The Crown moves ahead

The new series of the Netflix TV drama charting the life of Queen Elizabeth II begins in December. This second series of The Crown covers the decade from the mid-1950s to 1960s, following the Queen’s relationship with her husband Prince Philip and Princess Margaret’s glamorous life with Lord Snowdon.

The drama features towering political figures of the era including Winston Churchill, John F Kennedy and his wife Jackie.

With budgets estimated at £100m per series, filming has taken place at some iconic British locations. Ely Cathedral replaced Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Lancaster House stands in for Buckingham Palace in both series and Loseley Park in Surrey was used as the home of Lord Mountbatten. The Art Deco Eltham Palace features as the Queen’s quarters on the Royal Yacht Britannia, while Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire makes an appearance in series two. Blue Badge Guides run tours to both the actual and stand-in locations featured in The Crown.