The fourth series of The Crown is now in prep readying to film in August for Netflix.

Left Bank Pictures” drama centres on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and is loosely based on Peter Morgan”s stage play The Audience and 2006 film The Queen.

The first series covered events beginning in the second half of the 1940s; the fourth run will film for seven months and is expected to cover the late 1970s onwards with Emma Corrin as Princess Diana and Gillian Anderson reportedly on board to play Margaret Thatcher.

The show has set new standards for high-end TV drama budgets – the first, 10-episode season was purported to have cost upwards of £100m.

Although the show”s production base is at Elstree Studios – where a 10 Downing Street set was constructed – it has filmed in many locations including Eltham Palace, the Royal Naval College, Balmoral Castle, Southwark Cathedral and Hatfield House.

PI subscribers can log in for more on The Crown 4, including key HoDs; non-subscribers can click here to request a free online demo.

Image: Netflix/ Zhana Leeson.