Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > Downton Abbey: The Official Film Companion > Status Update
Charlie Fenton
is on page 105 of 320
‘Food is served and cleared from the left, starting with the King and Queen, and drinks come in from the right. During a meal, guests would speak to their neighbour on one side for the first course, and on the other side for the second, after which the rules would be more relaxed. Ladies at the table had to observe which way the most senior woman - in this case Queen Mary - turned first and follow suit’
— Jun 18, 2020 03:11PM
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Charlie’s Previous Updates
Charlie Fenton
is on page 299 of 320
‘Protocol dictated that only married women could wear a tiara. As Isobel, Edith and Mary are now all married, Anna Robbins was able to give them all tiaras in the movie. The ones worn by Violet, Cora and Edith at the ball were all authentic diamond tiaras on loan from London jewellers Bentley & Skinner.’
— Jun 21, 2020 01:29PM
Charlie Fenton
is on page 229 of 320
‘Many women were keen to work in offices, factories or shops rather than the rigidly controlled environment of service. Despite this, servants were the largest occupational group in 1927 and in 1931 there were still some 1.4 million indoor domestic servants, 1.2 million of whom were women.’
— Jun 20, 2020 03:37PM
Charlie Fenton
is on page 127 of 320
‘Geraldine was aware that George and Mary knew exactly how to play the role of King and Queen, a thought that struck her when she was sitting in the Daimler and giving the royal wave. ‘In a sense you are being what people expect you to be. They don’t necessarily want to see the inner person, they just want you to be King and Queen, smiling, accepting little gifts, and the like.’’
— Jun 19, 2020 04:10PM
Charlie Fenton
is on page 56 of 320
‘In 1927, waistlines had dropped right down to the hip - it was all about long lines and free movement; corsets had gone, a reflection of the emancipation of women. Clothing was softer and more comfortable - women were more active so their clothing needed to be practical.’
— Jun 17, 2020 05:12PM
Charlie Fenton
is on page 51 of 320
‘When we first started the series, we were all in corsets, with so many layers you could barely walk. To travel from that Edwardian style to the kind of thing we’re wearing now has been amazing. In the first season I needed dressers to help me get in and out of my costumes, whereas now I can just throw my costumes on in the morning.’ - Michelle Dockery
— Jun 17, 2020 05:10PM
Charlie Fenton
is on page 33 of 320
Didn’t realise how much effort was put into making sure everything is as accurate as possible, even with the royal letter arriving:
‘Kimberley also made all the envelopes by hand and cut them to the much smaller size of letters in the period. As the King owned the Royal Mail, letters sent from Buckingham Palace didn’t require postage stamps; their envelopes were franker with the ‘Privy Purse’ stamp.’
— Jun 17, 2020 04:57PM
‘Kimberley also made all the envelopes by hand and cut them to the much smaller size of letters in the period. As the King owned the Royal Mail, letters sent from Buckingham Palace didn’t require postage stamps; their envelopes were franker with the ‘Privy Purse’ stamp.’
