Harewood House gets starring role in Downton film after being rejected for TV series

Harewood House is to "star as itself" in the new Downton Abbey film
Harewood House is to "star as itself" in the new Downton Abbey film Credit: Guzelian 

A decade ago, the makers of Downton Abbey chose one stately home to film what would become one of Britain's most popular period dramas, turning down its rivals along the way.

The rest, ordinarily, would be history.

But in a remarkably well-timed twist of fate, one contender, Harewood House, is to find its on-screen fortunes revived at the perfect moment, as the blockbuster film of the same name brings the story of its little-known royal resident to the world.

Harewood House is to "star as itself" in the new Downton Abbey film, weaving together royal historic fact with movie fiction.

Its former chatelaine Princess Mary, the daughter of George V and Queen Mary, will appear as a character, just in time for her personal archive to be made public for the first time.

The archive, which comprises letters, diaries and treasured cuttings as well as the clothing and objet d'art already on display in the house, has been handed over from her descendants to the Trust for cataloguing and research.

The happy coincidence will allow curators to capitalise on the "Downton Abbey effect", braced for interested fans from around the world descended on their West Yorkshire stately home.

In particular staff hope to use the film, set in 1927 and written by show creator Julian Fellowes, to revive the nation's curiosity about Princess Mary, daughter of one king and sister of two whose life story has been largely forgotten.

The house, which was kept open for visitors during weeks-long filming last October, will appear in key scenes in the Downton film, which will see all of the main ITV cast return for a storyline about a royal visit.

Actress Kate Phillips, who has previously appeared in War and Peace, The Crown and as Jane Seymour in Wolf Hall, will play Princess Mary, who moves to Harewood after marrying the 6th Earl and is visited by her parents the King and Queen for a glamorous ball.

The house, which is Grade I listed and designated by Arts Council England as holding an “outstanding collection” for the nation, was originally considered for the filming of the main Downton Abbey, with programme-makers eventually choosing more private Highclere Castle in part because it would allow them more freedom.

In a previous interview with the Telegraph, the 8th Earl of Harewood, a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria, said “I think we would have said yes” if they had received an offer, but warned of the pitfalls: “You can't just let the prop guys move a piece of Chippendale furniture. You've got to have specialised people in and plan ahead.”

The filming of the feature-length story saw curators poised to help move furniture, paintings and artefacts, with 30 house clocks stopped so the chimes did not interfere with continuity.

Large helium balloons were brought in to light ballroom scenes so as not to cause damage to ceilings and pelmets, and irreplaceable Axminster carpets protected from crew footfall.

Downton Abbey film release, from September 13
Downton Abbey film release, from September 13

Jane Marriott, director of the Harewood House Trust, said the contract with filmmakers ensured curators had oversight of any items that could be compromised, adding: “It’s a fine balancing act to make sure you create the most wonderful spaces to recreate these films but protect the assets that the public own.”

The house has recently been used for the filming of television series Victoria, which has inspired an increase in visitors likely to soon be dwarfed by notoriously loyal Downton fans after the film’s September release.

“What is particularly exciting is that Princess Mary is real, she was the countess here, and there will be a renewed interest in this one and only daughter of the king and queen who had two brothers who were kings.

“Last year we took full responsibility for Princess Mary’s personal archive: 170 boxes of letters, cuttings, diaries.

“We’re starting to think about how we really tell this story and bring it alive to inspire people. Downton Abbey is a great catalyst or springboard in a way to telling a whole set of new stories for a new generation of visitors.”

The correspondence includes letters to and from George V and Queen Mary, calling her their “darling little butterfly” and talking of how they miss her, and her brothers, who went on to be Edward VIII and George VI but while at school required reminding to contribute to their parents’ birthday presents.

The Harewood House Trust will offer free entry to anyone arriving at the estate in Downton Abbey-era costume during the week of the film release, from September 13.  

License this content