The Crown Season 6 Cameos Round Out Netflix's Most Impressive Series

The Crown's Impressive Journey

The Crown's series finale cameos were a pivotal moment in rounding out one of Netflix's most impressive series to date. Created by Peter Morgan, The Crown chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, from her ascension to the throne in 1952 to her approval of Prince Charles' wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. Over the course of its six-season run, the historical drama series earned 21 Primetime Emmy Awards. Among those is the series' 2021 win for Outstanding Drama Series —a first for Netflix — thanks to The Crown's inspired season 4, which featured Emma Corrin and Gillian Anderson, among other standout actors.

Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton and Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown series finale

Although The Crown's remarkable cast continues to deliver powerhouse performances, the series' overall quality has taken a dip since that season-four high point. In fact, the two-part season 6 has prompted many viewers to wonder what, exactly, happened to The Crown's Rotten Tomatoes score, which dropped substantially to an all-time low for the program. Despite a shaky finish, The Crown's accomplishments remain impressive. Since debuting in 2016, the series has churned out 60 episodes and retained its reputation for historical accuracy, strong writing, and pitch-perfect portrayals of well-known figures. Ultimately, The Crown's ending cameos bring the narrative to a satisfying, full-circle closure.

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth looks up in The Crown series finale

Claire Foy & Olivia Colman Cameo In The Crown Series Finale

One of The Crown's most impressive feats was the series' ability to perfectly cast its characters — again and again. Plus, the ensemble had the tall order of bringing to life some of history's most well-known, beloved, and despised figures. In the series finale, Claire Foy and Olivia Colman's The Crown season 6 cameos reiterate the show's most powerful aspect: its ability to tell a decades-spanning life story. In the show's final outing, Imelda Staunton's Queen Elizabeth spends her last episode planning her future funeral. After Charles' wedding, Elizabeth and Prince Phillip (Jonathan Pryce) linger in St. George's Chapel to discuss the end of the monarchy's relevance.

As it neared more contemporary events, The Crown struggled to maintain its high-caliber success. 'We're a dying breed, you and I,' Phillip tells Queen Elizabeth. '...The party's over.' According to Phillip, those on both the inside and outside of the royals' enduring institution know that the monarchy's relevance is dwindling. Once Queen Elizabeth is alone, a coffin appears in the center of the chapel — her future casket, adorned with a crown and scepter. At this moment of reflection, Staunton's Elizabeth is flanked by the younger versions of herself, as played by Foy and Colman. That said, this imaginary reunion brings closure to the long-running series by satisfyingly uniting three generations of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Crown's Cameos Perfectly Wrap Up One Of Netflix's Longest-Running & Impressive Series

The fact that The Crown was able to tell the story it did — and at a level of quality that was, generally, incredibly high — is an impressive feat. Moreover, virtually every member of the royal family in The Crown was recast multiple times across its six seasons, making its top-notch storytelling nothing short of miraculous. Having Claire Foy, who played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown's first few outings, and Olivia Colman, who took on the mantle between Foy and Staunton, return for the finale highlighted those achievements. The Crown's finale cameos aren't fan service, but a poignant choice that underscores the show's staggering accomplishments across seven years.