'The Crown' season 3: Will Prince Charles's early romance with Camilla steal the spotlight from Queen Elizabeth's political agendas?
Where is the British royal family headed now in 'The Crown'? The question has been hovering over many minds ever since the last season was released on December 8, 2017. Leaving an air of mystery hanging in the air, 'Mystery Man' not only marked the end of the second season but also the end of an era: Queen Elizabeth II’s reign from 1947-1963. As a new starcast is set to make an entry, it is also time to bid goodbye to the known faces of actors Claire Foy, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby.
Beginning with big-league events in 1963 such as the rise of the Beatles and England winning the soccer World Cup in 1966, it will move forth to show the political colors emerging through 1964 to 1970. The 'Favourite' and 'Broadchurch' star Olivia Colman succeeds Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in season three of Netflix’s royal biopic. After a prolonged search, Tobias Menzies was finalized in March 2018 as Prince Philip.
A steady political pact
It will be interesting to see how the show heads towards the monarch's steadiest relationship with a Prime Minister after her strained associations with the heads of the British government one after another right from Anthony Eden to Harold Macmillan to Alec Douglas-Home. The series of short-lived position holders raced through the entire first and second seasons after Winston Churchill was off the show.
According to reports, Harold Wilson was one of the prime ministers she was comfortable with. It is believed that when the two sat together, their meetings often went on for more than two hours. Relaxed in each other's companies, the two had a pleasant exchange of thoughts. In fact, Wilson described his visits as “going to see Mother”. In turn, she saw his down-to-earth persona and admired the fact that he could share his personal and political viewpoints unbiasedly with her.
Prince Charles and Camilla's romance
One of the most awaited plotlines of the show will be to see Prince Charles grow up and his early romance with Camilla Parker-Bowles. Camilla's entry is the most anticipated in the new season. At the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival 2017, producer Suzanne Mackie confirmed the news saying that the "new season would also see the introduction of Charles’s second wife Camilla Parker-Bowles". 'Call the Midwife' fame Emerald Fennell will take on the role of Camilla, Josh O’Connor will be the new Prince Charles.
Even though Princess Diana isn't supposed to make an appearance until season four, it will be intriguing to see how the showrunners paint the picture of Charles and Camilla's close bond on the show as it is counted among the most controversial relationships in the early phases of the British royal family.
Princess Margaret to finally split?
'Harry Potter' fame Helena Bonham Carter being cast as the older Princess Margaret this year has turned many heads. Excited to take on the role, Bonham Carter told Variety, “I’m not sure which I’m more terrified about – doing justice to the real Princess Margaret or following in the shoes of Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret. The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll be shorter [than Vanessa].”
With Lord Snowdon's series of affairs coming into the notice of the royals, it is quite obvious that the third season will underline the scathing split between the two and their subsequent divorce.
Apollo 11 moon landing
A standalone episode on the Apollo 11 moon landing is in the pipeline. Menzies revealed to RadioTimes.com that the show will put the spotlight on how Prince Philip reacted to the momentous event in history. “We’ve just been shooting a really interesting episode which was all tied into the moon landings in ’69,” he revealed. “[Showrunner] Peter [Morgan] has taken this angle that Philip gets very absorbed by the heroism of these men compared to what maybe he hasn’t done with his own life,” he said.
Connor, who plays Prince Charles, revealed that the show will begin from when he is still a student. “We start off with Charles at Cambridge University, that’s where we bring him into the series,” he told RadioTimes.com. “This is where we scale a significant part of his life which I feel so honored and excited to tell the story. And tell a very different side of the story that we may not have seen or have known about.” The decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean, and Prince Charles’s movement into the public eye following his coronation as the Prince of Wales in 1969 are some of the other significant events that will be seen on the show.
Written, created and principally produced by Peter Morgan, the third and fourth series will span the years 1964-76.
