Helena Bonham Carter Throws (Playful) Shade At Co-Star Olivia Colman

Season two sees Elizabeth more established in her role as Queen, but having to contend with a tumultuous political climate and tensions in her marriage.

The Crown marks the second time that Claire Foy has played a Queen: she previously starred as Anne Boleyn in the BBC's adaptation of Wolf Hall.

After the tumult of seasons one and two, the third installment of The Crown should cover a happier period for Her Majesty, as she approaches her Silver Jubilee. She will, however, have her elder children's relationship dramas to contend with.

Olivia Colman steals the show in everything she stars in, from Peep Show to Broadchurch to Fleabag, and this, her biggest role yet, will undoubtedly bring her some well-deserved international acclaim. It takes a national treasure to play a national treasure, surely?

Prince Philip actually only became a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957, when it was announced that he'd be known as His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Matt Smith's Philip becomes more of a central focus for The Crown's second season, which explores the Duke's place in the royal family while hinting at his rumoured infidelity.

Widely perceived as the Queen's 'wilder' sister, Margaret associated with a more bohemian circle in the 60s and 70s.

Prior to playing Princess Margaret, Vanessa balanced stage work with credits in film and TV productions like Great Expectations, About Time and Me Before You. She's also recently starred opposite Tom Cruise in the latest installment of the Mission Impossible franchise_._

The Crown's resident historical expert Robert Lacey has already confirmed that season three will explore the tensions in Princess Margaret's marriage; it's thought that the new episodes will also feature her 'loving friendship' with garden designer Roddy Llewellyn.

We can't wait to see what Helena Bonham Carter, a period drama veteran of the big and small screen, brings to the role of Princess Margaret. 'The only thing I can guarantee is that I'm shorter than Vanessa [Kirby],' she's joked.

Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was widely considered among the most popular members of the royal family, and was active in public life even as she turned 100.

Fan of Doctor Foster? Victoria Hamilton's turn as Gemma's neighbour Anna was certainly a contrast to her royal role as the Queen Mum.

Known as Bertie to his family, George VI never expected to become King. Upon the abdication of his older brother, however, the throne was his.

The son of actor Richard (aka Dumbledore from The Philosopher's Stone), Jared Harris' screen credits include Mad Men, Sherlock Holmes and Lincoln.

Antony Armstrong-Jones had a notoriously tempestuous relationship with Princess Margaret, but even after their 1978 divorce, he continued as the royal family's photographer of choice.

Matthew Goode is something of a period drama mainstay, having previously appeared in the likes of Downton Abbey, Brideshead Revisited and The Imitation Game.

The new Lord Snowdon's biggest royal responsibility came in 1969, when he was asked to design the set for his nephew Charles' investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. A famed fashion and portrait photographer, he tried to give the ceremony a more contemporary feel: the visiting dignitaries sat on minimalist red chairs, which were then made available to buy.

Ben Daniels' CV is nothing if not diverse. He's appeared on Broadway, had a recurring role in Netflix's House of Cards, and even starred in the US TV version of Jesus Christ Superstar (you know, the one with John Legend?) as judge Pontius Pilate. Musical episode of The Crown, please?

The Crown marks the second screen incarnation of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy of 2017: Natalie Portman earned an Oscar nod for unconventional biopic Jackie earlier this year.

South African actress Jodi Balfour most recently starred as DI Elaine Shephard in the BBC's police procedural Rellik; prior to that, her biggest role was in Canadian TV drama Bomb Girls .

John F. Kennedy made just one state visit to Buckingham Palace during his presidency, which took place in the summer of 1961. The real life events form the subject of 'Dear Mrs President' in The Crown's second season.

American actor Michael C. Hall is best known for his roles as the serial killer of the title in Dexter and as a mortician in Six Feet Under.

Britain was gripped by scandal - not to mention a constitutional crisis - when King Edward VIII proposed to Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée who was still technically married to her second husband.

Alex Jennings is another Crown star to have previously played a different member of the royal family on screen: he starred as Prince Charles opposite Helen Mirren in The Queen.

Upon her third marriage, American socialite Wallis Simpson became the Duchess of Windsor, though she was never truly accepted by the royal family.

Alongside her TV roles, actress Lia Williams has starred in a number of plays, directed short films and runs a production company with her husband.

A royal equerry from 1944 to 1953, Peter Townsend's romance with Princess Margaret caused a scandal due to his being recently divorced from his wife.

Ben Miles has previously appeared in shows like Cold Feet, Coupling and the BBC's Shakespeare adaptation, The Hollow Crown.

Before Charles and Anne headed off to boarding school, they were educated by a governess at Buckingham Palace.

Billy has previous appeared in Channel 4's Humans, while Lyla played a younger version of Romola Garai's title character in a recent adaptation of Emma.

Philip's Uncle was born Prince Louis of Battenberg, a title which was dropped in anticipation of anti-German sentiment ahead of WWI. A descendent of Queen Victoria, he was also Elizabeth's second cousin once removed.

You'll probably know Greg Wise for his role as the dashing but caddish Willoughby in the 1995 screen version of Sense and Sensibility (in which he starred opposite future wife Emma Thompson).