Downton Abbey Spoiler: Downton Christmas special filmed at Buckingham Palace

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By LUCY CROSSLEY
PUBLISHED: 09:11 EST, 8 December 2013 | UPDATED: 12:05 EST, 8 December 2013

Downton Abbey will dramatise Edward VIII's first love affair with a married woman, five years before he met Wallis Simpson as part of the programme's Christmas special.

The future King's affair with socialite Freda Dudley Ward has been written into a storyline, which sees Downton character Lady Rose presented at Buckingham Palace for her coming out.

During the episode Lady Rose, played by Lily James, is seen dancing in the arms of Prince Edward, who later became Edward VIII before abdicating to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Mrs Dudley Ward had already been married for five years and had two daughters by her husband, Liberal MP William Dudley Ward, who was 16 years older than her. Her husband apparently turned a blind eye to the affair, although the relationship was well-known to aristocrats and politicians.



When the prince met Mrs Simpson, he abruptly severed all ties to his former love. In a call to the Palace in 1934, Mrs Dudley Ward was told by an operator: 'I have orders not to put you through.'

Mr and Mrs Dudley Ward divorced in 1931. Her second marriage to Spanish nobleman the Marques de Casa Maury, who she married in October 1937 also ended in divorce in 1954. She died in 1983, at 88, and never spoke of the affair.

READ MORE HERE:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2520228/Downton-Abbey-Christmas-special-Edward-VIIIs-great-love.html

Madonna Receives Ungrateful Response from Fans at E.W. Premiere (Entertainment and Stars)

By camille banzon
January 12, 2012 1:10 PM EST

The queen of pop admitted her nervousness upon arriving at the red carpet UK premiere of her directorial debut, E.W. in London.

The famous singer received a less-than overwhelming response from a handful of fans as she walked the red carpet premiere E.W. in London's Leicester Square Empire Cinema. E.W. is Madonna's first attempt at sitting on the director's chair, hopefully following the success of her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie.

"It's slightly nerve-wracking because it's about a British king, it's predominantly filmed in Britain, it's a British production, most of my actors are English and I know the British can be tough critics. But I hope they like it." says the singer-turned-director in a report posted by The Telegraph.

Madonna arrived in a gothic inspired gown with a lace cape paired by red leather gloves, proving that the star hasn't lost touch of her 80's power pop fashion sense.

The movie tells the romance of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (portrayed by James D'Arcy and Andrea Riseborough, and Madonna is quite anxious about taking over a highly ambitious project. The film is already showing in Venice and Toronto Film Festivals, but this is the first time the singer has presented her film for the British audience.

Madonna's actors seem to think highly of her, describing the first time director as very professional and dedicated with the handling of the project.

"She was extraordinary, because she was very prepared and passionate about the piece and that's what excited me when I first met her." says Riseborough, who also starred in the BBC-produced film, 'Brighton Rock.'

"As a director Madonna is about as prepared a person I've ever worked with. Reams and reams of research she'd done. She gave me so many books and every single page was underlined, and if it wasn't underlined it was highlighted, and if it wasn't highlighted there was a post-it note on it" explains the other lead star, D'Arcy in a report.

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/280509/20120112/madonna-receives-ungrateful-response-fans-e-w.htm#page0