Netflix's 'The Crown' to pause filming as mark of respect to Queen Elizabeth II

The show's writer, Peter Morgan, called the series a 'love letter' to the monarch

Imelda Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth II from season five of 'The Crown'. Netflix

Filming on season six of Netflix drama The Crown will be put on pause as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“The Crown is a love letter to her and I’ve nothing to add for now, just silence and respect," said Peter Morgan, creator of the Emmy-winning show.

Queen Elizabeth II dies — follow the latest news as the world mourns

Netflix has long said that if the queen was to die during the series' run, it would halt production.

Stephen Daldry, director of some of the show’s early seasons, said in 2016: “None of us know when that time will come, but it would be right and proper to show respect to the queen. It would be a simple tribute and a mark of respect. She’s a global figure and it’s what we should do.

”She’s an extraordinary woman and people will be upset.”

Season five of the Netflix series is scheduled to have its premiere in November, while production on season six is well under way. The coming seasons will have a new cast portray the royal family, with Imelda Staunton taking over from Olivia Colman, who portrayed the role of the monarch in seasons three and four. Claire Foy played the queen in seasons one and two.

On Thursday, hours after Queen Elizabeth died, it was confirmed that Prince Charles would reign as King Charles III of the UK and 14 other realms, and he released a brief tribute to the sovereign and his “beloved mother”.

“The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” he said.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

Scroll through the gallery below for portraits of Queen Elizabeth II through the years

The most recent official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle, was for her platinum jubilee. The image is part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition, on view at Windsor Castle until September 26. Photo: Ranald Mackechnie

This portrait, issued by the Royal Collection Trust, was taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952, and is featured in the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession exhibition, on view at Buckingham Palace until October 2. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This portrait of Queen Elizabeth by British artist Lucian Freud was finished in 2001 and caused an outcry. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Reuters

The monarch was featured in Andy Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series of portraits created in 1985. The pop art print, although not officially commissioned, was later brought into the Royal Collection. The image is a part of Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This image of Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, was taken by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, and remains one of the most famous portraits of the monarch. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II painted by Pietro Annigoni, was finished in 1956 and commissioned by the Fishmongers Company in the City of London. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. PA

Michael Leonard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was painted for her 60th birthday, and commissioned by 'Reader's Digest'. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Reader's Digest / Shutterstock

Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painted this portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth to mark her 2002 golden jubilee on March 10, 2002. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

Artist Chris Levine made headlines with his controversial portrait titled 'Lightness of Being', which shows the queen with her eyes closed. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

The 1963 plaster cast known as the 'Dressed Head' by Arnold Machin, provided the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be used on British stamps from 1967. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Getty Images

This recent portrait of the monarch titled 'Algorithm Queen', was painted by an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da Robot for the platinum jubilee.

Ralph Heimans's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned to mark her 60 years on the throne and hung in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Dean and Chapter of Westminster / AFP