Turns out fans of “The Crown” didn’t have to say goodbye to their first queen after all — at least not entirely — as Claire Foy will be reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth II for the upcoming fourth season of Netflix’s royal drama to play the monarch in a flashback scene, TheWrap has learned.
The scene in question appears to be Queen Elizabeth’s 21st birthday speech, according to the Daily Mail, which first obtained photos of Foy on set.
Netflix declined TheWrap’s request for comment on Foy’s return.
As viewers know, Foy, who portrayed Elizabeth on Seasons 1 and 2, was swapped out for Olivia Colman for Seasons 3 and 4, as the entire cast was aged up, with Tobias Menzies replacing Matt Smith as Prince Philip, Helena Bonham Carter replacing Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, Ben Daniels replacing Matthew William Goode as Lord Snowdon and Josh O’Connor and Erin Doherty cast as the grownup versions of Prince Charles and Princess Anne, respectively.
This new cast portrayed the royal family during the ’60s and ’70s time period in which Season 3, which dropped Nov. 17, takes place and they will continue in those roles through Season 4. But the whole team will be replaced by an older group of actors and actresses, just as Foy and Co. were after Season 2, as the story moves forward for Seasons 5 and 6.
There is currently no word on who will next take on the royal roles, and last week Netflix shot down rumors that Imelda Staunton had been cast to replace Colman.