-It's one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

Highclere Castle is known to hundreds of millions of TV fans around the globe as "Downton Abbey."

In real life, it's the ancestral home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.

-One area we might share some differences in is the sort of tidiness of office zones.

-[Laughing] I don't think you can talk, actually.

-But there's much more to this estate than a world-famous castle.

-She's come on since I was here last.

-Oh, yeah.

She's a little dinger.

-Looking after the business is a constant challenge.

-It's going to be £150,000.

-With huge running costs, keeping it afloat is the responsibility of the Carnarvons and just a handful of staff.

-Very delicate.

-Now we're unlocking the castle doors as we join the family and staff over one critical season as they fully open the castle for the first time in three years... -[ Fireworks exploding ] -[ Applause ] -Wow!

[ Laughs ] -...see "Downton Abbey" hit the screens again... -Well, it's very exciting to be at the premiere of "Downton Abbey" movie two.

-...and attempt to keep the estate going for future generations.

-No one wants to be the one of the family that somehow loses it on their watch.

-Welcome to the real Downton Abbey.

♪♪ ♪♪ Set in the picturesque Hampshire Downs is world-renowned Highclere Castle.

This iconic building at the heart of a 5,000-acre estate was designed in the 1840s.

Today, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, Geordie and Fiona, are responsible for keeping this internationally famous home alive.

-I mean, a building like this will cost many hundreds of thousands of pounds a year just to keep going in a fairly basic way.

You've got to be investing in new ideas.

You can't just sit back and assume it's all gonna be happily okay.

-These days, the estate is a family-run business with a small but mighty team.

-It's not a full-time, private family home with people running around after us.

We are doing as much running around as all the Highclere team.

-Sandwiches.

-Yes, my lady.

We're 500 in.

100 or so to go.

-Do you need... [ Laughter ] There are far fewer staff here today than there would have been 100 years ago.

And I read in 1908 there were 100 gardeners.

And we've now got four.

-This compact team of four are responsible for curating 48 acres of landscaped public gardens, from pristine flower borders to the vast wildflower meadow, and grow over 6,000 potted plants each year for the castle displays.

In charge of all of this is head gardener Paul.

-We have to work incredibly efficiently to get everything done, and even then it's still a struggle.

It's like painting the fourth bridge.

You get to the end.

You think, "He's done it!"

It's like, no, you haven't.

You can start getting there now.

[ Laughs ] -But today Paul has been dragged away from his gardenias and delphiniums to help Lady Carnarvon with an important marketing project.

♪♪ -We are about to plant a rambling rose on the backside of this carved stump, and Lady Carnarvon is on her way to join us because she wishes to film it for her Instagram.

My wife and daughter tend to tell me when I'm appearing on her Instagram.

I don't tend to look at it myself -- or any Instagram for that matter.

-Well, good morning, Mr. Green Man!

[ Laughs ] Isn't he fantastic?

-The Green Man, a legendary pagan figure symbolizing the cycle of life and rebirth, is Lady Carnarvon's latest idea to keep future Highclere visitors entertained as they arrive at the castle.

-It represents a fantastic connection to nature.

He's part of legend and myth.

It's a wonderful way to make a living statue out of a wonderful cedar tree which sadly came down in a storm.

-We have squeezed a hole in between the roots.

-Brilliant.

-We can get the rose in there.

-Today, this ancient mythological figure will be making his social-media debut, playing his part to promote the estate.

Alongside Paul is social-media manager Caitlin, Highclere's newest recruit.

-So I just need to make this grow.

-So you need to be much closer, not far away.

-Fiona really mastered the art of social media and Instagram.

I would probably not have been that successful in that, but she's persisted at it, and we're now up to a few hundred thousand followers.

-We have to remember when we put it on Instagram, it crops to a square.

-You're going to have to go more around the side, and you're going to have to move it a wee bit.

♪♪ Are you sorted?

-Do whatever you think might work.

-Okay!

[ Laughs ] You ready?

-Yeah.

-Okay.

3, 2, 1.

Go.

-So today I'm asking Paul to help.

The idea is to plant a rose to glow up 'round about the Green Man.

-Obviously, Lady Carnarvon is on a constant roll with promotion.

-Caitlin, you do a close-up there.

-If you have to get involved with a bit of Instagram videoing, then we do a bit of Instagram videoing.

-It looks lovely in the sun.

-Shush!

-I'm sorry.

-[ Laughter ] -You might have to cut some of that.

We'll see what happens.

Do you know what?

We're a homegrown team.

-[ Laughs ] I'm sure we'll make it work.

♪♪ -Up at the castle, the rest of the team are hard at work welcoming today's 180 visitors.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

Thank you.

-They've recently made it through their first major spring event for three years, but there's no time to rest on their laurels.

