The Crown is entering a new era. These first-look photos from the series’ highly anticipated sixth and final season are taking us up to Scotland in the early 2000s. Prince William (Ed McVey) is entering university at St. Andrews, where he hopes to lead as normal a life as possible before taking up his royal responsibilities. Little does he know that the future for the crown begins right on campus, when he meets fellow student from Berkshire Kate Middleton (Meg Bellamy). 

Newcomer Bellamy’s journey to the screen is no less of a fairy tale: The 19-year-old submitted her audition tape for the role of Kate Middleton after seeing a casting call on social media. Meanwhile, this marks McVey’s on-screen debut after stage performances at The Old Vic and Hammersmith Riverside Studios following his graduation from the Drama Centre London in 2021. Check out photos of them taken on location in St. Andrews here, including a behind-the-scenes snap taken at Northpoint Cafe, where legend has it “Kate met Wills.”

The Crown Season 6 will be on Netflix late this year, with Imelda Staunton reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth II. Also returning are Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Dominic West as Prince Charles, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne and Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles. Bertie Carvel takes on the role of Tony Blair. Salim Daw is Mohamed al Fayed and Khalid Abdalla is Dodi Fayed. Rufus Kampa and Fflyn Edwards will portray Princes William and Harry in earlier episodes, with Luther Ford taking over for the latter later in the season. 

Need more royal content to tide you over? Stroll through royal history with our complete timeline of The Crown. 

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