Do you know your Downton? From Lord Grantham's dog to Mrs Patmore's catchphrase | Daily Mail Online Do you know your Downton? From Lord Grantham's dog to Mrs Patmore's catchphrase comments The Christmas special of Downton Abbey, on ITV1 tomorrow, may well answer some of the cliffhanger questions left over from series two, such as will Matthew and Mary ever get their act together? And will Mr Bates swing for the murder of his ex-wife? But how much do you know about the story so far? Try our quiz, which alternates easy questions with real testers, and give yourself one point for each correct answer. Elegant: The Crawley sisters played by Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith, Jessica Brown Findlay as Lady Sybil and Michell Dockery as Lady Mary 1. With what famous historical event does the first series begin? (a) The start of World War I (b) The sinking of the Titanic (c) The death of King Edward VII (d) The invention of the telephone 2. What sound informs the family and guests at Downton Abbey that they should start getting ready for dinner? 3. With what deadly disease does the second series end?

(a) Spanish Flu (b) German Measles (c) Rocky Mountain Fever (d) Delhi Belly 4. What is the job of Joe Burns, Mrs Hughes’s old flame? Elizabeth McGovern plays Cora in Downton Abbey 5. Which of these characters dies as a result of this disease? (a) Lavinia Swire (b) Mr Carson (c) Mrs Patmore (d) Dr Clarkson 6. What relation is Lord Grantham to Matthew, his heir? 7. What is the correct term for the wife of an Earl, as applied to two Downton characters? (a) Baroness (b) Marchioness(c) Countess (d) Earl Indoors 8. What does Gwen, the housemaid, keep in a box on top of her bedroom cupboard? 9. Lord Grantham’s eldest daughter Lady Mary has a sinful secret that could ruin her reputation. What is it? (a) She had an improper passion for her maid (b) A Greek ship owner got her pregnant (c) A Turkish diplomat died naked in her bed (d) She once said ‘serviette’ instead of‘napkin’ 10.

What is the name of Lord Grantham’s dog? 11. From which West Sussex town do the aristocratic family who live at Downton Abbey take their name? (a) Horsham (b) Crawley (c) Pulborough (d) Bognor-Regis 12. In what fictional Army unit does Matthew serve during World War I? 13. What precious object is stolen by Mr Bates’ enemies, Thomas and O’Brien, with the intention of framing him? (a) A pair of Lord Grantham’s gold cufflinks (b) A first edition book from the library (c) An antique blue snuffbox (d) A bottle of vintage brandy 14. At which battle in 1918 are both Matthew and William wounded, the latter fatally? 15. What is the lucrative occupation of Sir Richard Carlisle, to whom Lady Mary is engaged to be married? (a) Arms manufacturer (b) Mine owner (c) Newspaper baron (d)Industrialist 16. What is the name of the shell-shocked war veteran who briefly serves as Lord Grantham’s valet? 17. What does Downton Abbey become during World War I?

(a) HQ for the Army’s General Staff (b) A convalescent home for wounded officers (c) A code-breaking centre (d) A tourist attraction, with lions Happily ever after? Anna played Joanne Froggatt, and Brendan Coyle as Mr Bates, who has been arrested over the murder of his ex-wife 18. With what exotic garment, inspired by the Orient does Lady Sybil scandalise the family at dinner? 19. What event is taking place at Downton Abbey when war is declared? (a) A garden party (b) A shooting party (c) A hunt (d) A funeral 20. With what chemical, used to clean copper pots, does Daisy the kitchen maid almost poison the entire Downton Abbey household? 21. With which wholly unsuitable married man does Lady Edith have a brief wartime fling? (a) Mr Bell, the vicar (b) Mr Lamb, the butcher (c) Mr White, the milkman (d) Mr Drake, the farmer 22. By the end of series two, how should Daisy formally be addressed? 23. What classic wartime song does Lady Mary sing to entertain the troops at Downton Abbey?

(a) It’s A Long Way to Tipperary (b) If You Were The Only Girl in the World (c) Oh! It’s A Lovely War (d) Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit-Bag 24. Who is given the prize for the finest blooms at the annual Downton flower show? 25. The chauffeur at Downton Abbey has the same surname as a modern British business tycoon. What is it? (a) Dyson (b) Branson (c) Bannatyne (d) Sugar The Christmas special of Downton Abbey may well answer some of the cliffhanger questions left over from the last series 26. Who tells the Turkish Ambassador the true cause of Kemal Pamuk’s death? 27. This chauffeur tries to elope with Lady Sybil. Where are they going when intercepted by Sybil’s sisters Mary and Edith? (a) Paris (b) London (c) Dublin (d) Gretna Green 28. What clause in his father’s will obliges Lord Grantham to give his heir the entire Downton Abbey estate as well as his title? 29. Uh-oh!

The chauffeur’s now planning to attack a General. But with what? (a) A tyre-iron (b) A loaded revolver (c) A kitchen knife (d) A soup tureen filled with oil, ink, cowpats and sour milk 30. In what famous political scandal did Lavinia Swire play a crucial role? 31. Which of these statements about Lord Grantham’s valet Mr Bates is NOT true? (a) He is a bigamist (b) He is a reformed drunkard (c) He has been jailed for theft (d) He is a murder suspect 32. What is Matthew’s profession? Lord Grantham gets some last minutes touches before filming and Lady Mary prepares for a scene Will Matthew, played by Dan Stevens, finally admit his feelings for Lady Mary 33. In what music-hall double act did Mr Carson the butler once perform? (a) The Cheeky Chappies (b) The Cheerful Charlies (c) The Champion Chums (d) The Chelsea Chancers 34. A Downton character was wrongly jailed for the theft of regimental silver. Who was the actual thief? 35.

Downton Abbey’s scripts were criticised for using inappropriately modern phrases. Which of the following examples was among them? (a) Oh, mother, don’t be so square (b) Well, I think you look cool (c) You’ve been taking logic pills again (d) Chill out, m’lord 36. At which celebrated hospital is Mrs Patmore treated? 37. Downton creator Julian Fellowes was wrongly mocked for including a word that had actually originated in 1889. What was it? (a) Boyfriend (b) Bullseye (c) Bingo (d) Brassiere 38. Who is about to propose to Lady Edith, only to be put off by a spiteful lie from Lady Mary? 39. What is Julian Fellowes’s full name and title? (a) Mr Julian Alexander Fellowes (b) The Hon. Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes (c) Sir Julian Kitchener-Fellowes (d) The Rt. Hon Julian Alexander Baron Fellowes of West Stafford 40. Who is the only person allowed to unlock the door between the male and female servants’ quarters? ANSWERS 1 (B).

2 The dressing gong. 3 (A). 4 Farmer. 5 (A). 6 Third cousin, once removed. 7 (C). 8 Typewriter. 9 (C). 10 Pharaoh. 11 (B). 12 The Duke of Manchester’s Own Regiment. 13 (C). 14 Amiens. 15 (C). 16 Henry Lang. 17 (B). 18 A pair of harem pants. 19 (A). 20 Salt of sorrel. 21 (D). 22 Mrs William Mason. 23 (B). 24 Bill Molesley. 25 (B). 26 Lady Edith. 27 (D). 28 The ‘entail’. 29 (D). 30 The Marconi scandal. 31 (A). 32 Lawyer. 33 (B). 34 Vera Bates. 35 (C). 36 Moorfields Eye Hospital. 37 (A). 38 Sir Anthony Strallan. 39 (D). 40 Mrs Hughes. TOTAL AVAILABLE POINTS = 40 What Your Score Says About You 0–10: Let’s be honest, you have better things to do with your life than watch Downton Abbey.

