Queen Elizabeth’s Life On Netflix’s ‘The Crown,’ But Will Kate Middleton Character Feature?

Queen Elizabeth’s six-decade reign will feature in Netflix’s biggest-budgeted show yet, The Crown. The first trailer was released yesterday and features Claire Foy and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith as Prince Philip.

But the question on everyone’s lips is whether the most recent developments within the royal family will be portrayed too, specifically the arrival in 2011 of Kate Middleton. Will Duchess Kate get her own character?

Netflix, which announced in October 2015 a record of 69.17 million subscribers worldwide, spent a whopping $156 million on its production. The show will focus on the inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the politics that surrounded her reign since 1952.

But the network has seemingly made room for some romance and drama in its depiction of the monarch’s life, including difficulties in the Queen’s marriage to Prince Philip and internal disputes, as fans could see in the new trailer.

'The Crown' trailer: First look at Matt Smith's new Netflix drama – CultBox https://t.co/DuHqSiuP6c pic.twitter.com/8skD0jVaWN

— Doctor Who (@DoctorWhoRR) January 7, 2016

How much time will be dedicated to the other royal family members, including Princess Diana, whose tragic destiny transformed her into a media favorite?

Kate Middleton, who’s brought fresh modernity to the family, has also been at the center of attention since her relationship with Prince William began. Surrounding their wedding in 2011, various TV films were produced about the Prince and Duchess, as well as documentaries providing insights into their relationship.

But the presence of a Kate Middleton character in The Crown would also reflect how important Duchess Kate is to modern-day Britain and to Queen Elizabeth’s legacy. Her husband is second in line to the throne after his father Prince Charles, so Kate may well become Queen herself one day.

The first season of this latest dramatic TV portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to air in 2016 and will consist of 10 hour-long episodes. The first clip, which you can watch below, shows Claire Foy as the 25-year-old Elizabeth getting used to wearing the crown, as well as discord within the family following the abdication of Queen Elizabeth’s uncle, Edward VIII, to marry American Wallis Simpson.

Also previewing some personal relationships, the trailer shows Matt Smith as Prince Philip struggling with the idea of becoming his wife’s subject, asking the future Queen Elizabeth II to grant him an exception not to bow down to her. She refuses, straight up.

And here he is, obliging.

Netflix’s monster-budget show was written by Peter Morgan, author of the historical drama film The Queen, which portrayed Dame Helen Mirren as the sovereign, and the play Frost/Nixon, both from 2006.

Queen Elizabeth II has been portrayed in dozens of TV films, films, and series.

Watch the trailer for Netflix’s The Crown below.

Queen Elizabeth II and her second cousin first removed, Prince Philip, married in 1947, at Westminster Abbey in London. The event was broadcast by the BBC and watched by some 200 million people around the world.

Watch the original footage below.

[Photo by Getty Images Pool]