Downton Abbey Heads To Buckingham Palace For Its Christmas Day Special

The Downton Abbey series 4 Christmas special is upon us... and it's about to go royal (spoilers!)

Downton Abbey's Christmas special is set to be the most regal yet, as the very first pictures from the Christmas Day episode show the Crawley family heading to none other than Buckingham Palace.

ITV announced today that it is taking our favourite aristocrats to the Queen's abode, where a new scandal threatens to rock the British monarchy. Ooh.

What we do know, is the episode will focus on Lady Rose's 'coming out' ball, and will see Cora's brother and mother arrive from America. Robert will then be forced to protect his own family, and the royals, as an as yet unknown drama faces the Brits. Excited? Us too.

The Christmas Day episode, which airs at 8.30pm on ITV, will welcome guest actor Paul Giamatti as Cora's American brother Harold, as well as James Fox as Lord Aysgarth, Guy Williams and King George V and Oliver Dimsale as the Prince of Wales.

The events are set six months after the final episode of series four.

Those hoping for a guest appearance from Queen Liz or a rogue corgi in shot will be disappointed, however, as the Buckingham Palace scenes were actually filmed in Lancaster House. West Wittering beach in Sussex meanwhile, has formed the set for the Crawleys' London residence, which we'll see for the very first time.

We. Can't. Wait.

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