The Crown season 3: Netflix release date, cast news, trailer, plot

Finally – a look at season three of The Crown. It's been months and months since we learnt that Olivia Colman (an actress adored by us following her appearances in Broadchurch, Fleabag and The Night Manager) would be taking over from Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II, alongside Helena Bonham Carter as the new Princess Margaret.

And now here they are. See Colman in all of Elizabeth's glory: soft pink cardigan beneath a tangle of pearls, lips pursed towards her floating cup of tea and the familiar barnet of gentle curls – and a serious expression. Is she in the midst of another trying conversation with her Prime Minister? Perhaps she's engaging in a fractious dispute with her husband the Duke of Edinburgh (who this season is played by Tobias Menzies from Game of Thrones, as he steps in to replace Matt Smith).

First look image: Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown season three

She's joined by Helena Bonham Carter's Princess Margaret, who appears with perfect black eyeliner, stylish blue head adornment and – of course – an imperious stair at her cigarette holder.

First look image: Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret in The Crown season three

Finally, we've also been treated to a look at Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret's first husband and the rebellious photographer we met in season two of The Crown.

First look images: Ben Daniels as Antony Armstrong-Jones in The Crown season three

Charting the life of the British reigning monarch, from 1947 until the present day, leading lady Foy and her co-star Vanessa Kirby (Princess Margaret) always knew their time was limited on the Netflix series. Foy and Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip, only signed up to play the royal couple for the first two seasons.

The show charts the ageing monarch and her life story. Season three of The Crown, under Colman's reign, takes us through the Queen's reign from the 60s to the 80s.

The first season of The Crown was – to date – the most expensive TV show ever made, costing the American streaming service a cool £100 million. The first and second seasons pulled in rave reviews (read our five star review here), and is among the year's most hotly anticipated Netflix releases.

All that remains now is to find out who will play Princess Diana...

The Crown season 3 Netflix airdate: December 2018