And if you accidentally happen to tune in, you don’t pay much attention. Rank: Kitchen maid. 11-20: You like to stay abreast of the latest sensations, so you dip into Downton Abbey from time to time, quite enjoy it when you do and more or less know what people are talking about. Rank: Valued family servant. 21-30: You’ve seen most, if not all of the episodes, read the odd article about Downton’s stars and talked about it with your friends. It’s a perfectly healthy enthusiasm, although you try not to become obsessed. Rank: Family member. 31-40: Either you’ve just spent the last hour on YouTube and Wikipedia, or you are such an awesomely, not to say frighteningly, clued-up Downtonite that Julian Fellowes calls you for advice and plot reminders. The redhead, the trumpeter and Lord Grantham: Inside the names of the 2016 candidates - The Washington Post The redhead, the trumpeter and Lord Grantham: Inside the names of the 2016 candidates The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost.

Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! By Philip Bump November 25, 2015 Follow @pbump Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign stop Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Eric Schultz) I spend more time than most people writing and reading the word "Trump." Every day, Trump something, in an article I'm reading or in data I'm looking at. I live in New York City (editor's note: humblebrag), where Trump's name appears with surprising regularity, even when you're just driving down the West Side Highway. (He's adopted a stretch of it.) Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. Trump. It loses all meaning. It occurred to me one day that the word "Trump" doesn't actually have any meaning as a noun outside of the context of the man who emblazons it on everything possible.

My last name is "Bump," a truncated version of the longer, less-comprehensible name Boumpasse, and which led to a lot of joke-making in my youth. (Not that the longer version would have been much better.) A bump is a thing. A trump is not. But "Trump" does have a meaning, as do all names. "Clinton" has a meaning, as does "Carson" and "Sanders" and "Christie." And in the spirit of having a day in which hyper-tangential explorations of the world of politics are allowed -- nay, encouraged! -- I decided to figure out what the next president's last name actually means. There's a book called the Dictionary of American Family Names which defines and contextualizes 70,000 common American surnames. It retails for the low, low price of $448, which seemed like it might be a hard expense to justify to The Post. Luckily, the good people at Ancestry.com have a tool which allows you to see what the dictionary says about any surname, for the actually low, low price of $0. Notice as we move through these how fitting some of them are. Which are the most fitting?

We will let you be the judge, so as not to editorialize. Bush Possible national origins: English Meaning: "Bush" is surprisingly straightforward. According to the DAFN, it refers to someone that lived near a bush or thicket. Say, in Crawford, Texas. Carson Possible national origins: Scottish or Irish Meaning: "Carson" is a variant of "Curzon," which refers to inhabitants of Notre-Dame-de-Courson, a town near Normandy in France. That town's name likely derives from the Roman name Curtius. Christie Meaning: A pet name for "Christian." Clinton Possible national origins: Irish or English Meaning: In one English version of the name, "Clinton" is a reference to people who lived in England's Glympton, which itself is named due to its being a town -- -ton -- on the Glym River. The river was named from the Celtic, meaning "bright stream." Cruz Possible national origins: Spanish or Portuguese Meaning: "Cruz" refers either to someone who is from a place called Cruz or La Cruz -- or is taken from the Spanish word for "cross." Graham Possible national origins: Scottish or English Meaning: Have you ever seen the show "Downton Abbey"?

It's a good show (or, at least, has had its good moments). It centers on an expansive British estate at which there are strict social norms and a reliance on maintaining the boundaries of proper manners. If it were in America, it would be set in South Carolina. "Graham," as it turns out, is a name identifying residents of Grantham in Lincolnshire. And Lord Grantham is the main character in "Downton Abbey." As for "Grantham," it's apparently a combination of "homestead" -- -ham -- and either the Old English word for gravel -- grand -- or a reference to the name "Granta," which means "snarler." Making Lindsey Graham actually Lindsey Guy-who-lives-near-a-gravelly-home-or-near-where-the-snarler-lives. Huckabee Possible national origins: English Meaning: A variant on "Huckaby," which refers to someone from Huccaby, which itself is named either for a combination of "crooked" and "river bend" or the Old Norse word for "homestead." O'Malley Possible national origins: Irish Meaning: This one isn't clear.

It may derive from a variety of Celtic words, including ones meaning "prince," "slow," "sedate," or "poet." Take your pick, Governor. Pataki Possible national origins: Hungarian, Slovak or Jewish Meaning: Someone from Patak, or someone that lived near a creek. Paul Possible national origins: English, French, German or Dutch Meaning: This one is a pretty straightforward adaptation from the Biblical Paul, who was known as Saul before his conversion to Christianity. There are other options, like a Spanish version of Paul which comes from the word "marsh" or "lagoon." Rubio Meaning: The dictionary indicates that this likely began as a nickname for a redhead. Sanders Possible national origins: English, Scottish, Dutch and basically anything in Northern Europe Meaning: "Sanders" is a reference to someone whose father's name was "Sander." "Sander" is equally obvious: It's someone that lived on sandy soil. And now we get to the name that prompted the question. Trump Possible national origins: English or German Meaning: An occupational name referring to a trumpeter (in English) or a drummer (in German). Again: We are not going to editorialize.

Incidentally, as I was thinking about writing this article, I got an e-mail from someone. It was from a man who was born with the last name Bump, like mine, but changed it to a version of the pre-truncation name: Bonpasse. He was writing to let me know that he was running for president. politics Robert Crawley | Downton Abbey Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit When James Crawley and his only son Patrick died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic , his heir became his third cousin once removed, Matthew Crawley , a young upper middle-class solicitor from Manchester . Robert is immensely proud of Downton as the place he grew up and takes his responsibility for the estate very seriously. He does regret that the money is entailed, but would not do things differently. As he sees it, the estate needs the money if it is to survive and it is the duty of all who inherit it, to ensure Downton survives, even if the one inheriting it is not of his blood. He does wish that a woman could inherit.

He decides not to break the entailment, because though Mary might get the money, she could not get Downton Abbey and the estate would wither and die. In 1912, he said to his mother that he considers Downton's nurturing of him, and his nurture of the estate, to be like having a third parent and a fourth child. There are references in the series to Robert sitting as a Conservative member of the House of Lords, although this is not shown. Matthew arrives with his mother Isobel, and Robert tries to impress on him the importance of their guardianship of the people of the area and the traditions of the past. He is pleased when it appears that Mary will marry Matthew, so that the land and fortune will remain with his bloodline. Suddenly, Cora is found to be pregnant, and the long hoped for male heir may finally be coming. Unfortunately, Cora suffers a miscarriage, and she and Robert are emotionally crushed. Mary had delayed answering Matthew's proposal, because of the baby, and Matthew withdraws his proposal.

