And reveals more about the plot

Channel 4 has confirmed the special coronation episode of The Windsors – and revealed more about the plot.

Some of the comedy will mock Harry and Meghan, just weeks after South Park laid into the couple conducting endless TV interviews as they demanded privacy.

The Windsors episode will see the pair – played by Richard Goulding and Kathryn Drysdale –  living their new ‘simple’ life in California and wondering if they can miss Charles being crowned.

Meanwhile, the King, played by Harry Enfield, wants the event to be a spectacular affair with all the pomp and circumstance he deserves – as does his Queen Consort Camilla (Haydn Gwynne), who can't wait to drape herself in diamonds and fur. However, Wills (Hugh Skinner) thinks the coronation should reflect these more straitened times.

Gwynne revealed news of the special in a radio interview in January, when she said there would also be  another full series coming later this year – news which has not yet been confirmed by the broadcaster.

Comedian Anna Morris is joining the cast for the special, playing Sophie Wessex, the new best friend of Kate, played by Louise Ford. The story has the Princess of Wales managing to offend Pippa Middleton (Morgana Robinson) 'with disastrous consequences'.

Meanwhile, Beatrice (Ellie White) and Eugenie (Celeste Dring) worry they are no longer essential members of the royal family and have to find a way to prove they have something to bring to the coronation. And how do Charles' siblings, Anne (Vicki Pepperdine) and Edward (Matthew Cottle), feel about their brother's special day?

The Channel 4 blurb makes no mention of Prince Andrew,  who has previously been played by Tim Wallers.

Bert Tyler-Moore is writing the script, the first since the death of the show’s co-creator  George Jeffrie in 2020. 

He said: ‘I’m delighted to be back with the Royal family – the best collaborators a comedy writer could hope for."

Joe Hullait, commissioning executive for comedy at Channel 4 added: ‘Any channel worth its salt has a landmark show with the word coronation in the title.

‘For the BBC it was the world’s first televised coronation in 1953. For ITV it’s the world’s longest running soap Coronation Street. We at Channel 4 are delighted to announce that we now have our own record-breaking coronation jewel at the heart of our broadcasting crown: the funniest show on telly during a momentously historic week for Britain.’

A broadcast date for the episode has not yet been confirmed but it is expected to be close to the coronation itself, which takes place Westminster Abbey on May 6.

Three seasons of The Windsors have so far aired, starting in 2016,  plus a Christmas and a Royal Wedding special. The comedy was also adapted into a West End show in 2021.

Made by: Noho Film and TV
Written by: Bert Tyler-Moore
Executive producers: Camilla Campbell and Robert Wulff-Cochrane
Commissioned by: Charlie Perkins, head of comedy at Channel 4, Joe Hullait, commissioning executive and Andy Brereton, senior commissioning editor at Channel 4.

Published: 6 Mar 2023