-up. 

Still with several months until season five is expected to premiere, the team are not resting on their laurels though and work has already begun on the sixth and final season of the hit show. Reportedly in the process of casting for some of the new characters, sources claim that producers are looking to find a suitable actor to play a young Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. 

“Having the Duchess of Cambridge starring is an easy win for The Crown, as the creators know it will get more people watching. Particularly as it will show her relationship with William just as their romance starts to blossom when they were both students. 

“But, since she’s not necessarily a crucial part of the storyline, Kate’s presence, is essentially a bonus. They’ll only cast someone if they can find the right candidate,” an insider told The Sun. 

Its that time folks…Prince William & Harry – Season 6. This is an incredible opportunity! Please help us spread the word… pic.twitter.com/nFMSkUdsex

— Kate Bone (@KateBoneCasting) March 17, 2022

Last month, casting agents also put an appeal out for actors aged 16-21 for the role of William and 16-20 for the role of Harry. However, while no previous acting experience was necessary, the team did emphasise that they were looking for “a strong physical resemblance” to both men. 

So far, it’s believed that season six of The Crown will explore the early 2000s, which is right about the time that Kate and William first got together. Elle states that it was initially believed that the final instalment wouldn’t feature Prince William or Kate and would instead focus on public affairs involving prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair. However, it’s now understood that exploring the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s early relationship in the series is a real possibility – especially given recent casting news.

As fans of the popular Netflix series will know, creator Peter Morgan has a strict rule in place when it comes to what will and won’t make the cut for the show, previously saying that he’d like for at least 10 years to have passed before he’d even consider tackling some topics. 

Speaking to Broadcast Now about the possibility of extending the story beyond the already confirmed seasons, executive producer Suzanne Mackie said, “Peter has said it very articulately – that he simply can’t write something unless there has been time to gain a proper perspective. And I think he’s always felt 10 years is the minimum amount of time that he can see something in a historical context, to allow him to really understand it,” she continued. “I don’t think he’ll deviate from that.”

Naturally, there has been much speculation about what the real royals actually think of the show and it seems that Prince William is “deeply frustrated” with the upcoming season – in particular, the rumours that it will delve further into the infamous 1995 interview his mother gave to British journalist Martin Bashir. 

Always a topic of contention, the controversial interview was drawn into public discourse once again last year when The Dyson report – an independent inquiry into how the interview was first obtained by Martin Bashir – revealed that the BBC “fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark”.

Already having publicly decried the interview for its illegitimacy, The Telegraph claims that Prince William is unimpressed that producers intend to further “commercialise” and perpetuate the “false narrative” of the original clip. 

That said, the BBC is not believed to have given permission for Netflix (nor The Crown) to use the content of the interview, over which it holds copyright. A spokesman for the network said it has had “no interaction” with the online streaming giant over it, and the series could face serious legal difficulties if they do intend on dramatising the interview for the sake of the show.

?The Revenge Dress ?

Princess Diana (1994) // Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown set, 2021) pic.twitter.com/YLjy0si11a

— Pako Salado (@pakosaladote) November 6, 2021

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You can please some of the royals all of the time, you can please all of the royals some of the time, but you can’t please all of the royals all of the time.