Edit During the First World War Robert is given a commission, but it is honorary and he has no duties, while Cora has turned Downton into a convalescence hospital for soldiers. When William is called up to fight, Robert does his best to keep him out of danger by getting him appointed as Matthew's batman Left with nothing to do and with Cora emotionally distant and busy running the hospital, he begins to find himself attracted to new maid Jane Moorsum , a war widow with a young son. However, they realize that it is wrong and decide not to have an affair. Jane leaves Downton, and Robert arranges for her son Freddie, a clever child, to go to Ripon Grammar School. He also gives Jane the name and address of his man of business, so that he can remain in Freddie's life, be informed about how he is doing, and further help him later on. John Bates has divorced his estranged wife, but is then charged with her murder. Robert has his lawyer defend Bates and even testifies in his defence. This backfires when Robert has to admit on the stand that Bates wished she was dead. Mary has become engaged to Sir Richard Carlisle who doesn't treat her very well.

Cora tells him about the hold Sir Richard has on her, due to the scandal of Kemal Pamuk , the Turkish attache who died in her bed. Mary is told by her father that he forgives her indiscretion, and tells her that she is "not the only Crawley to have made a mistake". When his daughter, Sybil, elopes with the chauffeur, Tom Branson , Robert offers him money to go. However, as neither of them will change their mind, he must grudgingly accept the marriage. John Bates can no longer function as his valet and Henry Lang , a shell-shocked veteran is hired as his valet. Lang proves to be incapable of carrying out his duties and must regretfully be let go. Edit Robert learns from his lawyer George Murray that the investment he made in the Canadian Railway has become worthless, he had lost his own and most of Cora's money, enough to lose Downton. He cannot believe it, and tries to justify his actions. Fortunately, Matthew had been named heir to the estate of Reggie Swire . Robert tells Matthew that he will let him invest in Downton and they will be co-owners of the house and estate.

When his youngest daughter entered labour, Robert and Sir Phillip Tapsell ignored Dr Clarkson 's advice that Sybil was showing signs of having eclampsia, which risked Sybil's life. They disagreed because they believed it would be safer if Sybil and her baby were at Downton and not at a public hospital, which deeply concerned Tom, Cora and rest of the family. Sybil died from eclampsia after giving birth to a daughter. At first Cora blamed Robert for Sybil's death, he himself admitting there was truth in her blame. His son-in-law Tom Branson believed that his daughter , whom he wished to name Sybil, should be baptised Catholic like himself. But Robert disagreed with him, believing that his granddaughter should be baptised a part of the Church of England. He thought the idea of Tom naming his daughter after her mother was "ghoulish" and he said the only way she could move up in life was through her mother's aristocratic blood, indicating he was still upset over his daughter marrying Tom. He was also eager to have Tom leave following Sybil's death, despite Edith's insistence he stay at least until he got back on his feet.

Mary and the rest of the family however supported Tom over baby Sybil's christening. Robert still protested even after Mary revealed Sybil told her before she died she would be happy for her child to be Catholic, but later relented when Mary reminded him they all needed to remember Sybil loved Tom and wanted him to be happy. He was still however opposed to the decision, but when Tom asked him to come to the Christening on account that Sybil loved him and would want him there, he did. Violet also was eager to have Tom stay so baby "Sybbie" could grow up in a better environment than with Tom's brother in a garage, and so encouraged his succession to the position of manager of the estate. Matthew does not wish to interfere with Robert's running of the estate. However, after going through the books, he comes to see that the estate has never been managed as a self sustaining business, when he points this out, Robert is resistant to change the way things are done, and after Cora sides with her sons-in-law, Robert feels devastated, that there is no place for him in this new vision.

Tom later tells him that with their individual skills, investment in improvements, and Robert's sense for tradition and caring for the people of the estate, the estate should be able to be made profitable. Robert did seem to respect Tom more after this speech, saying he was "very eloquent" and a good spokesperson for Matthew's vision. He insisted Tom help out with the cricket team, even though Tom had never played before. Thomas Barrow is discovered by Alfred Nugent kissing a sleeping Jimmy Kent . Thomas, formerly Robert's valet, is threatened with dismissal and possible imprisonment for assault. When Robert learns of it, he not only decides that Thomas will stay, but furthermore promotes him, as he thinks the matter not important enough to ruin Thomas' life (he also did not want to lose the house's best cricket player with a large match coming up). When Alfred subsequently reports Thomas to the police, Robert persuades Alfred to tell them that he was mistaken, being drunk at the time. Edit Robert continues to clash over the running of the estate, especially when Mary comes out of mourning and begins to take on a larger interest and role in that respect.

He actually tries to keep her sheltered rather than bring her out of mourning, unlike his mother, son-in-law, and butler. When a letter Matthew wrote intending to write a will naming Mary as his heiress is revealed, Robert tries to fight the possibilty that it could stand as a will on its own, but loses. His sense of tradition nevertheless earns Mary's and Tom's respect when he places his faith in a local tenant farmer, Tim Drewe , who wants to stay on despite his father's huge debts. He begrudgingly faces progress and change such as when having to sit next to Dame Nellie Melba during dinner when she visits. He avoids Edith's love interest Michael Gregson , convinced Edith could do "a great deal better." But after Gregson gets money back for Lord Grantham that he was swindled out of by Terence Sampson (which he keeps a secret) Robert begins to think better of him, calling him a "decent cove" who behaved in a gentlemanly way, even if he still is not sure Gregson is what he wants for his daughter.

When Edith is consumed by fear and grief after Michael disappears, Robert maintains confidence that Michael is still out there and will be alright. Like Cora, he has no idea that Edith is in fact pregnant with Gregson's child. When his brother-in-law gets involved in the Teapot Dome Scandal, Robert is upset that both Harold and his mother Martha insist he come over for support. He cannot understand why, but he does go, and takes Thomas Barrow with him instead of John Bates after Mary convinces him Bates needs to stay and be with his wife. Robert returns in time for the bazaar, and informs his mother than both their in-laws will be coming over later for Rose's debunate ball. Edit Robert and his family go to their London residence Grantham House for the season and Rose's debunate. Rose approaches him after her presentation before the king and reveals that her new friend, Freda Dudley Ward , mistress to the Prince of Wales , lost a love letter from the prince she left in her handbag. Rose suspects Robert's acquaintance Terence Sampson .

Robert is extremely upset by the prince's scandalous behavior, but because he is a monarchist he wishes to avoid a crisis and contain it, mostly because he feels his own family would be implicated because, as he puts it, "We introduced Sampson to Mrs Dudley Ward and Rose as good as gave him the letter!" To that end, Robert hosts a card game with Tom Branson , Anthony Foyle , Harold Levinson , and Lord Aysgarth while Mary, Rose, and Charles Blake search Sampson's flat courtesy of a forged permission slip (Robert hired his valet Bates to make it). Rosamund meanwhile takes Isobel, Cora, Edith, and Martha to see a play. Unfortunately the letter is not found in the flat, but then Bates reveals it to Lord Grantham, having suspected Sampson might have carried it with him instead and sneaked it out of his coat pocket when helping him put his coat on. Thomas Barrow reveals to Lord Grantham that he saw Tom with Sarah Bunting one night back at Downton while the rest of the family were in London, and implies something improper was going on (mostly out of personal resentment for having to serve a former chauffeur).

