As The Crown launches on Netflix, we examine how much the A-list cast look like the real-life royals

IT’S the lavish royal family drama that’s predicted to be bigger than Downton Abbey and cost over £100 million to make.

Netflix’s The Crown is a 10-episode series that follows the history of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign through political and personal turmoil.

The must-watch period drama is packed full of A-list talent including Doctor Who’s Matt Smith as Prince Philip, Wolf Hall actress Claire Foy who plays HM Queen and John Lithgow as Sir Winston Churchill.

Here, we examine how much the glittering cast look like their real-life counterparts.

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II

The 32-year-old Stockport-born actress portrays the young monarch in the hotly-tipped biopic.

Her porcelain skin, plump pout and loose ringlets ensure she looks like Liz’s doppelganger.

Claire told The Telegraph that the elaborate costumes helped her get into character.

“For this young woman to be wearing all that and then have the composure to walk through the Abbey full of dignitaries and heads of states… it must have tale huge gumption,” she said.

“You think, who else could have done this?”

Matt Smith as Prince Philip

Matt Smith donned a military-style suit and brushed his dark blonde locks into a side parting in order to emulate the prince.

This Morning’s Alison Hammond was left cringing after asking the 34-year-old Northampton-born actor about wearing “fake ears” during filming.

Awkwardly realising her mistake, Matt touched his ears and quipped: “These are my actual ears.”

Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret

The 28-year-old London-born starlet portrays the Queen’s only sibling, Princess Margaret.

She told The Independent: “All I knew was that she was sort of a tragic figure. It didn’t really cross my consciousness that much.

“I knew she smoked and drank, and was kind of this old lady in a wheelchair.”

John Lithgow & Harriet Walker as Winston & Clementine Churchill

American actor John Lithgow was cast to play iconic British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

The 71-year-old told Entertainment Tonight that the costume department helped him morph into character.

“All it really was was a wig and two plumpers which clicked onto my back teeth to give me those Churchill jowls. It also helped me with that peculiar voice of his,” he said.

Meanwhile, Londoner Harriet Walter plays his wife, Baroness Clementine Churchill.

The 66-year-old previously starred as Lady Prudence Shackleton in Downton Abbey.

Jared Harris as King George VI

Mad Men’s Jared Harris plays Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI.

The 55-year-old London-born actor prepared for the role by watching the Colin Firth movie, The King’s Speech.

He told GQ that he his version of George is an “interpretation, not impersonation”.

Jared said he was keen not to over research the character and stay “true to the script”.