From one aristocratic George to another, the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, received a toy train for her son from the young actor who plays Master George Crawley in Downton Abbey on Thursday. During her visit to the set of the period drama at Ealing Studios, Kate was given a present for little Prince George of Cambridge by Zac Barker, who stars as Lady Mary's son George alongside his twin brother Oliver in the show. "George hands The Duchess a wooden train for Prince George #DuchessAtDownton @EalingStudios," Kensington Palace wrote on Twitter, next to the photo of the pregnant royal kneeling down to accept the present, while Zac's on-screen mum Michelle Dockery looks on.
Kate receiving the toy train from Zac Barker, who plays Master George Crawley
Later in the day, following her extensive tour of the set and backstage areas, pregnant Kate joined five-year-old Zac again for an official photo. Seated on the floor in front of Michelle, Zac posed with Duchess Kate and a host of the Downton cast including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael and Penelope Wilton, who respectively play Lord and Lady Grantham, Lady Edith and Isobel Crawley.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe pregnant Duchess took part in a group photo with the cast of the award-winning period drama
Representing those who work downstairs in the show, and who Kate had earlier seen in action as they filmed a scene for the forthcoming sixth series, were Joanne Froggatt (Anne Bates), Brendan Coyle (John Bates), Jim Carter (Mr Carson), Rob-James Collier (Thomas Barrow), Sophie McShera (Daisy), Lesley Nicol (Mrs Patmore) and Kevin Doyle (Mr Molesley). Dame Maggie Smith, who has won numerous awards for her portrayal of Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, was unable to attend due to illness.
© Photo: Getty ImagesKate with Sophie McShera and Lesley Nicol in the Downton kitchen
Royal watchers and Downton fans alike noted the arrival of two important youngsters called George back in 2013. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced in July that their son, Britain's future King, would be given the name Prince George Alexander Louis, four months earlier Downton's creators had announced that Mary and Matthew Crawley's newborn son, who is heir to the grand estate, would be named George.