Robert questioned Tom in the card game and though did not get far remained suspicious. Edit Robert along with his wife Cora, celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary, then suddenly he becomes suspicious when Lady Anstruther (Jimmy Kent's former employer), visits Downton and gets even more suspicious when Tom has found nothing wrong with her car. When a fire breaks out from Edith's bedroom, Robert goes to Lady Anstruther's bedroom to warn her when suddenly he found her and his footman Jimmy in bed together. The Earl then dismisses Jimmy. Robert and his butler Carson, then discuss about which would be the best place to accommodate a war memorial, Carson says the cricket pitch and Robert says the centre of the village. Carson disagrees with him until they both were moved by a woman's words to her late dead husband veteran and Carson finally accepts. He later added another memorial to Mrs Patmore's nephew as he was to be left off his hometown's because he was shot for cowardice. Robert is initially against having a wireless at Downton but when he hears the king is going to speak on it, he relents.

He also allowed Edith to take an interest in one of the Drewe family's children which is Marigold without knowing that Marigold is in fact Edith's biological daughter (but later realized the truth when he notices Edith's affection for Marigold as well as the girl's resemblance to Michael Gregson; he agreed at Cora's request to remain silent and admitted he believed he would love his new granddaughter). Robert also dislikes Sarah Bunting, Tom Branson's political friend, as she is very rude and that he feels that Sarah is converting Tom back to the man he once was, a political person who was against the English and the aristocrats. He also gets jealous when he finds out Cora has been on a day out with the suave art historian Simon Bricker , as he wanted to surprise her out for dinner at a classy restaurant. When he comes back one night and finds Bricker in her room, he gets into a fight with him and then distances himself from Cora. However, his relationship with Cora mends when she tells him he can stay away if he has never let a flirtation get out of hand himself, reminding him of his affair with Jane Moorsum during the war.

Robert is overcome with grief at the news that his beloved dog Isis is dying from cancer. When Edith "adopts" a child that the Drewe family claims they cannot afford, he is against the idea but consents when Cora insists they should offer the little girl a home. In reality the girl, Marigold , is Edith's illegitimate daughter by her dead lover, Michael Gregson . Edith does not want Robert or Mary to know, but Robert figures out the truth after noting Edith's "obsession" with the child and realizing that a "sense of deja vu" he's been having when he looks at Marigold is because she reminds him of Gregson. But Cora urges him to remain silent when he confirms the truth with her. He is disappointed that Mary has turned down Lord Gillingham, and cannot bear the thought of Tom leaving for Boston, especially because it would mean Sybbie would go too.

Everything Bad That Happens in ‘Downton Abbey’ Is Lord Grantham’s Fault | KQED Pop | KQED Arts Everything Bad That Happens in ‘Downton Abbey’ Is Lord Grantham’s Fault Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) The grandeur, the nuance, the amazing way nothing happens until the final scenes of an episode… In its glory days, I could spend hours describing the delight that is Downton Abbey. Yet anyone who’s watched the show since the beginning can see that it’s a shadow of what it once was. If it wasn’t for the pragmatic wit of the Dowager Countess , the intermittent brashness of Tom and the simmering affection between Carson and Mrs. Hughes, I don’t know if I could have made until the end. So I’ve been contemplating the big question that plagues many great shows that receive high praise at its onset: what went wrong ? Was it the death of beloved characters like Sybil and Matthew ? A tone shift as the characters clumsily dealt with the drastic differences between pre-war frivolity and post-war austerity? Or had it reached its peak in the third season and we’re watching its slow decline into mediocrity?

Or perhaps it’s the problem Downton has been grappling with since the start: over-privileged men, specifically Lord Grantham (a.k.a. Robert Crawley a.k.a. the blustering, bumbling head of the family). At the start, his oblivious follies created dramatic plot points and added tension to the show. Now, despite (and sometimes because of) his intentions to protect the family name, Lord Grantham seems to cause and/or aggravate many of the Abbey’s catastrophes during these, as Lady Mary likes to point out, “changing times.” He epitomizes the dangers of unchecked male privilege . Let’s take a quick look at Lord Grantham’s low points from the past five seasons: – With his terrible money management and lack of good decision-making skills, Lord Grantham basically ran Downton into the ground. He lost his and Cora’s money based on a bad investment decision he made without consulting her. – Feeling ignored by Cora (who was busy running their house-turned-makeshift hospital) and useless during the war, Lord Grantham almost starts an affair with a maid.

– He tries to pay off his son-in-law, Tom Branson, because he is of a lower class. He later owes much of his renewed success to said son-in-law. – When his youngest daughter Sybil was in labor, Robert ignores the doctor’s warning that she was showing signs of preeclampsia and needs to give birth in a hospital. In spite of everyone else’s concern, Robert insists that she remain at home, where she later dies after giving birth. – Out of some combo of paternalism and jealousy, he attempts to prolong Mary’s mourning to keep her from playing a role in running the estate via her husband’s will. In all of these scenarios, Lord Grantham unwittingly finds himself at the center of some disaster. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, the mess is promptly cleaned up by the women in his life (chiefly his put-upon wife and nonplussed mother) and servants. What’s worse, he not only is blind to his part in the problem, he tends to see himself as the victim. Of course, the above only scratches the surface of much deeper and complicated issues.

Whether he’s bemoaning the fate of the estate he couldn’t properly manage or fuming over a lack of respect when someone dares to express an opinion contrary to his conservative views, Grantham makes sure his wounds are visible. This isn’t just some deep character flaw, it’s indicative of a larger theme within the series. When the men, particularly Lord Grantham, go unchecked, bad stuff happens. Born into wealth, Lord Grantham benefits from the dual privilege of manhood and money. Spending most of his life in a world that bends to his will, he has no need to care about how his actions can negatively affect those around him. One can blame the era of Downton, a time when men talked, women listened and servants tried to stay out of the way, for Grantham’s behavior. Although the world of Downton is quite insular, show creator Julian Fellowes ensures that hot-button issues from outside of the Abbey’s walls seep in. Women were seizing opportunities for independence, proving their capabilities extended beyond polite conversation.

Simultaneously, the working class that made estates like Downton possible realized they could have careers outside of the kitchen and began organizing to have their voices heard in the upper echelons of government. We see these glimmers of progressive thinking in the likes of Edith, who now owns a publishing company, Dr. Richard Clarkson, who learns to value the input of feisty Isobel when treating wounded soldiers, and former chauffeur Tom with his socialist leanings. They stand as needed contrasts to Lord Grantham’s antiquated ways, yet Donk’s actions aren’t that different from how many men act today. Just think of manspreading on public transit, insistent and unnecessary mansplaining , and the mere fact that male is the default for human. These are only a few of the subtle reminders that the privilege of being a man is not having to make an effort to see the world from someone else’s perspective. The job titles may be different, the dress less formal, but men in power acting a fool remains the same. There’s no denying that Lord Grantham is a fundamentally decent man who wants what he thinks is best for family and vast estate. But in these changing times, what he thinks isn’t the only thing that matters.

Lord Grantham is learning that the hard way. Show Comments (1) Hide Comments Anon I’m not sure what you’re getting at here. You start by positing that Downton Abbey has gone downhill, and your theory for why it was so good is that Donk had bumbling male privilege that created drama…and the reason why it’s now bad is because Donk has bumbling male privilege that creates drama? And you wrap up with: we have male privilege even now! Are you writing an article examining male privilege, Downton Abbey, what the show does with its privileged characters and how it resonates with current society? Or are you writing an article about how Downton Abbey is not as good a show as it used to be and that decline can be mapped through the character of Donk? For either one, I’d like to see clearer details and conclusion. Author Camira Powell Camira Powell is a Bay Area native (if we give Santa Cruz some love) now living and working a little south of San Francisco. She received a dual BA in Communication and French from Stanford University and she has written about everything from politics to podcsts.

