A historic Kent high street takes a starring role in the final series of royal drama The Crown, which kicks off tonight.

The Guildhall in High Street, Rochester was used as the backdrop for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in the series, doubling up as Windsor Guildhall where the ceremony actually took place back in 2005.

Eighteen years later, the events of that day can be viewed in the final installment of the award-winning series, with the last six episodes being available to stream from today.

Played by actors Dominic West and Olivia Williams, the royal couple exchange their vows and wedding rings inside the Rochester venue.

Back in April, actor Dominic West, who plays the older Prince Charles in The Crown, was seen getting in and out of a Rolls Royce outside the Guildhall while filming in the historic high street.

Cafes and shops in the town centre were transformed for the Netflix film crew – with properties decked in bunting and ‘Congratulations Charles and Camilla’ signs among the window displays.

And now it has been revealed the 17th-century courtroom turned council chamber and present-day wedding venue and museum was chosen as the stand-in for the civic ceremony.

With its magnificent plaster ceilings, glittering chandeliers, large decorative oil paintings and grand staircase, it proved the perfect choice for the recreation of the second marriage of the future King Charles III, including scenes where the couple exchange wedding rings crafted from 22-carat Welsh gold.

The exterior of the building was filmed too, including a shot of the couple leaving the venue in celebration to the sound of a trumpet-led brass band.

Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council portfolio holder for heritage, culture and leisure, said: “From ships and riverside castles to perfectly preserved Georgian grandeur, Medway is blessed with some extraordinary wedding venues – so we were delighted when the producers of The Crown came calling.

“The Guildhall is a wonderful venue bursting with character and charm that has been the backdrop for the special moments that leave couples feeling like a King and Queen for the day – so it made for a perfect setting for this Royal celebration.

“It was a huge honour hosting this filming and with amazing historic sites like Rochester and Upnor Castles, Eastgate House and Temple Manor we look forward to hosting many more.”

Medway Council was approached by Kent Film Office about the possibility of using the Grade I listed building as the location for one of the key moments in the final season of the long-running series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Sarah Belsom, heritage operations manager for Rochester Castle, Temple Manor and The Guildhall Museum, said: “It’s always exciting when we have filming here in Medway, even more so when it is at one of our heritage venues.

“It was obvious why Netflix chose The Guildhall in Rochester with its large portraits and decorative ceiling – it was a perfect fit with the original setting in Windsor.”

“We were contacted by a location scout in December last year with the brief, initially for St George’s Chapel where the Service of Prayer and Dedication was originally held following the civil ceremony,” recalls Gabrielle Lindemann, Kent Film Officer at the Kent Film Office.

“We were then asked if we could think of anywhere to host a civil ceremony that could also stand in for Windsor and which was close to the cathedral should that become an option. The Guildhall turned out to be the perfect choice alongside exterior shots of Rochester Cathedral and the High Street.”

The stunning surroundings of the venue, nestled in the cobbled historic Rochester High Street, make it a popular venue for weddings, with many local people choosing to exchange vows at the Guildhall each year.

The Queens Hall and Princes Hall at Rochester Corn Exchange – named to commemorate a visit by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in 1961- became one big green room, catering for the needs of the show’s star actors and crew. From plugging kit in to providing food and coffee, it was a busy few days for venue staff and council teams.

Aside from the space where filming took place, the Guildhall team had to find room for the extras as well as the florist who worked wonders recreating the displays under The Colannades – with the air filled with the beautiful smell of freshly cut lilies.

“There was film equipment stored in just about every nook and cranny of the museum, which also forms part of The Guildhall – and if there wasn’t film equipment there were runners and actors,” Sarah Belsom recalls. “It was a wet day, so everyone was keen to stay dry.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of extras lined the bunting-strewn local streets, famous for their links with Charles Dickens, waiting for the cavalcade to arrive for the wedding scenes – along with members of the public in position for a perfect view of the action.

The windows of shops along the High Street were repainted and redesigned to fit in with the scene of a Windsor wedding.

Shop owners supported the filming by agreeing to close or divert trade in order for their premises to be redressed as a souvenir shop, cake shop and florist.

A large piece of kit allowed a camera crew to drive in front of the wedding car along the High Street, getting views of the crowds – extras waving or wearing their union jacks – lining the streets.

The filming outside came with all the pomp and ceremony you would expect from a Royal Wedding and it was replayed every few minutes as the actors and crew repeated take after take.

Finally, once they’d wrapped, there was a huge celebration with the actors dancing and hugging to mark the moment – helped along by the live wedding band.