Succession
Olivia Colman is majestic as the second Queen Elizabeth the second in Netflix’s The Crown
IT’S 1964 and, in teasing opening scenes, one can only see the back of Her Majesty’s head as she sits down for breakfast. The gates of Buckingham Palace are flung open to allow a Royal Mail van in and two corgis scamper into shot. It’s enough to give me chills. Olivia Colman could never have predicted the sensation it would cause just to catch a glimpse of the back of her neck. There has been a changing of the guard at Netflix’s lavish mega-hit The Crown, with Oscar-winner Olivia, 45, taking over from Claire Foy, 35, as Queen Elizabeth II.
It’s an amusing and neat start to the hugely anticipated 10-part third series, as the show gives a regal nod to the cast change.
We see the Queen staring at her profile on a newly released postage stamp. She then looks longingly at the old one, featuring her younger self – the face of Ms Foy. “Age is rarely kind to anyone,” she mutters, referring to herself as an “old bat”. “Nothing one can do about it. One just has to get on with it.” And the passage of time is portrayed seamlessly. Tobias Menzies inherits the part from Matt Smith to deliver a pitch-perfect Prince Philip. Princess Margaret, previously played by Vanessa Kirby, is now the glorious Helena Bonham Carter, first seen being rude to her new maid. “Who are you?,” she snaps, lounging in bed in a silky gown, smoking a cigarette.
Later scenes of her drinking and singing hint at what’s to come from the rebellious royal. I’m expecting fizzing chemistry in future scenes with the Queen and Margaret together, knowing that Olivia and Helena became great friends on set.
There’s plenty of drama in the first episode, with Winston Churchill, played by John Lithgow, in ailing health after another stroke, and Labour leader Harold Wilson ( Jason Watkins) voted PM.
The Queen is concerned as rumours become rife that Wilson has links to the KGB and could be a Russian spy. Politics aside, fans will enjoy tense and also tender moments between the Queen and Philip as they tackle never-ending crises of family, crown and country.
We’ll see everything from the Aberfan disaster, to Margaret’s racy affair and Prince Charles’s first meeting with Camilla. The usual sumptuous sets and costumes, witty script and A-list cast keep this royal saga firmly on its throne.
■ The Crown: Season 3, Netflix, November 17.