Here's where all the major 'Downton Abbey' characters ended up ahead of 'A New Era'

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Claudia WillenMay 28, 2022, 01:15 IST
Here's where all the major 'Downton Abbey' characters ended up ahead of 'A New Era'

"Downton Abbey: A New Era" just premiered.Ben Blackall/Focus Features

  • The characters from Julian Fellowes' series returned for a second film, "Downton Abbey: A New Era."
  • All of the main cast members signed on, including Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville
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The "Downton Abbey" characters last appeared in the 2019 film.

The "Downton Abbey" characters last appeared in the 2019 film.
Elizabeth McGovern stars as Cora Grantham and Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith.Ben Blackall/2022 Focus Features LLC

"Downton Abbey," Julian Fellowes' six-season series about the Yorkshire estate's bustling upstairs-downstairs ecosystem, aired in the UK from 2010 to 2015 and in the US from 2011 to 2016.

Four years after the finale, the beloved characters returned in a movie of the same name. Set in 1927, the film centered on King George and Queen Mary's official visit to Downton Abbey.

But the story isn't finished yet.

The aristocratic Crawleys and their loyal household staff came together again in a sequel titled "Downton Abbey: A New Era," which premiered this month.

Before watching the new film, here's where the main "Downton Abbey" characters ended up in 2019.

Violet Crawley was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

Violet Crawley was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Dowager Grantham in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

At the end of the 2019 film, Violet (Maggie Smith) tells her eldest granddaughter Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) that she's been diagnosed with a serious illness. Because of the worsening disease, her days are numbered.

"I have lived a privileged and an interesting life. And now, it's time to go," she tells Mary, adding, "You are the future of Downton."

The Dowager Countess of Grantham said she planned to continue her lifestyle at the estate.

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Robert Crawley remained at Downton Abbey.

Robert Crawley remained at Downton Abbey.
Robert Crawley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Robert (Hugh Bonneville) played host to King George and Queen Mary during their visit to Downton Abbey.

He closed out the festivities with an evening ball, where he danced with his wife, Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern).

"I do love our adventures," she tells him, to which Robert responds, "But isn't it fun when they're over?"

After the royals depart, Robert remains right where he started: in Downton Abbey's halls.

Cora Crawley ends the movie by Robert's side as the lady of the house.

Cora Crawley ends the movie by Robert's side as the lady of the house.
Cora Crawley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Cora, the Countess of Grantham, welcomed the king and queen into her home with open arms. Aside from the honor that the royal visit brought Downton Abbey, it also served as an excuse for Cora to gather her entire family at the estate once again.

Though both of her daughters are now happily married with families of their own, Lady Grantham still takes care of them when she can.

When Edith Crawley (Laura Carmichael) learns that her husband, Herbert "Bertie" Pelham (Harry Hadden-Paton), is going to be out of the country when she gives birth, Cora swooped in to help her daughter.

She informs Edith that she has taken care of the debacle by going straight to the queen herself and explaining the situation.

At the end of the movie, Cora stays at Downton Abbey with Robert and the rest of the Crawley family.

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Mary dispelled her doubts about Downton Abbey's future and committed to managing the estate alongside her father.

Mary dispelled her doubts about Downton Abbey's future and committed to managing the estate alongside her father.
Mary Crawley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Mary is one of the co-owners of Downton Abbey — thanks to her late husband Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), who wrote her into his will before dying in a car crash.

After years of working alongside her father to manage the estate, the eldest Crawley daughter raised concerns about how it fits into an increasingly modernized world. The staff is leaving. The finances are tight. The damaged roof is expensive to repair.

"Are we right to keep it all going when the world it was built for is fading with every day that passes?" she eventually asks Violet, who counters her by saying that Downton Abbey will always be part of their family.

Shortly after, Mary asked her husband, Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode), if he's ever considered leaving it all behind.

"Leave Downton? I think we're stuck with it. Aren't we?" he asks her, to which she responds, "Yes. Yes, I believe we are."

At the end of the film, Mary stays at Downton Abbey with Henry, George Crawley (her and Matthew's son), and Caroline Talbot (her and Henry's daughter).

Henry Talbot opened an automobile shop with Branson.

Henry Talbot opened an automobile shop with Branson.
Henry Talbot in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

After retiring from race car driving, Talbot opened an automobile shop with Branson.

He's still living at Downton Abbey with Mary, George, and Caroline.

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Edith was pregnant with her second child.

