The time has finally come for actors Claire Foy and Matt Smith to hang up their crowns as their time playing Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, respectively, as the Netflix original show The Crown comes to an end next season (it airs Friday 8 December).

But, before they bid 'adieu' to their beloved series, it sounds like the duo can't help but weigh in on the casting choice for future members of the royal family.

During Thursday night's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, 35-year-old Smith had the perfect suggestion for who should play Prince Harry's fiancé, Meghan Markle, in future seasons of the series.

'Who's that singer? Who's the singer who goes out with Justin Bieber? Selena Gomez!' asked Smith as he sat alongside his co-star, Claire Foy.

'You love Selena Gomez,' Foy joked before Smith added, 'She's playing Meghan Markle!'

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To be fair, the idea of the 25-year-old actress/singer playing the future royal isn't that abstract of an idea.

After all, both actresses made their breaks in Hollywood as teenagers with appearances on kids' television programmes - Gomez played Alex Russo in the Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place while Markle spoke out about feminism on Nick News.

Following the news of a royal engagement between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last month, Foy told Andy Cohen: 'We love it that they're getting married, it's amazing.'

However, it looked like lacked the same enthusiasm for the upcoming nuptials.

'She's an actress so that's great,' added Foy, before Smith jokingly commented, 'Well she's not anymore, her life is over.'

Smith's comments follow the announcement that Markle would officially no longer be playing her character Rachel Zane on the hit USA legal drama, Suits, and would be retiring from her acting career to focus on royal duties.

Earlier this month, the former Doctor Who actor admitted that he feels 'sorry' for Markle, having learned all too well the demands and pressures of being a royal from his role on The Crown.

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'It's such a transition in her life, and it's such a huge thing to take on. Life as she knows it is gone. But hey, she's marrying the prince of Britain — how exciting for her,' he said during a talk at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.

Well, from the looks of things, Meghan appears to be taking things in her stride just fine at the moment.

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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.