The urge for a fitting conclusion continued on Monday as filming began in Winchester for the sixth and final series of The Crown.
The increasingly divisive Netflix drama, which fictionalizes more than half a century of royal history, filmed scenes in the city of Hampshire with young star Ed McVey.
The 21-year-old stage actor will play Prince William in his late teens and early 20s after taking on the role of former incumbent Senan West.
It was a transitional period for the Royal, who would join the prestigious University of St Andrews in Fife after graduating from Eton College in 2001.
And as cameras rolled on Monday, Winchester appeared to be doubling down for the exclusive Windsor school, where William earned A-levels in geography, biology and art history before continuing his education in Scotland.
Quiet on set: Ed McVey stepped into his role on Monday as he prepared to play a young Prince William in new scenes for the upcoming sixth series of The Crown – the new season following the royals through the late ’90s and early 2000s Years
Wearing a striped rugby shirt and the same soft fringe William favored in his youth, McVey was preparing for his latest scenes with a group of extras.
While the actor plays an older William, Rufus Kampa, 16, will play the prince at a different stage in his life, depicting his teenage years showing how he and the royal family coped with the death of Princess Diana.
McVey will appear alongside Meg Bellamy, who has been cast as future Princess of Wales Kate Middleton.
While Bellamy has no official acting credits to her name, both McVey and Kampa have significantly more experience.
McVey, who will take on the prince in the early 2000s with scenes showing him falling in love with his art history student Kate, graduated from the Drama Center London in 2021.
Here we go: The increasingly divisive Netflix drama, which fictionalizes more than half a century of royal history, filmed scenes in the city of Hampshire with young star McVey
Seeing double: Wearing a striped rugby shirt and the same soft fringe William favored in his youth, McVey prepared for his latest scenes
In good company: McVey was joined on the set in Winchester by a group of other actors
He was an understudy in the play Camp Siegfried, shown at London’s Old Vic.
The last two seasons of The Crown will cover the history of the royal family from the 1990s to 2003, however it is not yet known which moments will be featured.
In July, it was reported that a postponement of The Crown’s ending has led to rumors of a sequel, leaving open the possibility of a sequel based on Charles, William and Harry that could even feature Megxit.
Showrunner Peter Morgan, 59, has been pushed by Netflix bosses to continue developing the royal family’s story – and now creators have changed the ending of series 6, reports The Sun.
Season 5 of the Netflix hit aired on November 9, while season 6 was set to be the final episode of The Windsors’ story, which will air next year.
Talented: McVey, who will take on the prince in the early 2000s with scenes showing him falling in love with his art history student Kate, graduated from the Drama Center London in 2021
Important historical moments of the royal family between 1999 and 2003
1999: The marriage of the Queen’s son, Prince Edward, and Sophie Wessex: The wedding took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
2000: The Queen celebrates the Millennium: Millennium celebrations are held across Britain. The Millennium Dome in London will be officially opened by HM The Queen on January 1st.
2001: Queen Elizabeth responds to the 9/11 terrorist attacks: a week after the tragedy, she sent a message to the British Ambassador in Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, to express her condolences.
She wrote: “Every single one of us has been shocked and stunned by what we have witnessed over the past few days.
“We are at your service today with special thought for the British casualties. These are dark and harrowing times for the families and friends of those who are missing or who have suffered from the attack – many of you are here today.
“My thoughts and prayers are with you all now and in the difficult days ahead.”
On September 13, the Queen ordered the Changing of the Guard ceremony to be suspended for a two-minute silence, followed by the playing of the American national anthem.
2002: The Queen’s Golden Jubilee: The Queen celebrated this milestone on February 6th and it was an international event to mark the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne.
On June 4th, an estimated one million people flocked to central London to line The Mall on the final day of official celebrations.
Queen guitarist Brian May performed “God Save The Queen” in her honor from the roof of Buckingham Palace.
2002: The Queen dines at 10 Downing Street with the five living former Prime Ministers who served under her. She met Tony Blair, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan and Edward Heath.
2002: Death of Princess Margaret: The Queen’s younger sister dies at the age of 71 after suffering a stroke. The couple had a difficult relationship after the Queen said she could not marry her love Peter Townsend.
2002: The Queen Mother dies: She died at the Royal Lodge Windsor at the age of 101.
Drama: The final two series of The Crown will cover the history of the royal family from the 1990s through 2003, however it is not yet known what moments will be featured
Please look away, nothing to see here: Cameras rolled as Winchester appeared to double for Windsor – home of Eton College
Series 6 was originally scheduled to end in 2002, the year the Queen lost her sister Princess Margaret and her mother – but 2005 is now set to be the new end date.
And this will be with Charles and Camilla’s wedding, which “marks the beginning of an era”.
This last year’s shift could make room for a sequel to the story that could deal with Prince Charles and his sons, Prince William and Harry.
Outlook: Season 6 was originally scheduled to end in 2002, the year the Queen lost her sister Princess Margaret and her mother – but 2005 is now set to be the new end date
Say cheese: Prince William poses for a photograph while studying at Eton in 2000