The Crown’s Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy look worlds away from Will and Kate in tense ELLE UK photoshoot as he admits he thought he ‘missed the boat’ to star in the Netflix show

Ed McVey and Meg Bellamy looked worlds away from their roles as Prince William and Kate Middleton in The Crown as they took part in a edgy new photoshoot.

The pair star as the young Royals in the latest series of the hit Netflix drama, with the plot following the early days of their relationship.

Ed, 24, graced the cover of the latest issue of ELLE UK, looking effortlessly cool in a black leather jacket and jeans.

Meg, 21, wore a black bomber jacket and patterned skirt, while cinching her waist with a matching belt.

In another look, Ed wore a navy blue printed jacket and matching trousers, teamed with a white T-shirt, while his co-star wore a black jacket and loose-fitting jeans.

The actor, 24, stars in season six of the show alongside Meg Bellamy as Kate Middleton with the plot following the early days of their relationship

Meg wasted no time showing off her toned midriff as she donned a cropped denim jacket with high-waisted jeans.

In their joint interview, Ed talked about how he watched The Crown when he went to drama school but thought he would be too old to have a part in the show.

Recalling the audition process, he said: “They took us to Upper Elstree Studios, and this huge tent full of 150-200 people – everyone who works on the show, all the heads of department and the whole cast.

“Elizabeth Debicki, Jonathan Pryce, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West – everyone was there. It was wild. I remember seeing The Crown during my first year at drama school and thinking it was the kind of show I would eventually like to be a part of.

‘I knew I would never be part of it because I thought I had missed the boat age-wise. I didn’t even think about it [playing] the younger royals.’

The pair enjoyed their time filming the series, with Ed calling it ‘the happiest job’.

Meg, 21, said: ‘We can’t compare it too much but it was really great. From the writing to the costumes, every department is top notch.”

Ed added: ‘It’s very special. Everyone on the show says this is the best show they’ve ever done, and the happiest work. And all those actors have had a very long career. You shouldn’t think that you have reached your peak too quickly.’

In one look, Ed wore a navy blue printed jacket and matching trousers, teamed with a white T-shirt, while his co-star wore a black jacket and loose-fitting jeans.

Meg looked fantastic as she donned a black jacket with matching trousers and chunky boots

In another look, Ed wore a black vest tucked into jeans

Meg showed off her toned midriff in a snap as she donned a cropped denim jacket with high-waisted jeans.

Although she didn’t pay much attention to the royals growing up, Meg opened up about how she’s become a fan of Kate since she gave birth.

She said: ‘I was always very fascinated by the royal family, but I didn’t necessarily have strong feelings for them. But you really grow fond of characters you spent so much time watching. I’m definitely a Kate-ist.’

However, the show’s fame has come with some downsides, as Ed admitted he is now wary of making new friends.

He said, “Friends who don’t care. They are the new friends [of whom you have to be wary] – ‘Are you with me because you really like me, or because you want something else from the relationship?’ But I don’t plan on making new friends. I have all the friends and family I need.”

Ed was full of praise for The Crown’s leading lady Imelda Staunton, who plays the final version of Elizabeth II.

He said: She is incredibly kind and generous – a professional, through and through. She knows exactly what to do.

“I had the privilege of watching these titans of industry do their thing all day long. It was such a masterclass to see them with such grace and see how they carry themselves.”

He said: ‘I knew I would never be part of it myself because I thought I had missed the boat age-wise. I didn’t even think about it [playing] the younger royals’

The pair enjoyed their time filming the series, with Ed calling it ‘the happiest job’

When asked what she has learned since joining The Crown, Meg said: “Taking each day as it comes. Appreciating each day for what it is and not worrying about it too much is the sensible way to deal with it for me.”

Ed added: ‘This is what you always wanted, and even though it comes with some negative aspects, basically you should do what you love.

‘And it’s a huge springboard to do more of what you love to do. And breathe. To breathe. Breathe continuously.’