Queen berates Tony Blair over Iraq in final episode of The Crown – as Olivia Colman and Claire Foy reprise their roles as monarch speaks to former self about whether she should abdicate in favour of Charles

The latest episode of The Crown sees the Queen grilling Tony Blair over the Iraq war, as Claire Foy and Olivia Colman reprise their roles to help the monarch decide whether she should abdicate the throne.

Netflix this morning released the final six episodes of the hit series – which followed the late Queen becoming monarch in 1952 to King Charles' second wedding in 2005.

The episode – titled 'Sleep, Dearie Sleep' – shows a particularly tense exchange between the late monarch and the former Labor prime minister, after crowds of protesters are shown outside Buckingham Palace carrying signs reading 'Bliar'.

The scene opens with Tony Blair – played by Bertie Carvel – discussing the public outrage over Prince Harry's Nazi fancy dress costume during one of their weekly meetings.

While studying the front pages of newspapers, The Crown's Blair tries to reach an understanding with Harry, telling the Queen: 'I was a troublemaker at school.

'I was repeatedly caned by my caretaker. We all make mistakes in the flashes of youth.”

The Queen – played by Imelda Stauntion – is clearly saddened by Harry's actions and replies: 'Rarely has such a gross misjudgment as this.

'A Swastika bracelet two weeks before Holocaust Remembrance Day.'

The Prime Minister then informs the Queen, who previously had a nightmare of Blair being crowned king, that the public has “great affection” for Harry and recommends that a “period of contrition should pave the way to forgiveness.”

The Queen steers the conversation towards Britain's image on the world stage, asking: 'Is that the advice you're going to give yourself about Iraq?'

The Prime Minister appears stunned and speechless that the Queen has raised the subject.

She continues, “I think we can agree that things aren't going so well there.”

After a pause and a throat clearing, Blair says: “My hope is that the democratic elections scheduled for the end of this month will mark the beginning of an exit strategy that will allow us to close this chapter, madam.”

The Queen – who was briefed on her funeral arrangements earlier in the episode – then looks wistful as she says: “Exit strategy.

“That's a topic that's been coming up a lot lately.”

Later in the episode, the Queen is seen having a conversation with her younger self – played by Olivia Colman from seasons three and four – about stepping down as monarch.

While in her stables, Olivia suddenly appears throwing a bucket of water on the dirty floor tiles and says, “You coward, why didn't you tell (Philip)?”

“What have you been thinking since you first started working on your funeral? In fact, since the Golden Jubilee… how tired you are, not just tired, exhausted by it all.

'You need some rest. And at the same time, how ready (Charles) suddenly looks.”

The younger queen then reminds her older self of all the previous monarchs who abdicated to allow their heirs to rule.

The younger queen says, “You've been on the throne for half a century, that's longer than any other queen.”

The Queen then reminds her, “What about Queen Victoria?”

Her younger self then says, “How effective was she in the end? Dramatically blind and unwell, hidden away on the Isle of Wight and almost 80 years old (…) That's almost 20 years past the retirement age for women.'

When the current queen urges her that there is “no need to move on,” her younger self adds, “That's what I'm saying, there's no need to move on.”

“Your first loyalty has always been to the crown, sometimes at the expense of motherhood. Resigning is the right thing to do, as queen and as mother.”

Queen is seen writing a speech for Charles and Camilla's wedding, where she appears to be planning to announce her abdication.

As she turns to watch the news coverage on TV, Claire Foy – who played the younger Queen in seasons one and two – appears and says, “I don't know what you think you're doing.”

The current queen then answers: 'I do the sensible, the responsible thing.'

After telling her younger self that she doesn't want the crown to be seen as “decrepit,” The Crown's first queen then reminds her of the oath she took at her coronation.

Her younger self says: 'You're fit enough to ride or drive, so you're fit enough to wear the crown (…)

'Monarchy is something you are, not what you do. The Crown is a symbol of durability, stability and continuity. If you resign, you symbolize instability.'

While the current queen insists she is seen as 'decrepit', her younger self says she is actually 'confident' and 'liberated' in her older age.

She continues, “You say Charles is in his prime. Well, I see you in yours. Admit it, sometimes you think there is a difference between you and the rest of the family.

“It comes very naturally to you and they all seem to make such a mess of it.”

Fighting back tears, the current queen says: 'What about the life I put aside? The woman I cast aside when I became queen.”

Her younger self then responds, “What kind of question is that?” For years there has only been one Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth.

“If you went looking for Elizabeth Windsor, you wouldn't find her. She is gone. Long gone. You buried her years ago.”

The episode ends with the Queen's younger self appearing before the current monarch at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The last Queen of the Crown sees her younger self from VE Day at the altar before being followed out of the chapel by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman.