The CrownandDownton Abbeyhave a funny connection throughDownton’s Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael). Created by Julian Fellowes,Downton Abbeypremiered in January 2011 and became a global sensation, spanning six seasons and three feature films, withthe thirdDownton Abbeymovie premiering in 2025.The Crownwas executive produced by Peter Morgan and was one of Netflix’s most prestigious original series, spanning six award-winning seasons on the streamer.
Downton Abbeyis set beforeThe Crown, beginning from 1912 to the late 1920s, and is about the fictional Crawly family who own the venerable Yorkshire estate (the real-life Highclere Castle).The Crowncharts the life of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family, mainly starting from the late 1940s to the 2000s, concluding with the Queen’s death on July 18, 2025.Downton AbbeyandThe Crowncastthe finest British actors, butDownton’s Lady Edith is an amusing link between the two series.
2 Of Lady Edith’s Downton Abbey Loves Play Queen Elizabeth’s Secretary In The Crown
The Actors Who Play Martin Charteris Are Familiar To Downton Abbey Fans
InThe Crown,the two actors who played Queen Elizabeth’s private secretary, Martin Charteris, were also the two most notable lovers Lady Edith Crawley hadonDownton Abbey.InThe Crownseasons 1 and 2, Harry Hadden-Paton played the younger version Martin Charteris oppositeClaire Foy’s Queen Elizabeth. InDownton Abbey,Hadden-Paton is Bertie Pelman, the Marquis of Hexam, inThe Crown. Bertie became Lady Edith’s husband, rising her up to become the Marchioness of Hexam. Bertie also appears in the first twoDownton Abbeymovies, and will return inDownton Abbey 3.
The Crown Series Finale Ending Explained
The Crown season 6 represented the end of an era, highlighting Queen Elizabeth II’s feelings of obsolescence, yet continuing to do her duty.
InThe Crownseasons 3 and 4, Martin Charteris is played by Charles Edwards, who was Lady Edith’s lover before she met Bertie Pelham inDownton Abbey. Edwards was Michael Gregson, Edith’s editor who became the father of her child, Marigold, inDownton. Gregson then vanished and was killed in Germany, leaving Edith heartbroken. Edwards played Charteris opposite Olivia Colman’s Queen Elizabeth II.It’s oddly amusing thatThe Crownwould then cast both actors who were Lady Edith’s beausas the Queen’s private secretary, Martin Charteris.
Downton Abbey & The Crown Also Have Other Big Connections
Key Members Of The Crown’s Royal Family Are Also In Downton Abbey
The CrownandDownton Abbeyshare scores of actors throughout both series' incredibly popular runs, but there are three more rather significant thespians both have in common. Imelda Staunton portrayed Lady Maud Bagshaw, the cousin of Lord Grantham, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), in the first two films,Downton Abbey(2019) andDownton Abbey: A New Era.Staunton then took over the role of Queen Elizabeth II, playing the elderly Sovereign inThe Crownseasons 5 and 6.
Other famed British actors who appeared in bothDownton AbbeyandThe Crowninclude Harriet Walter and Kate Phillips.
Matthew Goode is another major name who spans bothDownton AbbeyandThe Crown.Goode played Henry Talbot, who married Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), inDownton Abbeyseason 6. Matthew cameoed as Henry inDownton Abbey(2019), butGoode didn’t return forDownton Abbey: A New Era.InThe Crownseason 2,Goode became the first actor to play Antony Armstrong-Jones, who married Princess Margaret (Vanessa Kirby), and became Lord Snowdon.
The Crown Season 6 Cast & Real-Life Character Comparison Guide
The Crown season 6, part 1 is building to the end of the Netflix series, and it features several returning cast members and some newcomers.
Dominic West also bridges bothDownton Abbeyand The Crown. West played Guy Dexter inDownton Abbey: A New Era. Dexter was a famous silent film star who was the leading man of the film shot atDownton Abbey.Guy and Downton’s butler, Thomas Barrow (Rob James-Collier), and they left Downton together as a couple. InThe Crownseasons 5 and 6, Dominic West took on the role of Prince Charles opposite Elizabeth Debicki’s Princess Diana.