-Thank you very much for your time.

-The team meet once a week to discuss plans for the week ahead, directed by castle manager John.

-Oh, golly.

What's my style of management?

Ah, um, people would tell me I'm too hands-on.

I'm sure that irks certain staff, but I endeavor to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the castle.

-But this is no ordinary week at the castle.

It's the week of the new "Downton Abbey" film release and its premiere in London.

-What's the film called?

"The Next Era"?

"The New Generation"?

"The New Era."

All exciting stuff.

We've been contacted by a daytime program to do some live feed into their studio program from Highclere.

The challenge there is they don't go off air... [Chuckles] until the first coaches arrive, but we can't let public come in when there are cables and everything everywhere.

It might be a case of as many hands on deck as possible to help them de-rig, at least get stuff outside so we can start the earlier coach tours as they arrive.

I think that is it for me.

Thank you very much.

Let's go.

♪♪ -The new film release marks 12 years since the "Downton Abbey" series first began.

Since then, these iconic rooms, seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world, welcome around 70,000 visitors a year... -Good morning.

Welcome to Highclere.

-...providing crucial income for the castle and keeping their resident tour guides on their toes.

-So, welcome.

Welcome to Highclere, everybody.

So give me a wave if you've got a particular interest in history.

Okay.

Give me a wave if you're drawn here today by the love of a television series called "Downton Abbey."

[ Laughter ] So that's great.

Well, I shall try and make sure I've got lots of "Downton" in today for you.

The footfall has gone through the roof because of "Downton."

It's absolutely massive.

"Downton Abbey" fans will know that desk is usually on that side of the room.

There used to be a photo of Hugh Bonneville here, which confused tourists.

Some people have walked in here actually thinking that the Crawleys live here.

-[ Laughter ] Let's go and have a look at the music room.

We've got so much information we want to give.

We love talking to people and literally cramming information into their heads.

Probably the highlight in here is the 16th-century Italian embroideries.

Another curiosity in here -- Napoleon Bonaparte's desk.

You find that people just go away a bit blitzed with information, but that's fun.

I get almost a sadistic pleasure in that.

So is everybody in?

I'm starting to worry that I've lost some of you.

So, welcome to the dining room.

Charles I -- It's painted by Anthony van Dyck 'round about 1633.

Scarily valuable.

I heard a figure of £60 million.

I think that's probably a bit O.T.T.

And you do find that people are still very interested in the history of the house.

And once they get switched on about the real Downton Abbey, they can't get enough.

[ Laughs ] That's it, ladies and gentlemen.

I hope you've enjoyed your tour.

-[ Tourists murmur ] -Alright.

Thank you.

[ Applause ] -We've done many castles all over England, and this has been one of our highlights, not just because of "Downton Abbey."

Just the artwork, woodwork throughout the home.

And it's just wonderful.

-I agree.

[ Laughter ] -Kind of got the flesh and blood about it.

A lot of castles looking old and tired.

And this has life still very much living in it.

-I think it's wonderful that she shares it, but I always wonder who cleans it.

[ Both laugh ] [ Vacuum running ] -Unbeknownst to today's guests as they take their leave, the housekeeping team are just beginning their clear-up.

This building of over 250 rooms is cleaned by just two people, the unstoppable duo of Sheena and Jason.

-People say, "Oh, do you work here?"

"Yes."

"What do you do?"

"Well, I'm the housekeeper."

[ Gasps ] "Oh!"

-"You're Mrs.

Hughes!"

-No, I'm a lot grumpier and I swear a lot more than Mrs. Hughes, I can assure you.

-Oh, she's not lying there.

[ Laughs ] -So all shutters and blinds are shut to keep the house warm and safe at night.

This is a really busy time for us because we have so many guests through the house.

-Jason and Sheena are part of a long legacy of housekeepers keeping the castle spick and span, but back in the early 20th century, this house would have had a housekeeper and eight housemaids, and there would have been no tourists in muddy trainers.

-Job that I do remains the same.

It's just the amount, where we have over a thousand people a day.

So you can quite imagine it's going to take that little bit longer to hoover and that little bit longer in the morning to dust.

-But Jason, who's worked here for less than six months, also has a personal connection to the castle.

-Well, I've always known this place as Highclere Castle since the 1980s, when I was a young child, when my father was the actual preferred tree surgeon here on the site.

He cut all the trees down that surrounds the area of the castle...

So every time I look out the window at certain viewpoints, I'm reminded of my late father.

-When you hoover and polish every inch of this house on a daily basis, you tend to pick up on a few secrets.

-The original idea of these houses is that the doors all the way go through.

There would have probably been one originally there, which is now the bathroom next door, and the other rooms are all connected.

