Producers behind Netflix drama The Crown filming at York Minster

As The Press reported last week, the cathedral is closed to visitors as the producers behind Netflix hit The Crown are expected to be filming season six of the show.

Several large trucks have arrived and parked up close to the Minster building with crews unloading equipment this morning and large lighting rigs on cranes have been put in position outside the rose window.

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Properties neighbouring the Minster have received letters informing them of the filming next week from Left Bank Pictures.

The vans parking up (Image: Haydn Lewis)

In the letter, the company state that parking bays around the Minster will be "suspended" between Monday (April 17) and Friday (April 21).

The letter states: "Our technical vehicles will be parked along Duncombe Place and Minster Yard. There will be various machines situated around York Minster."

Left Bank Pictures, Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, said in the letter that location and security teams will be on set to help keep disruption to an "absolute minimum".

Equipment being unloaded (Image: Haydn Lewis)

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for York Minster said: "We can confirm that the Minster will be closed for sightseeing visitors from Monday to Friday next week due to filming.

"Services will continue as normal at 7.30am and 7.50am and evening prayer at 5.30pm."

It's not known what scenes from the royal drama charting the reign of Queen Elizabeth II will be shot in York, but filming will take place "within and outside" the venue.

Today crews have also been assembling a large metal structure in Dean's Park close to the Minster building. The park is also closed to the public with filming expected to take place all day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with things being dismantled on Friday.

The metal structure going up in Dean's Park (Image: Haydn Lewis)

Season six of The Crown stars Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Dominic West as Prince Charles, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, Olivia Williams as Camilla, Ed McVey as Prince William and Meg Bellamy as Kate.

Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip (Image: Netflix)

It's is not the first time the historic site has drawn in film crews - as the cast of the BBC costume drama Gentleman Jack were pictured at the Minster back in 2018 and 2020 and scenes for the ITV drama Victoria were shot there.

Going further back, the Minster was used to film scenes from the film Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett.