The cast of Emmy-award winning drama Downton Abbey, a show where were rank is everything, were graced with the presence of a real-life aristocrat today, as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, paid the set a visit.
Middleton visited the show as a means of celebrating the success the period drama, which is reportedly working on its final season, has received, both at home and abroad, and was even shown around the set by Downton creator himself, Julian Fellowes.
Kate looked very pregnant (she's about eight months along with her second child) during the tour though concealed her growing bump beneath a cream coat from the British maternity line JoJo Maman Bebe. The wife of Prince William mingled with cast and crew, and was given an exclusive tour of the sets at the historic Ealing Studios, and watched scenes being filmed for the show's sixth season.
Kate with the Downton Abbey cast (WENN)
All of the cast were around to meet the royal including Hugh Bonneville (Lord Robert Earl of Grantham), Elizabeth McGovern (Lady Cora Countess of Grantham), Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), Phyllis Logan (housekeeper Mrs. Hughes), Brendan Coyle (valet Mr. Bates), and Lesley Nicol (cook Mrs. Patmore), though we were a tad disappointed that Kate was unable to meet the legendary Dame Maggie Smith, who was unable to attended due to sickness.
"The Duchess of Cambridge will be meeting the cast including Lord Grantham, Hugh Bonneville. Unfortunately Dame Maggie Smith is sick," Daily Mail reporter Rebecca English tweeted of the absence.
But while the cast have become household names since starring he show, it seems they still aren't immune from feeling star struck. Joanne Froggatt, who plays lady's maid Anna Bates, couldn't help but tweet her excitement, neither could Kensington Palace.
Kate with Michelle Dockery and her onscreen son who gave Prince George his wooden train (WENN)
"Ooooo, we've got an exciting day ahead on the Downton set, a very special visitor is popping in..... X" Froggatt wrote, while the Palace even shared a photo of Kate on set. "@DowntonAbbey attracts an audience of around 120 million worldwide. HRH toured the studio home @ealingstudios today," they tweeted.
Undoubtedly a welcome guest, Kate even received a chocolate cake with the Downton logo, "baked" by Mrs. Patmore and her assistant Daisy (Sophie McShera). One of the twin boys who plays Lady Mary's son, George, cutely gave the Duchess a wooden train for her young son of the same name, Prince George.
According to the Associated Press, Fellowes told her that she had played "a significant part" in the Downton story already. He described how a 2011 visit to the U.S. by Kate and Prince William took place just as producers were trying to raise the show's profile. When Kate mentioned she was a fan, "This went into the media like an Exocet missile. And soon all of America and most of the world knew it," Fellowes said.
