On Friday, Netflix confirmed two shocking pieces of news about the hit show "The Crown". (Opens in new tab) First, British actress and "Downtown Abbey" favorite Imelda Staunton will play the late queen in season 5, and second, season 5 will be the show's final episode. Staunton said in a statement: I loved watching "The Crown" (open in new tab) from the beginning. As an actor, it was a pleasure to watch Claire Foy and Olivia Colman bring something special and unique to Peter Morgan's script. I am truly honored to join such a wonderful creative team to complete The Crown."

Morgan added that he came to the decision that the fifth season had to be the show's last. Initially, I envisioned "The Crown" lasting for six seasons, but now that we have begun work on the storyline for season five, it has become clear that now is the perfect time and place to call it quits," he said in a statement.

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Staunton's casting is no big surprise. Rumors of her new role have been swirling for some time, and her husband, Jim Carter, recently leaked the news to The Sun, saying (opens in new tab): "Thankfully, I don't have to bow to her for another two years, so I have plenty of time to practice."[7 8]

Observers wondered (opens in new tab) if later seasons of The Crown would depict Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage and high-profile departure from the senior royal family, but Prince Harry said he hopes the show will not, and (opens in new opens in new tab) reportedly said: "I'm going to make sure it stops before they get me"

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He need not worry. It is highly unlikely that the show will move forward in time significantly for Season 5. We already know that Season 4 will depict the events leading up to Princess Diana's entry into the royal family and her publicly controversial divorce from Prince Charles. Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married in 1977, and Harry met Princess Meghan 40 years later.

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