Marie Antoinette Season 2: Everything You Need to Know

Marie Antoinette Season 2 Premiere Date

History buffs and royal enthusiasts alike, mark your calendars for Marie Antoinette Season 2 premiere on March 23, 2025. Season 2 will stream on PBS and the PBS app.

About Marie Antoinette Season 2

Season 1 of the show kicks off with Marie Antoinette’s arrival to Versailles. Far from home and only a mere teenager, her transition to the French way of life is met with many bumps, most notably her struggle to connect with her spouse and soon-to-be king, Louis XVI.

Over the season, Antoinette navigates the ups and downs of royal life, and along the way, gathers friends, foes, and acquaintances. Eventually, she emerges as a confident Queen of France; however, with her mother's sudden passing in the season finale, Antionette is forced to face a future without any maternal support.

In season 2, bigger and stronger enemies are waiting in the wings to destroy Marie Antionette. The higher she climbs in the estimation of the French people, the greater the threats are against her. At the height of their power, Marie Antoinette and Louis face an unprecedented financial crisis. The incessant attacks of Provence and Chartres against the royal couple stir up the hatred of the nobles while disastrous consequences loom with the Diamond Necklace Affair. From Versailles to the Palais-Royal, the revolt rumbles on.

Marie Antoinette Season 2 Cast

Where exactly did the royals and statesmen of Versailles leave off last season? 

Read below to find out:

Marie Antoinette (played by Emilia Schüle): Young, charismatic, and defiant, Marie Antoinette is a young woman tasked with an enormous responsibility: solidifying the alliance between France and Austria. While she is eager to please her new French family, she struggles at first to learn the new cultural customs as well as connect with Louis, her husband and the dauphin. Fortunately, the two teenagers eventually form a close bond, and the Antoinette begins to thrive in her new role. However, as her power and influence strengthen, enemies and schemers – both within and outside of her inner circle – are determined to take Antoinette down. And with her mother passing in the Season 1 finale, the question of how the the Queen of France will hold her ground in a politically polarized Versailles looms large.

Louis XVI (played by Louis Cunningham): Season 1 introduces Louis XVI as a young man stifled by his own self-doubts and shyness – he prefers to keep to himself, let alone entertain the idea of speaking to his fiancé, Marie Antoinette. As the heir to the throne, Louis XVI has acquired a long share of doubters, many of whom question his ability to lead the nation of France. But when his grandfather, King Louis XV, passes away due to smallpox complications, Louis is thrust into the role of dauphin at only age 19. Fortunately, with Marie Antoinette’s growing love and closeness, Louis finds his confidence – and even decides to enlist France’s cavalry against Britain during the American Revolution.

Chartres (played by Oscar Lesage): A cousin to King Louis XVI and a close friend to Marie Antoinette, Chartres is a man with a sharp tongue who enjoys a good laugh, even if it is at someone else’s expense. Although he demonstrates his unwavering support to Antoinette over the course of Season 1, things turn sour when it’s revealed he holds romantic feelings for the Queen… that are not reciprocated. Worse, too, he’s accused of abandoning his military post during a critical navy battle, leading to his naval dismissal and banishment from Versailles. By the end of Season 1, Chartres signals an alliance with Provence, as the two are determined to unseat Louis’ and Marie Antoinette’s reign.

Provence (played by Jack Archer): Being #2 in line for the throne is never an easy position to be in – a fact that rings ever-so-true for Provence, Louis XVI’s younger brother. Provence is known for his ruthless words and antics, which he uses to his fullest disposal against Marie Antoinette. When his wife Josephine is caught dispelling salacious pamphlets about the Queen, Louis further relegates Provence down the governmental totem pole.

Josephine (played by Roxane Duran): Once intended to marry Louis, Josephine is a member of the House of Savoy. In Season 1, she marries Provence, Louis’ younger brother – a marriage which reaps toxicity throughout the halls of Versailles. Embittered by Provence’s unpleasant personality as well as her inability to become pregnant, Josephine launches a covert, malicious campaign against Antoinette that is later uncovered by King Louis XVI.

Lamballe (played by Jasmine Blackborow): Since Marie Antoinette's arrival in France, Lamballe has been a steadfast ally and friend to the young Austrian. Quiet but loyal, Lamballe always offers prudent advice and insight. And when Antoinette ascends to the role of Queen, she promotes Lamballe as the Superintendent of the Queen’s Household. However, Lamballe’s relationship with Antoinette endures some rough patches upon the introduction of another lady-in-waiting, Yolande. Lamballe is distrustful of Yolande’s intentions, yet remains supportive of Antoinette.

Yolande (played by Liah O’Prey): Another one of Marie Antoinette’s closest friends is the elusive and utterly captivating Yolande, Countess de Polignac. However, unbeknownst to Antoinette, Yolande is close relatives with Maurepas, the Secretary of State. In exchange for money, Yolande sometimes offers information to Maurepas about the young Queen. As Yolande’s influence expands, she seizes opportunities to demand what she wants from Antoinette: a large sum of money to cover her husband's and lover’s debts. Word about Yolande’s monetary and luxury demands gets back to Marie Antoinette’s mother, who warns her daughter to distance herself from the Countess, but Antoinette continues to entertain the Countess’ company.

Adélaïde & Victoire (played by Crystal Shepherd-Cross and Caroline Piette): Acquiring the approval of all your in-laws and family is never an easy feat, however, Adélaïde & Victoire – Louis XVI’s aunts – are particularly two tough nuts to crack. Over the course of Season 1, they are quick to point out Marie Antoinette’s ostensible shortcomings and relish in her displays of incompetence. However, with the brief but memorable visit of Antoinette’s brother, Joseph II, the two women slowly start to come around…

Axel von Fersen (played by Martijn Lakemeier): Charming, handsome, and accomplished, Axel von Fersen is a Swedish count who possesses the charisma to sweep most women off their feet… especially Marie Antoinette. In fact, most of Marie Antoinette’s inner circle (apart from Louis) is aware of Antoinette and Axel’s blossoming, extramarital fling. But by the end of Season 1 – after some passionate kissing – the French Queen and Count decide to call off their relationship to avoid any lasting consequences. 

Au revoir... We'll see you at Versailles.