Edith was pregnant with her second child.
Edith Crawley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

In the film, Edith and her husband Bertie, the Marquess of Hexham, are expecting their first child together.

Edith used to run a London magazine, and she has trouble adjusting to her new role as the high-ranking Marchioness of Hexham.

She tells her husband that she attends "committees that I haven't chosen because they've chosen me" and "used to have a job that I loved, but not anymore." More than anything, she says she wants to "own" her own life.

Adding to Edith's frustration, Bertie is scheduled to be out of the country on a royal tour when she gives birth.

The issue is resolved after Cora explains the situation to the queen, who permits Bertie to stay in England for the child's birth.

Of course, this is Edith's second child. Her first daughter, Marigold, was born out of wedlock with her late former boss Michael Gregson (Charles Edwards).

Bertie got out of the royal tour in order to be with Edith for the birth of their first child.

Bertie got out of the royal tour in order to be with Edith for the birth of their first child.
Bertie in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

The king invites Bertie to join the Prince of Wales on a three-month tour through Africa, deeming the Marquess of Hexham a "steadying influence" for the royal. But going on the trip would mean missing the birth of his and Edith's first child.

Bertie struggles to balance his duty to the crown with his marriage. He attempts to explain the situation to the king, who doesn't quite understand his desire to stay home with Edith.

After Cora talked to the queen, Bertie stayed in England with his wife and remained in the king's good graces.

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Tom Branson found love again with Lucy Smith.

Tom Branson found love again with Lucy Smith.
Tom Branson in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Branson (Allen Leech) has been on his own since his wife Lady Sybil Crawley's death on season three, raising their daughter Sybbie as a single father.

But in the film, the former chauffeur strikes up a new romance with Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton), Maud Bagshaw's maid who's secretly her daughter.

They agree to write to each other, but their relationship was left open-ended at the end of the film.

The Crawleys approved of the match. Not only do they want Tom to be happy, but they also know that Lucy will inherit the impressive Brompton Estate from Maud.

For the time being, Branson remains in Yorkshire with Sybbie and the Crawleys and works in the automobile shop that he and Henry run together.

Maud Bagshaw elevated Lucy from maid to companion after coming clean to Violet about their connection.

Maud Bagshaw elevated Lucy from maid to companion after coming clean to Violet about their connection.
Maud in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Maud (Imelda Staunton), a lady in waiting to the queen and a distant Crawley relative, accompanied the royals during their visit to Downton Abbey.

She spent much of the time dodging Violet, who was furious that she named Lucy, not Robert, her heir.

Eventually, Maud comes clean about her ties to Lucy. After her husband died in war, Maud fell in love with his army servant, Jack Smith, and had Lucy out of wedlock. Jack died six years later, and Maud "hid her in plain sight" by hiring the young girl as her maid.

She told Lucy the truth on her 18th birthday and named her the heir to Brompton Estate.

At the end of the film, Maud made amends with Violet and decided to make Lucy her companion instead of her maid.

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Lucy became Maud's companion and formed a romance with Branson.

Lucy became Maud's companion and formed a romance with Branson.
Lucy Smith in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Lucy walked away from the royal visit to Downton Abbey in a much better place than when she arrived.

Not only was she promoted from Maud's maid to her companion, but she also found romance with Branson.

Isobel Crawley was still close with Violet and happily married to Richard Grey.

Isobel Crawley was still close with Violet and happily married to Richard Grey.
Isobel Crawley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

For much of "Downton Abbey," Isobel (Penelope Wilton) was busy trying to dissuade Violet from confronting Maud about her refusal to name Robert as her heir.

When she gets Maud alone, Isobel learns that Lucy is secretly her daughter and encourages her to tell Violet the truth.

Outside of Isobel's close relationship with Violet, she's happily married to Richard Grey, Baron Merton.

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Mr. Charles Carson is retired and lives in a nearby cottage with Mrs. Hughes.

Mr. Charles Carson is retired and lives in a nearby cottage with Mrs. Hughes.
Mr. Carson in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Carson (Jim Carter) briefly stepped out of retirement to serve as the Downton Abbey butler during the royal visit.

After making sure that everything ran smoothly (and turning a blind eye to the staff's coup against the royal servants), Carson went back to his quiet life in the cottage with his wife, Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan).

Mrs. Hughes still works as Downton Abbey's head housekeeper.

Mrs. Hughes still works as Downton Abbey's head housekeeper.
Mrs. Hughes in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Mrs. Hughes stood up to the royals' visiting housekeeper during the royal visit, proving that she is not to be messed with.