In between naps, she makes time to binge on Netflix, read a good book and eating anything with lots of sugar. Why was Robert Crawley of Downton Abbey called Lord Grantham? How did he receive his title? - Quora Quora Written May 22, 2016 He is the Earl of Grantham (a place in the Midlands) and Viscount Downton. Both are titles in the Peerage of England. People who are peers have a family name and a name based on their title. Whatever rank in the peerage you have, your title is ‘Lord’. Earl is a superior title to Viscount. So he is: The title was passed down from his father, and Violets the Dowager Countesses husband. There doesn't seem to be much more information available than this. 177 Views Why is Downton Abbey called an "abbey" when it's really a mansion and not an abbey at all? Related Questions Alright, then. There’s no respectable reason to have guns for ordinary civilians, at all. Even more than your average guns, the fact that average civilians can buy assault weapons is unbelievably ridiculous.

Make-up takes some real talent and I respect the people who put time and effort into using it, even if I don’t personally like wearing it. There’s nothing wrong with going through a ‘phase,’ no... Written Apr 21, 2016 I change my Quora picture when I change my Facebook profile picture, so typically every 1-5 months. My current one which I've had for a couple months is actually a photo I took during the Super Bowl as I was watching it, with the caption "Me pretending I get football." One that I particularly like was the one I used last year (although I later realized the camera app I used must have flipped it, ... It’s fine for teenagers to have (protected) sex. Modern feminism in the west is the biggest joke after Trump. We should have more physical education periods at schools, even if it is at the expense of ‘educational’ lessons’ periods like maths. “Νους υγιής εν σώματι υγιεί”, ancient greek saying, “healthy mind in healthy body” The prohibition of cannabis is a trespassing of human rights. Legalize all...

So you thought you knew all about Downton Abbey? - Telegraph Christmas So you thought you knew all about Downton Abbey? A Downton special will be one of the highlights of Christmas TV. Our quiz will get you in the mood. Downton at Christmas, from left: Sir Richard Carlisle, Lady Mary, Matthew Crawley and Lady Cora Photo: CARNIVAL FILMS By Iain Hollingshead 1 Which of these people did not die on the Titanic? A. James Crawley, Lord Grantham’s cousin B. Patrick Crawley, James’s son C. Leonardo DiCaprio D. A conveniently disfigured fraudster claiming to be Patrick Crawley – a character believable to no one except Lady Edith and Julian Fellowes Related Articles 2 Which embarrassing previous job does Carson try to hide from his employer? A. Journalist C. Music-hall performer D. Gigolo 3 What job is Mrs Crawley given by Lord Grantham on arriving at Downton, thereby annoying his mother? A. Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator B. Chairman of the National Trust C. Chairman of the local hospital board D.

Church warden 4 What concept does the Dowager Countess profess to find entirely alien? A. The telephone 5 What is the name of Lord Grantham’s dog? 6 Which of these people has Thomas not had a sexual relationship with? A. The Duke of Crowborough B. The Duke of Cambridge C. Miss O’Brien D. Kemal Pamuk 7 How does Miss O’Brien punish Lady Cora when she mistakenly thinks she is going to replace her with a new lady’s maid? A. She subtly finds out whether there is any truth in the rumour – and discounts it B. She asks Mrs Patmore to poison her soup C. She has an affair with Lord Grantham D. She leaves a bar of soap on the bathroom floor for a pregnant Lady Cora to slip on 8 What is Miss O’Brien’s motivation for the rest of her evil scheming? A. Money B. She wants to be head chef C. She lost her husband in the Boer War D. I’m not sure 9 Why does Lord Grantham send Mrs Patmore to London? A. To learn how to make an American hamburger B. To spy on Mr Bates C. To have cataract surgery D.

To see if she can get flour cheaper on the black market 10 Which of these anachronisms have viewers not claimed to have spotted in the programme? A. The use of the word “boyfriend” B. A television aerial E. An iPhone F. The phrase “professional woman” G. A huntsman astride a coloured hob, which would have only been ridden by a gipsy at the time H. Rubber stirrups I. Referring to a visiting Ottoman diplomat by his surname 11 What did Julian Fellowes call people who try to pick holes in the programme? A. Pedants C. More suited to watching Spooks D. Insecure socially 12 According to Julian Fellowes, what is the appeal of Downton Abbey for “really posh people”? A. It makes them think it’s OK to have servants B. The clothes C. It “speaks to them more than The Only Way is Essex” D. The chance to watch something on television that “isn’t about a dead prostitute in a dustbin” 13 To what did one unimpressed critic attribute the success of Downton Abbey? A.

The fact that everyone imagines themselves to have been “upstairs” when most of us would actually have been “downstairs” B. The incredible acting of the person who plays Lady Sybil C. Mr Bates’s bottom D. The fact that it was on after The X Factor, and that depressed Sunday night viewers couldn’t be bothered to turn off the television 14 What was the name of the man in the Aviva advertisements who suffered a motorcycle accident and lost his job, sparking complaints from viewers that their downbeat nature was a poor fit with the period drama? 15 Which of these people involved with Lady Mary have not (yet) died? A. Patrick Crawley C. Lavinia Swire D. Sir Richard Carlisle 16 To whom does Lady Edith write after discovering the truth about her sister’s affair with Kemal Pamuk? A. The Turkish Ambassador B. The editor of The Sunday Telegraph C. Heat magazine 17 How does Lady Mary exact her revenge on Lady Edith? A. She puts itching powder in her bed B. She tells Anna, the housemaid, to give her a tighter corset C. She tells a prospective suitor that Lady Edith finds him old and boring D.

She tells Carson, the chauffeur, that Lady Edith fancies him 18 “How many times am I to be ordered to marry the man sitting next to me at dinner?” What does Lady Cora say in response to Mary’s plea? A. As many times as it takes B. Three more times C. Until you accept one of them D. Until ITV gives up commissioning more series and you finally marry Matthew 19 What does Matthew romantically call Lady Mary? A. His one true love B. A useful back-up now that Lavinia’s dead C. His first choice before Lady Cora got pregnant D. His stick 20 What does Mrs Hughes call Lady Mary? 21 What first attracts Daisy to Thomas? A. His skills on the black market B. The way he smokes and schemes incessantly with O’Brien C. His lovely teeth D. His chances of surviving the war 22 What does Lord Grantham “desire with every fibre of my being”? A. The chance to wear his uniform somewhere that isn’t the study B. A nice cup of tea C. For Matthew to marry Mary D.

