Prerna Singh
‘The Crown’ is a historical drama that follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Olivia Colman) from 1947 to the present day. The fourth season specifically zooms in on the period between 1977 and 1990, which includes the introduction of Lady Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin), Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson), and the birth of Princes William and Harry. Season 4 also covers Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) and Princess Diana’s tumultuous relationship.
Along with that, it also covers the pair’s Australia and New Zealand tour of 1983 and Lady Diana’s solo tour to New York in 1989. Created by Peter Morgan, the series sees the work of the Emmy-winning production designer Martin Childs. The series has especially gained popularity for the larger than life stately grandeur of its settings. It naturally gets one curious to know where those scenes have been filmed. This is what we have gathered!
The Crown Season 4 Filming Locations
Approximately 90 locations were used to film the fourth season, including eight key royal residences. Season 4 finished filming before the COVID-19 imposed lockdown since it was shot from August 2019 to March 2020. Let us take you through some locations where season 4 of ‘The Crown’ was filmed!
England
‘The Crown’ season 4 is filmed mostly at various country estates and historic houses across the U.K. Parts of it were also filmed at the Elstree Studios, which is located on Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JG. The studio, which has 60,000 sq. ft. of stage space, consists of seven stages and a green screen stage. It also provides well-equipped production offices, dressing rooms, preview theatre, rehearsal rooms, and post-production facilities. Some of the most famous TV shows and films have been shot here, including ‘The Shining,’ ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy, ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ and ‘Humans.’
In the fourth season, Margaret Thatcher lived in a townhouse in Radnor Place, Westminster, and the sets in Elstree Studios. The Queen’s private Norfolk retreat at Sandringham was filmed at Somerleyton Hall. The interior shots for Balmoral were filmed at Knebworth House in Stevenage, an 80-minute drive from London.
Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding rehearsal takes place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, but the scenes were filmed at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. A series of locations were used to re-create a realistic Buckingham Palace: Lancaster House, Wilton House, Old Royal Naval College, Waddesdon Manor, University of Greenwich, Wrotham Park, Goldsmiths’ Hall, and Moor Park. Sets built at Elstree Studios also contributed to the Queen’s London residence.
The fourth season shows some foreign tours, including Princess Diana’s solo trip to New York in 1989. Manchester was used to depict Manhattan as Stevenson Square stands in for downtown New York, complete with yellow cabs, a subway station, and a hot dog stand. Princess Anne’s country residence in Gatcombe Park is introduced in the fourth season. It is filmed at Wrotham Park in Hertfordshire.
Burghley House in Stamford is another location used to depict Windsor Castle. Other filming locations include Brocket Hall for Kensington Palace and High Canons and Borehamwood for Clarence House. The Savoy Hotel appears as the hotel that Princess Diana visits in one of the scenes.
Scotland
The 19th-century Scottish baronial property, Ardverikie House, located near Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands, stands in for external shots of the Balmoral Castle in the series. The similarity with the royal residence is uncanny with its baronial architecture and turrets.
Spain
Interestingly, Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Australia and New Zealand trip of 1983 was filmed in Spain. While Malaga stands in for Sydney, the deserts of Almeria were used to create Uluru. Special effects in the studio took care of the rest.
Read More: How Much of The Crown Season 4 is True?
