Dame Maggie Smith had been among a few privileged individuals chosen to visit the Queen and Prince Philip for a ‘dine and sleep’ event at Windsor Castle last Monday evening.
The ‘Downton Abbey’ star visited Queen Elizabeth’s residence in Berkshire for the special event where guests are invited to dine together and stay for the night. The occasion took place during Easter Court, a yearly event with which the Queen stays at Windsor Castle for one month between March and April.
Aside from the ‘dine and sleep’ event, Her Majesty also holds special inauguration ceremonies during such month at the castle.
Dame Maggie had been among roughly 20 guests, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prince Andrew and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney. In past events, celebrities such as James Bond actor Daniel Craig and wife Rachel Weisz as well as former couple Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had been part of the guest list.
The former ‘Harry Potter’ actress has had previous experience with the British royals; the 80-year-old actress underwent an investiture in 1990 wherein she was made a Dame.
She was also made a Companion for the Order of the Companions of Honour, which recognizes Dame Maggie’s services to drama during the Queen’s birthday celebration in 2014. The medal is offered to men and women whose services are acknowledged for their national importance. It is also an honorable title given to only 65 individuals who are not members of the royal family.
The royals have been known to be fans of ‘Downton Abbey’ wherein Dame Maggie portrays the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Recently, the Duchess of Cambridge went on a tour of the set; Sophie Wessex also took Angelica Rivera, the First Lady of Mexico, to meet the period drama cast one week prior to Kate Middleton’s visit.
Currently, Dame Maggie is filming the sixth and final season of ‘Downton Abbey’, which she believes has greatly affected her daily routine owing to the level of fame she has attained through the ITV drama.
"One isn't safe after doing Downton," she told The Sunday Times. "What's sad is I've gone through my whole life without any of that. I could go round galleries and things on my own and I just can't do it now. If someone decides to get at you, you can't get away."