A snog with a housemaid 23 “The unnecessary image of a pale, post-coital Mr Bates is burnt irrevocably onto my retinas.” Where does the scene described by Telegraph television critic Ceri Radford take place? A. Downstairs, against the stairs B. On Lord Grantham’s desk C. Please, please stop reminding me of this scene D. Upstairs, in a bed made up for them by Lady Mary 24 The saintly Mr Bates is twice accused of stealing. What was he supposed to have stolen and who were the real culprits? 25 On the outbreak of war, what keepsake does Lady Mary persuade Matthew Crawley to take to the front? A. A lock of her hair B. A stuffed rabbit C. A blade of grass from Downton’s lawns D. A newspaper clipping announcing his engagement to Lavinia 26 Lady Sybil asks Mrs Patmore to teach her how to cook so that she can be more helpful for the war effort. What is her first lesson? 27How does the Dowager Countess contribute to the war effort? A. She mans the telephone exchange B. She takes fencing lessons C. She gets up a little earlier D.

She fights with Mrs Crawley 28 What song is Lady Mary singing when Matthew Crawley returns unexpectedly from the front the first time? A. Send me away with a smile B. Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag C. If you were the only girl in the world D. Mr Boombastic 29 To what is Matthew referring when he says to Bates: “I’ll tell you if I feel it again”? 30 Give two euphemisms in the dialogue for the dangers to Matthew’s loins. 31 What reason does O’Brien give Daisy when she asks why Lord Grantham’s morning newspaper has to be ironed? A. To impress Sir Richard Carlisle B. So he can read the story about his eldest daughter’s affair more clearly C. So that the ink isn’t wet D. To keep up standards, even though there is a war on 32 Name three of Branson’s interests 33 Where is Mrs Hughes reunited with a former suitor? QUOTE UNQUOTE Fill in the blanks: 34 “I can claim no career beyond the nurture of this house and this estate.

It is my ---- ---- and my ---- ----.” (Lord Grantham) 35 “I hope it is not ---- of me to suggest you find some way to overcome your ----.” (Dowager Countess to local vicar when he refuses to marry William and Daisy) 36 “I wish she were the ---- Mrs ----.” (Mr Bates) 37 “Women like me don’t have a life. We choose clothes and pay calls and work for charity and do the Season. But really we’re stuck in a waiting room until we ----” (Mary) 38 “I don’t know why we bother with ----. Men don’t wear them and they look perfectly normal.” (Sybil) 39 “The war is reaching its long fingers into Downton and scattering our ----.” (Lord Grantham) 40 “We’ve ----ed a ---- my dear, but now it’s over. The world was in a ---- before the war but now it’s ---- up and said goodbye to it.

And so must we.” (Lord Grantham) 41 “It’s like living in a second-rate ----, where the ---- keep arriving and no one seems to leave.” (The Dowager Countess) 42 “Don’t be defeatist, it’s very ----.” (The Dowager Countess) -------------------------------------- THE ANSWERS 1. D 2. C 3. C 4. D 5. He has two. In the first series he is called Pharaoh; in the second she is called Isis. The dog who played Pharaoh didn’t get on with the resident Labrador at Highclere Castle, where the series is filmed, and was replaced. 6. C 7. D 8. D, And I’m not sure Fellowes is either 9. C 10. E 11. D 12. D 13. D 14. Gary. One viewer said that the adverts were so regular that it was like “watching a 90 minute Aviva advert with a few seconds of Downton Abbey squeezed in between”. 15. D 16. A 17. C 18. A 19.

D 20. “An uppity minx and the author of her own misfortune.” 21. C 22. D 23. D 24. 1) His regimental silver, although it turns out he was covering for his first wife; 2) One of Lord Grantham’s antique snuffboxes, although he was framed by Thomas 25. B 26. How to make a cup of tea 27. C and D 28. C 29. A twinge in his legs, presumably – although Twitter users had a great deal of fun suggesting the twinge in question was felt somewhere else. 30. We can never properly be married” (Matthew to Lavinia) Grantham: “You mean there can be no children?” Doctor: “No… anything, I’m afraid.” 31. C 32. Any of: Lady Sybil, women’s rights, driving, tedious lectures on Irish and Bolshevik politics, “the gap between the aristocracy and the poor”. 33. At a travelling fair in the village 34. “I can claim no career beyond the nurture of this house and this estate.

It is my third parent and my fourth child.” (Lord Grantham) 35. “I hope it is not vulgar of me to suggest you find some way to overcome your scruples.” (Dowager Countess to local vicar when he refuses to marry William and Daisy) 36. “I wish she were the late Mrs Bates.” (Mr Bates gives a rather heavy plot hint) 37. “Women like me don’t have a life. We choose clothes and pay calls and work for charity and do the Season. But really we’re stuck in a waiting room until we marry.” (Mary) 38. “I don’t know why we bother with corsets. Men don’t wear them and they look perfectly normal.” (Sybil) 39. “The war is reaching its long fingers into Downton and scattering our chicks.” (Lord Grantham) 40. We’ve dreamed a dream, my dear, but now it’s over. The world was in a dream before the war but now it’s woken up and said goodbye to it. And so must we.” (Lord Grantham) 41.

“It’s like living in a second-rate hotel, where the guests keep arriving and no one seems to leave.” (The Dowager Countess) 42. “Don’t be defeatist, it’s very middle class.” (The Dowager Countess) Titles on Downton Abbey explained – Royal Central She was Diana Spencer Princess of Wales. Natasha Oops! I have asked for all seasons of Downton Abbey for Christmas, but I have seen the second season, where there were THREE daughters of Lord and Lady Grantham. Did we lose one along the way? Natasha Oops! I have asked for all seasons of Downton Abbey for Christmas, but I have seen the second season, where there were THREE daughters of Lord and Lady Grantham. Did we lose one along the way? Royal Central It’s in series 3, I won’t ruin it for you. Kevin Have we ever heard Lady Grantham refer to the Dowager by any name? Does Cora call her mother in law “Violet?” And what is Thomas calling all is in-laws these days? Karen119 Thomas is the footman. Tom is the Grantham’s son in law, Lady Sibyl’s widower.

I think he still addresses them by their formal names but I intend to pay particular attention from now on. Karen119 Cora refers to Violet as Mama pronounced in the English manner. Royal Central It’s in series 3, I won’t ruin it for you. sipapu YES! Jenny I would like an explanation of the names used for the servants both at Downton and in Scotland. James Dean James R J Bogart I don’t know any of this for certain but this is what I believe to be the case. The family refer to the housekeeper and cook as Mrs and their family name regardless if they were ever married or not. I don’t know why this is so but it is the tradition. For the most part, any of the staff that the family has routine contact with such as the butler, valet, footmen, chauffeur and lady’s maids are called by their family name only. No Mr/Mrs or Miss. The lower ranking staff usually have minimum contact with the family on a regular basis and are often supposed to keep out of the family’s eyesight. The family would call them by their first name if it were known to them or perhaps nothing at all.

The staff among themselves follow a hierarchy depending on their position in the household and their personal relationship with each other. In the case of Downton Abbey, the butler, housekeeper and Cook are Mr and Mrs accordingly and are called by all staff as such as well as among themselves. The junior staff are called by their first names by all. The more senior staff are referred to as Mr/Miss or Mrs and sometimes by their first names if there is a more personal relationship between them. There doesn’t always appear to be a firm rule among this group except in the way they address the butler, housekeeper and cook and vice versa. When Tom Branson was the chauffeur the family called him Branson. They then called him Tom when he became part of the family although the dowager did so reluctantly. When he became the estate agent he was an employee again and she said they could call him Branson again. I don’t remember Anna’s position prior to her being a lady’s maid but she was known to the family and staff as Anna and they appeared to wish to continue to call her Anna after she became a lady’s maid if there was not any objection.