Outside of work, she lives with her husband, Mr. Carson, in a nearby cottage.

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Mr. John Bates held on to his post as Robert's trusted valet.

Mr. John Bates held on to his post as Robert's trusted valet.
Mr. Bates in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Bates (Brendan Coyle) is Robert's trusted valet, who helped the Downton Abbey staff overthrow the royal servants during the king and queen's visit.

He and his wife, Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt), have a young son named Johnny Bates, who spends the day at the Downton Abbey nursery while his parents work at the estate.

The three of them live in a nearby cottage.

Anna Smith had a close relationship with Mary as her lady's maid.

Anna Smith had a close relationship with Mary as her lady's maid.
Anna Smith in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Anna has a very close relationship with Mary, often serving as her sounding board and friend in addition to her lady's maid.

In the film, she feels a fierce protection over the Crawleys when she realizes the royal dressmaker is pocketing their belongings. Anna forces her to return the items.

She's also the one who rallies the Downton Abbey staff together and convinces them to overthrow the royal servants.

At the end of the film, Anna is still married to Bates and living with him and their young son Johnny.

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Thomas Barrow formed a romantic connection with the king's valet, Richard Ellis.

Thomas Barrow formed a romantic connection with the king's valet, Richard Ellis.
Thomas Barrow in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Barrow (Robert James-Collier) is the head butler at Downton Abbey.

In the movie, he accompanies the king's valet, Mr. Ellis, on a trip to York, where he's arrested for being caught in a gay bar. Ellis gets him out of jail, later revealing to Barrow that he's also gay.

When Ellis is ready to head back to London at the end of the royal stay, he gives Barrow a goodbye kiss.

The interaction ends on a hopeful note when Ellis hands Barrow a souvenir to remember him by and promises they'll meet again soon.

Daisy Mason started planning her wedding to the Downton Abbey footman Andrew Parker.

Daisy Mason started planning her wedding to the Downton Abbey footman Andrew Parker.
Daisy in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Daisy (Sophie McShera) was dragging her heels when it comes to planning her wedding to Downton Abbey footman Andrew Parker (Michael C. Fox).

But after learning that her fiancé grew so jealous of the local plumber for talking to Daisy that he broke the Downton Abbey pump, the assistant cook felt a renewed sense of passion for him.

She got the confirmation she needed to know that she was ready to marry him.

"I wasn't sure before, but I am now," she tells Mrs. Patmore, adding, "I'm happy Mrs. Patmore. I don't often say that, but I am."

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Andrew Parker was engaged to wed Daisy.

Andrew Parker was engaged to wed Daisy.
Andrew Parker in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

After seeing Daisy talking to the handsome plumber, Andrew went into a jealous rage, intentionally breaking the pump at Downton Abbey.

He asks his fiancée for forgiveness at the end of the movie, which she grants him.

What's more, she seemed impressed by his behavior and told him that they're both "full of passion for what matters."

Joseph Molesley is a school teacher, but he briefly returned as a footman during the royal visit.

Joseph Molesley is a school teacher, but he briefly returned as a footman during the royal visit.
Joseph Molesley in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Though Molesley (Kevin Doyle) found a new occupation teaching at a local school, he returned to Downton Abbey for the royal visit to serve as a footman.

Molesley grows overwhelmed in the king and queen's presence and directly addresses them, which is unthinkable behavior for a footman.

But the queen graciously smooths over the situation, and Molesley is forgiven.

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Mrs. Beryl Patmore remained in the Downton Abbey kitchen as the head cook.

Mrs. Beryl Patmore remained in the Downton Abbey kitchen as the head cook.
Mrs. Patmore in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

After Anna gave the royal chef sleeping pills during the upstairs dinner party, Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol) got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cook for the royals. The king even went out of his way to compliment the meal.

At the end of the film, Patmore remained in the Downton Abbey kitchen as the head cook, with Daisy by her side.

Phyllis Baxter continued working as Cora's lady's maid.

Phyllis Baxter continued working as Cora's lady's maid.
Mrs. Baxter in "Downton Abbey."Amazon Prime Video

Baxter (Raquel Cassidy), Cora's lady's maid, assisted the rest of the Downton Abbey servants in overthrowing the royal staff in the movie.

After Molesley expresses embarrassment for his behavior in front of the queen, Baxter put his mind at ease, telling him that he could "never be a fool" to her.

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