The Crown - Netflix's latest most anticipated series - was released today, and everyone is talking about it.

If you find monarchs fascinating and love learning about the Royal family , this is the show for you.

A grand sweep of Queen Elizabeth II' s reign, the series stars a talented cast and will shine a spotlight into our current Queen's personal life, as well as the history that has defined her reign.

But if you'd like to know a little more about the show - which was filmed near west London at Elstree Studios - then we have everything you need to know about The Crown below, including the cast, release date and more.

Everything you need to know about new Netflix show The Crown

When does the Crown start?

The first episode of The Crown is released on Netflix today (Friday November 4).

What's it all about?

The opening scene of The Crown begins with the unfortunate death of King George VI (Jared Harris), leaving Elizabeth to take over the reign.

Starring Claire Foy as Elizabeth II, The Crown will look at the years of our current Queen's reign, and how her life intertwines with that of the political ruling class.

Ex-Dr Who star Matt Smith plays Prince Philip, and US comedy veteran John Lithgow appears as Winston Churchill, wearing prosthetics and heavy make up.

Each series of The Crown will explore a different decade of the Queen's reign, looking at the political rivalries that defined the history of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, as well as the personal dramas going on behind the closed gates of the royal palaces.

It has been planned by The Crown's makers that the show will carry on until the end of the 1980s, covering Charles and Diana's marriage.

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabth II and Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret

Who will be starring in the show?

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning UK monarch, having sat on the throne for nearly 65 years (Queen Victoria almost made it to 64 years).

The Crown goes right back to the moment Elizabeth changed from a princess to a queen: the death of her beloved father, George VI, in 1953. The 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth was in a Kenyan treehouse on holiday with her husband Prince Philip, when she received news of George's death.

Churchill is seen telling Elizabeth in the series: "Never let them see that carrying the crown is often a burden."

Matt Smith as Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh

Matt Smith says he was impressed with the man he portrayed.

He said: "He had the most extraordinary early life.

"I think we have a preconception about Philip nowadays as the man he is, this man who makes social guffaws and stuff, but actually he lived this very tragic, sort of formative years and it was just utterly fascinating and my affection and appreciation for him - and indeed the Royal Family - grew enormously."

The show stars Claire Foy and Matt Smith

John Lithgow as Sir Winston Churchill

"Churchill is gigantic in history, he's beloved," says John Lithgow, reflecting on the part and the preparation he had to do for the part each day.

He added: "He's got this kaleidoscope of qualities, he almost embodies what's left of the British Empire."

His costume involved a lot of padding to make the tall, slim star into the larger, stooped man.

He also endured prosthetics in his nose and mouth to help mimic the prime minister's voice.

Even his under-eye bags have bags, reflecting how the war had aged Churchill.

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret

As Princess Margaret, Vanessa Kirby plays the most sought-after royal of the era. Her beauty enthralled photographers, and it was her forbidden romance that played out in the papers, and defined her life.

The younger royal sister fell for her father's equerry, who was 16 years her senior, married and far beneath her in social status.

Margaret had to ask her sister for permission to marry the love of her life - but was denied.

Vanessa says of her character in real life: "I remember her being in a wheelchair, a tragic figure, a known alcoholic.

"So I was playing her youth, her vitality, where she had all this potential, before a series of events extinguished that flame."

Claire Foy as Princess Elizabeth and Matt Smith as Prince Philip

Will it be coming back for a second series?

Netflix has already approved series two of The Crown, so if you fall in love with the show there will be more royalty coming to your screens not long after you binge-watch the first series.

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