I am not sure how common it was for a married woman to be in service and if the fact of being married had any impact on how they were addressed. James Dean Good point, I’ve highlighted your comment so everyone can see 🙂 Jennifer Hello, Excuse me, I know this isn’t relevant to Downtown Abbey, but hypothetically, if one was to buy the title ‘Lord and Lady of the Manor of…’ and this person had four daughters, what would their daughters be called? Or would only one daughter inherit the title? Royal Central The family of a Lord of the Manor have no courtesy titles, so their daughters would remain ‘as is’ – a Lordship of the Manor can be left to anyone and is transferred just like any other type of property and can be left in a will. Hope this helps. also to be noted a Lord of the Manor is not a peer Angie Why is the family’s last name Crawley if that is Lord Grantham’s mother’s last name? Was it tradition back then to use the women’s last name? I understand that they are called Lord and Lady Grantham, I just don’t understand why they go by Violet’s last name. Also, you only mention two daughters. What about Sybil?

Royal Central Crawley is the family’s surname, Grantham is their title. Peers typically use their title as a surname when they need one though legally their surname would remain as their family name. Guest Sadly, Sybil died giving birth to their daughter. escapedfromny “Grantham” would likely have been the name of an estate or county or shire or some other territory given to some man named “Crawley” a few hundred years earlier. If it is Earl of (name) (Earl of Avon, Earl of Oxford) it is almost always a place. If it is Earl (name) (Earl Attlee, Earl Jellicoe) then it is the last name of the person granted the title. Eunice Please read the entire article to find the the answer to your question. You must not have watched the entire series thus far, or you would know why Sybil was not mentioned. Continue to watch and you will find out. neuralwarp A peer may be addressed as My Lord or Your Lordship or Sir. A peeress may be addressed as Your Ladyship or Madam.

My Lady is *never* correct, although unfortunately the courts of justice seem to require it when addressing a female judge of senior rank. Ryan Attard A courtesy title doesn’t mean the holder is a peer. The Earl of Grantham is a peer and the eldest son of the Earl of Grantham would be styled Viscount Downton, however the Viscount Downton wouldn’t be a peer as he is using the title by right of his father, who actually is the title holder. John Baker At risk of being labelled a pedant, I would say that Downton Abbey is not set in the “early 1900s”, but in the early twentieth century, as the early 1900s would take us to 1905, and the current series is set in the early 1920s. Sabir Samee I like british title system. I studied in the UK. However I do not feel easy with the title lord because the word lord is associated with the All mighty God. However I like the titles of earl countess baron baroness sir lady. I am a Canadian and I wish Canada will re-introduce some of the titles.

escapedfromny What is the grandson called? He is the son of the late heir, Matthew Crawley, distant cousin to Lord Grantham, and Lady Mary. Would he be Viscount Downton? NancyM On a related note, is there any change to Lady Mary’s address due to her being the widow of the late heir (Matthew Crawley) or the mother of the current heir? Lynda Steele Lady Mary retained her married name Lady Mary Crawley, until she remarries at which point she takes her new husbands title or name Lynda Steele The title may only be passed to an heir apparent, thus a son of the current Earl, as it is always possible for heir apparent to be born to the earl even up to 9 months after his death the heir presumptive would never be given the title. Kassie I still don’t understand where the name Grantham comes from. Theos Well, the county’s name is Grantham so, obviously, the Robert is Lord of Grantham. Theos *Robert is the… sorry for the mistake.

Haleyc I also wondered this as I live in a town called grantham where Margret thatcher was born and wondered if there was a connection with the town Lynda Steele Titles do not necessarily have any connection to the location of the owner of a title. Kathy Webb My understanding is that the family name is Grantham and that Lady Mary married Matthew Crawley. Please clarify. Pitt90 Your understanding is incorrect. The family name is Crawley, and Matthew was the earl’s third cousin, and had the same surname. The title is Grantham, not the family name. Elaine Goodison Does anyone know the name of Lady Violet’s late husband? Johannes Patrick. Kathy Marr Being American, I fear I have a rather limited understanding of the British system regarding the bestowing of titles. Robert Crawley is an Earl, his wife is a Countess, and his mother is the Dowager Countess. Should something happen to Robert, the title would pass to George making Cora the Dowager Countess. Can there be two people holding that title simultaneously? And what about Mary? She will never hold the title of Countess of Grantham, so what would her title be?

Luke Monarch Anderson There can be an unlimited number of dowagers. In which case, they would be identified by their order. Robert is the 7th Earl of Grantham, making Cora the 7th Countess of Grantham, assuming of course that there has never been a divorce or death which has resulted in a remarriage. So George’s wife would be known as the Countess of Grantham, and both Cora and Violet would be known as the dowager, unless they had to be identified apart in which case it they’d be known as Cora Crawley, 7th Countess of Grantham and Violet Crawley, 6th Countess of Grantham. Lady Mary will always be the daughter of an Earl so she will always be known as the Lady Mary Crawley, unless she remarried, in which case she’d assume her husband’s styles and titles. Lynda Steele Mary will not have a title unless she marries a person of title. As she married two gentlemen with no title she was Lady Mary Crawley and Lady Mary Talbot.

If she had remained married to Matthew and he had seceded Robert she would at that point have become a countess, but as Matthew is dead that can not happen. The only way she would gain a title is if a title is bestowed on Henry by the monarch or if she marries a person of title in later life such as has happened to Isobelle Crawley, now Lady Merton. Ab Ovo Easily put, a Countess of Grantham when a widow assumes the title of dowager immediately she becomes a widow. The Dowager Countess of Grantham. This is Our Violet. The present Countess of Grantham is Our Cora, wife to Robert. Pretend a different storyline, in which Robert has an heir, a married son. If Robert had a second title, the son would be known as Viscount Downton. Robert dies. Violet remains the Dowager Countess of Grantham. But Cora is now a dowager (widow of a peer) too, so the usual manner is to now call her Cora, Countess of Grantham. The son moves up to the earldom, his wife becomes the Countess of Grantham.

So let’s call her Anne. She is the Countess of Grantham. Her mother-in-law is called Cora, Countess of Grantham. Her grandmother-in-law is still called the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Three generations easily distinguished. When Violet dies, custom dictates Cora then becomes known as the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Peers divorce. Sometimes the ex-wife wants to hold onto a title, but cannot. The present wife of a peer is, say, the Duchess of York. The ex-wife must now be referred to as Sarah, Duchess of York. So she is styled, for she is not a Duchess, taking her title from her husband. Margaret Sweeney married the Duke of Argyll. Read up on all the merriment there. They divorced. Only the Duke’s present wife could be known as the Duchess of Argyll. So the divorced Margaret had to settle for being styled Margaret, Duchess of Argyll. It was the same thing when Charles and Diana divorced. Only his present wife is the Princess of Wales. Ex-wife Dana is now styled Diana, Princess of Wales. It is a style only, not a title or an ennoblement.

