Kate Middleton Baby Due Date Nears, Makes Visit to 'Downton Abbey' Set
The due date for Kate Middleton's new baby comes ever closer, but the Duchess is keeping herself busy. This week she visited the set of the popular British period drama "Downton Abbey".
Ahead of the Duchess of Cambridge's visit, actor Hugh Bonneville told reporters, "We're all very excited. Mrs. Patmore is baking a cake and we're all bringing in sandwiches. It's going to be a show and tell day."
Actress Joanne Froggatt, tweeted about the visit shortly before the Duchess' arrival as she wrote, "Ooooo, we've got an exciting day ahead on the Downton set, a very special visitor popping in."
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Upon arrival, the Duchess, dressed in a cream coat and black heels, was given a bouquet by the cast's youngest member, who plays the character of Master George Crawley, Lady Mary's son. The royal was also introduced to writer and show creator Lord Julian Fellowes and other representatives of Carnival Films and Television, ITV, NBC, and Ealing Studios.
The Duchess was taken to see different areas of the production process, escorted by executive producer Liz Trubridge. She met the costume designers, makeup artists, seamstresses and cutters in the workshop, and was introduced to the people behind the design and production process of set scenery and props.
The Duchess, who is eight months pregnant with her second child, met cast members including Frogatt (Anna), Bonneville (Robert), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora), Phyllis Logan (Mrs. Hughes), Robert James-Collier (Thomas), Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) and Sophie McShera (Daisy).
Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) and the child actor who plays her son presented the Duchess with a wooden toy train for Prince George.
The Duchess then watched one take of a scene being filmed in the servants' quarters for season six, and a second take of the scene via a monitor in the video village area, before proceeding to the Servants' Hall to join cast members, writers, and producers in an official photograph.
It was reported that the Duchess and Prince William are fans of the show since becoming parents to Prince George. According to the palace, the Duchess' visit to Ealing Studios is to "celebrate the success of the award-winning show."
