The Crown Season 6: Side by Side Comparisons of the Cast VS Real-Life Royals

Side-by-Side Comparisons of the Crown Season 6 Vs. Real-Life Royals

Welcome to MsMojo and today, we’re looking at how accurately the cast of “The Crown” reflected their real royal counterparts. While there have been many incredible impressions, we’ll only focus on key members of the royal family.

#10: Fflyn Edwards & Luther Ford as Prince Harry

Fflyn Edwards plays the younger Prince Harry in the first part of season six. The Welsh-born actor shared that he delved into a Prince Harry YouTube rabbit hole to prepare for the role. He was also given a ginger wig that would take over an hour to put on daily. As a native Welsh speaker, he also had to adjust to an English accent and language for shoots. Meanwhile, Luther Ford, who picks up the baton in part two, didn’t think he looked enough like the Prince to get cast— clearly someone saw his Harry-ness. Anyway, undergoing a royal transformation and receiving guidance on posture and movement from a marine, Ford discovered the character’s essence within himself.

#9: Rufus Kampa & Ed McVey as Prince William

Although we saw glimpses of Prince William in season five, more attention is given to the young Royal in season six. Rufus Kampa portrays the younger William in part one, effectively capturing his shy and reserved nature, apparently reflective of the real William's withdrawn personality—especially following his mother's death. As part two unfolds, Ed McVey takes William to university and introduces William-mania. McVey built the character based on available information about the Prince's young adulthood. The series also introduces Kate Middleton, played by Meg Bellamy. Given the limited knowledge about the Prince’s future wife, Bellamy has a relatively fresh slate for her role, but we definitely see a young Kate in her.

#8: Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker Bowles

Williams’ transformation into Prince Charles’ lover-turned-wife is incredible—she looks like two different people before and after. Williams explained that the available footage of Camilla consisted mainly of candid paparazzi shots— so not exactly too flattering. Given Camilla’s reputation back then, she likely didn’t have many chances to make her voice heard, making the actress’ task more challenging. Even so, Williams found inspiration and shared that she and the Queen Consort actually share some traits. Sure, she might’ve been joking, but that doesn’t sound like a bad start for providing a solid foundation for her performance. So, while we can’t be sure how accurate this portrayal is, Williams certainly looks the part.

#7: Claudia Harrison as Princess Anne

In seasons three and four, Erin Doherty made the Queen's only daughter a standout character with her sharp wit. Now, in an older Princess Anne, played by Harrison, the iconic sass is still there but perhaps a bit more restrained. Harrison drew inspiration from Princess Anne's 1987 appearance on “A Question of Sport.” Watching her on the game show clearly indicates where she found her character's grounded demeanor and brilliant wit. The actress emphasized that she worked diligently to capture the character, though having the right wardrobe certainly helped her get into the role. If you watch any public appearance by Princess Anne, her effortless charisma shines through, becoming a significant part of the character.

#6: Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana

When it comes to getting a character as close to perfect as possible, Princess Diana stands out. Elizabeth Debicki, taking over from Emma Corrin in season five, finds the Princess’ confidence. She shared that she sifted through plenty of footage of Diana to find authentic moments that she could use as a foundation for building the character. Debicki’s vocal transformation is remarkable, too. She perfectly nails Diana’s softer tones, making her stand out from the other royals. Of course, it helps that she already shares some physical similarities with the princess, but makeup, wardrobe, and hair enhance the resemblance, and it’s uncanny. To truly appreciate Debicki’s portrayal of Princess Diana, we suggest watching the two “Panorama” interviews side by side.

#5: Dominic West as Prince Charles

Julian Baring was the first actor to offer insight into the young future King in season two’s “Paterfamilias.” But it was Josh O’Connor who really made the Prince stand out in seasons three and four. O’Connor did his homework, nailing everything from the Prince’s way of talking and moving to how he behaves in front of crowds. Reportedly, Dominic West was hesitant to succeed him after that impressive performance. While some say West is, let’s say, easier on the eye than the real Prince, there’s no denying that his take is also quite believable—especially from behind. West worked hard to understand the real Prince, and sometimes, if we close our eyes, we might even struggle to tell them apart.

#4: Marcia Warren as The Queen Mother

Gareth Russell, who wrote a biography about the elder royal, suggests that “The Crown” took liberties in portraying the Queen Mother as stern and humorless. According to Marcia Warren, who played the Queen Mother in her later years, little interview footage was available for research. However, she did find an old documentary on horses featuring the Queen Mother. While Victoria Hamilton and Marion Bailey delivered strong performances, Warren's portrayal seems more aligned with what might be a common misconception about the royal figure. Warren captures the Queen Mother's elegance and practicality, showing her strength as she embodies the role of the family’s matriarch and loving great-grandmother.

#3: Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret

Despite being the third actress to wear this weighty tiara, Lesley Manville offers perhaps the most convincing portrayal—and it's not just because of her striking physical resemblance (although a good wig helps, right?). Vanessa Kirby played a rebellious Princess, using a strong dialect to show her inner conflict between wanting independence and a sense of belonging. Helena Bonham Carter continues this internal debate, injecting a clever wit into the role. However, Manville's Margaret is more self-assured and aware of the costs of her family ties. Her performance is nuanced and subtle, avoiding exaggerated gestures or stereotypes. She shared that she researched the Princess thoroughly, piecing together information to create an authentic depiction of the royal.

#2: Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip

Matt Smith shines as a young Prince finding his place in the royal family, balancing roles as a husband to a monarch and a father to heirs. This paved the way for Tobias Menzies to add new dimensions to the character and get audiences on his side as he continues to navigate his role. Every new Prince Philip shows a desire to move away from the past and embrace modernity, which can even be noted in their speech patterns. However, for Jonathan Pryce, portraying Prince Philip isn't about creating a perfect mirror image but rather finding a window into the character's essence. He certainly captures elements of the real royal but draws a distinct line, ensuring that his Prince is his own man.

#1: Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth

Taking the reigns from her predecessors, Imelda Staunton donned the crown in season 5. This was now an era within living memory for most of us; the thought of which she confessed kept her up at night. Nevertheless, Staunton found that delicate balance of portraying a recognizable figure in a semi-fictional format while still paying homage to those who came before her. Also, Like Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, she underwent coaching to capture the Queen’s vernacular and mannerisms, while hair and makeup completed the transformation. According to Royal insider Major David Rankin-Hunt, Staunton nailed the Queen’s idiosyncrasies. While Foy and Colman spoke with almost perfect Received Pronunciation, Staunton gave us an interpretation suited for the modern ages.

Which cast member do you think had the most spot-on royal portrayal? Let us know in the comments.