She is not a Princess. But say Princess Di and everyone knows who you’re talking about. Newspapers don’t care much for proper style today. Back to the Crawleys, but remember they aren’t real. It is television fiction. The family name is Crawley. Like the family name for the very-real premier duke of England, the Duke of Norfolk, is Fitzalan-Howard. The family name of the Duke of Rutland is Manners. As our fictional Downton storyline goes, Robert is the 7th Earl and finds himself without heir. One is found, a distant male-cousin, a descendant of the 3rd Earl, coincidentally with the same surname. He conveniently falls in love with Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Robert, and their boy child George now is heir perceptive to the seat and title. Neat. As his father had no title, only was heir, even if Robert had a second title, which he does not, George wouldn’t have it. But when George inherits, it would be proper to call him Lord Grantham. George’s mother, now Lady Mary, does not hold a title.

Unless she marries a peer, and has that title, could become a Duchess or Countess, but can never be Dowager Countess of Grantham. But in time her son’s wife could be. P.S. One cannot buy a title. Oh, some Scottish Lords of the Manor “title” get up for sale via the Internet, but don’t count on anyone feeling them real. Maybe you get acreage, but no title as a peer. You cannot buy a title and become an English Marquess or Earl, etc. It just isn’t done. Peerages are created by the British monarch, like all Crown honors, being affirmed by Letters Patent affixed with the Great Seal of the Realm. HM The Queen isn’t making pin money by selling titles. Kate If Robert had two sons, let’s just say he named them Thomas and William. If William is the youngest, would his title be The Honourable Lord William? Lynda Steele The second and subsequent sons are styled The Honourable William. Such a tile does not make the person is a Lord nor would he be styled as such. WhereIsTony If Lord Grantham were to die, George would be the Earl of grantham.

Cora would also become a dowager countess, but would Mary? Because Matthew predeceased Robert, Mary was never actually the Countess, but her son would be the earl, so what title does that leave her? Lynda Steele Mary will only gain a title if she marries a person with a title. As she has married untitled Mr Henry Talbot she is Lady Mary Talbot Eric Cable OK, so if Robert Crawley, Seventh Earl of Grantham, had a son he would the the Viscount Downton. What about young George? He is the heir apparent, but not because he is Robert’s grandson, but because he is the heir of the Third Earl as Robert had no sons of his own. So would George just be “Mister” like his father Matthew? Also, at what age do they stop calling George “Master George” and start calling him “Mister”? Lynda Steele George has the surname Crawley, from his father.

His father has no title therefore George will, on reaching his majority (18 years of age), become Mister Crawley; unless he has already inherited his grandfather’s title by that age Laura Deagler Geogre is the Earl of Granthams heir presumtive he has a title. Since It’s never states the ages of Robert and Cora I assume that Cora is no longer able to have children but like a son if they had on George is Vicount Dowton. Lydia Long I couldn’t read past ~ who’s name is Robert Crawley~ Lynda Steele click on see more Kathy L You said the son of Lord Grantham would have been called “Lord Downtown”, why was this not the case for Robert when his own father was the Lord Gratham? Or did he give up “Lord Downtown to become “Lord Gratham” when his father died? Edward Bourke When Lord Grantham inherited the title Earl of Grantham, the title Viscount Downton, became his subsidiary title. A peer only ever uses their most senior title. F. What will the title of the daughter of Sybil and Branson be called when she grows up? JSH Nothing. She is just a plain miss.

Titles cannot be passed through the mother – only through the father. Unless, the mother is the monarch, of course. John_Twiss IN some cases there are indeed titles that pass through the maternal line – such is the case of Mountbatten of Burma – Louis Mountbatten having no sons, his eldest daughter is recognized as Countess Mountbatten of Burma in the letters patent. Another case is that some of the Scottish Earldoms, such as the Earldom of Newburgh. Charlotte Maria Livingston, Third Countess of Newburgh having inherited the title in her own right and passing it to her son, James Bartholomew Radclyffe (son of her husband the titular 5th Earl of Derwentwater.) The title is still claimed by his heirs through their maternal line in Italy. Randy Scott Another old custom, often written into the father’s will – when a daughter inherits estate & titles with no surviving brothers, and then marries. The new husband is required to take the family name in order to receive his father-in-law’s title. Thus we get hyphenated names such as Palmer-Douglass who married the only surviving niece of the Douglass family when there were no male heirs.

Is ITV about to kill off Lord Grantham's dog... because it goes by the unfortunate name of Isis? | Daily Mail Online Is ITV about to kill off Lord Grantham's dog... because it goes by the unfortunate name of Isis? Labrador named after Egyptian goddess long before Middle East militants But recently her name began raising eyebrows with Downton Abbey fans In tonight's show Earl and Countess of Grantham hint at possible demise 'She's terribly listless. I don't know that she hasn't picked up a germ' comments Naming Downton Abbey's beloved Labrador after the goddess Isis seemed like a good idea at the time. But there are claims the pet could be on her way out - after she was dogged by comparisons to the brutal wave of Islamist violence of the same name. Tonight's episode raises questions for the first time over Isis' health as she approaches a grand old age of between eight and ten, or 56 to 70 in dog years. Are the dog days over?

The Earl of Grantham's dog Isis (above) appears unwell in tonight's episode of Downton Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham, is seen looking at a morose-looking pet splayed on the ground and remarks: 'She’s terribly listless. I don’t know that she hasn’t picked up a germ.' Lady Mary Crawley adds: 'She’ll have eaten a dead squirrel or something equally foul'. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Hugh Bonneville's Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, then chimes in and says he will have the pet looked at by a vet. To most it would seem like an innocuous point of conversation. Critics and devoted fans, of course, know the ITV drama's writers seldom raise a topic for no reason. Isis made her first appearance in the period drama in its second series in 2011, replacing the earl's previous pet Pharaoh.

Famous rear: The Labrador's predecessor Pharaoh makes a star appearance in the show's opening credits As the first series tailed off in 1914 and the second began in 1916, Isis - now appearing in 1924 - is likely to be between eight and ten years old, hardly immune to the ills of old age. The yellow Labrador was named after the Egyptian goddess Isis, whose name means 'throne' and became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. But the name prompted grim comparisons after the rise of militants branding themselves Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - also known as IS and ISIL. One Downton fan account, Lady Mary's Eyebrows, tweeted: 'Is there a TV dog more unfortunately named than Downton's Isis?' Jasper Goodheart said: 'You're gonna have to somehow change the name of the dog, Downton .

Not sure Isis is currently a world favorite.' Faithful companion: Isis has been with a Crawleys for a decade after the demise of her predecessor Pharaoh (left), but in tonight's episode Cora the Countess of Grantham (right) remarks on her possible ill health Daily Mail feature writer Guy Adams chimed in: 'I fear that recent events in the Middle East have rendered the name of Lord Grantham's dog Isis deeply inappropriate.' ITV has insisted the whole issue is a coincidence, adding that most of the current series was filmed before fans began pointing out the similarity in names. The broadcaster does not comment on future plot twists, but a spokesman said: 'Isis has been the Crawley's family pet since Series 2 (2011) and was named after the Egyptian Goddess. 'Series 1 saw the family pet Pharaoh, with the same themed name. 'At the time the dog was named and up to and including the majority of filming of Series 5, no one was using that acronym to describe a terror group. It is an unfortunate coincidence.’ Many things other than the dog are named after the Egyptian goddess - including a U.S.

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Question: What is the name of Lord Grantham's estate?
Answer: Downton Abbey