The Crown confirms Lesley Manville will play Princess Margaret in Netflix’s final season

THE Crown has confirmed Lesley Manville will play Princess Margaret in Netflix's final season.

The hit series will conclude after season five, with Imelda Staunton taking over as Queen Elizabeth II from Olivia Colman, who portrays the monarch in season three and upcoming season four.

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Now show bosses have confirmed The Sun's exclusive that Lesley, 64, will take over as Princess Margaret from Helena Bonham-Carter, who currently plays the Monarch's sister.

The news was announced on the show's official Twitter page, and Lesley revealed: "I could not be happier to be playing Princess Margaret.

"The baton is being passed on from two formidable actresses and I really don’t want to let the side down.

“Furthermore, to play siblings with my dear friend Imelda Staunton will be nothing short of a complete joy."

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The Crown's cast changes every two seasons to reflect the aging process of the Royal Family.

Vanessa Kirby played Margaret in seasons one and two - winning a Bafta for her portrayal of the lively princess - before Helena took over for seasons three and four.

The news comes after The Sun revealed how Lesley was the show's first choice to play Margaret in her later years.

A source said: “Lesley is hugely respected by the creators of The Crown and was their first choice to play Princess Margaret this time.

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“They wanted a star who could tackle the difficult role of a royal entering one of the darkest periods of her life, when the Windsors faced endless scandals and she was dogged by ill health.”

It was confirmed in January that The Crown would end after its fifth season, with fans having originally expected six seasons.

Imelda was confirmed for the role of The Queen at the same time, following in the footsteps of Olivia and Claire Foy, who played the Monarch in the early years of her reign across seasons one and two.

The Crown seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Netflix.