If they ever had an overnight guest, they would have, like, you know, "I'll make sure I give you the room next door."

I love my job.

I mean, it's privilege to work in such a beautiful historical building, and every day you look around and you find something more you never noticed the day before.

-We always go to the front door again just to double-check that we have locked it.

'Cause a great fear of mine is leaving the front door unlocked.

♪♪ [ Heavy doors closing ] -With the castle doors locked and bolted and the house put to bed for the evening, it's time for the Highclere team to also get an early night because the "Downton" release week will be a real challenge for the whole team.

-The people that are coming have a certain level of expectation.

We've got to deliver of our best for the television broadcast, and it all starts rather earlier than most of us like to get out of bed.

So it is something that we've got to make work, and we will do our best to make it work.

♪♪ -It's 5:45 a.m. at Highclere Estate, and castle manager John is already on site.

-Thank you, Bob.

Good morning.

Where are you?

-It's the week of the long-awaited release and premiere of the "Downton Abbey" film, and John is preparing for a special live broadcast.

-I got an e-mail at 8:00 last night telling me things had changed.

But it's television.

Live television.

What could possibly go wrong?

-Highclere will be hosting the crew of "Lorraine," a breakfast television show streaming direct from the castle.

-Morning.

How are you?

No one answered whether you needed a green room.

-We don't need a green room.

-Great answer.

The e-mail was sent a week ago.

[ Laughs ] -I'm prompt on my responses.

-And we need to get the -- your satellite... -Yeah, on their way here now.

-...truck in.

-But this morning's broadcast isn't John's only concern.

-The "Downton" release date has clashed with a day when we've got 12 coaches with 600 people arriving at the same time we're live on air, so that's a bit of a challenge.

And then we've got to get all the cabling and the production team out of the way to welcome the paying visitors.

I just need to go move them.

They're parked on the cellar.

Jeff, could you just park one out?

There's a cellar there.

I don't want you to end up with the champagne.

-The team might well need some Dutch courage today -- because turning the castle into a live studio poses some logistical challenges.

-It's such an impressive but old house.

These houses were not designed to have live broadcasts from inside them, so we've kind of having to kind of go a bit old-school and use a satellite to make sure we've got a strong signal to beam back to the studio.

But fingers crossed.

It's all working out well.

-Could we have a bin bag on the east side?

That's where the breakfast seems to have arrived.

Because at the moment, it's sort of making its way onto the terrace.

-Housekeeper Sheena is used to early starts, but today she'll have a matter of minutes to turn the castle around for visitors.

-We're hoping everything's going to run on time.

And then when they finish filming, we'll then get the library and the saloon set up for public opening.

We're quite good at it.

[ Laughs ] Which probably means something's going to go wrong now, doesn't it?

-Once you've blocked it, let me know.

I can move certain things.

If I can move them as short a distance as possible to behind your cameras, I'm then back ready sooner.

My main focus is to get the production started so they're happy with what they're doing.

Um, try and move as little of our own infrastructure as I can, because I've got to get that back in a very short space of time for the public.

Charlotte, if we can flatten this furniture to the fireplace, lift the pouffe on its side.

Let's put this out of the way.

And then we can make that look slightly nicer.

Do you mind?

Can you manage that?

-Today's show, hosted by two presenters, will include a review of the film, a fashion show of "Downton"-inspired looks, and a one-to-one live interview with Lady Carnarvon herself.

-Would it be awful to have a little macchiato?

I'm not gonna make it through.

Would you mind?

What time were you up, John?

Dare I ask?

-I'll play Get Up bingo.

-Quarter past five.

-Right.

Bingo.

-Quarter past four.

-Ooh!

-14 minutes past four!

Genuinely.

A minute ahead of you.

Why I set it for 14 minutes past, it's just the way my strange mind works.

-5:40.

-5:40.

The Lady, she hasn't yet woken up.

[ Laughter ] -Excuse me!

-There's much laughter and bonhomie at the moment, but, um, I think that, um, always tends to be a preface to challenges.

♪♪ -Lord Carnarvon is also up early this morning and is on his way to Wiltshire.

-We're off to see my two 2-year-old horses.

I haven't seen them for about five weeks, and I hope they've been progressing well and getting stronger and hopefully showing they might have a little bit of ability on the track.

-Highclere has a long association with horse racing.

The Earls of Carnarvon have been breeding thoroughbreds for 120 years, and Lord Carnarvon's father was Queen Elizabeth II's racing manager.

The foals are born and raised at the estate but are then sent to legendary racing trainer Richard Hannon to prepare them for the track.

-Dicing with death, Sammy.

Dicing with death.

-Richard has trained almost 1,500 winning horses, and Lord Carnarvon is hoping his might follow in their footsteps.

-I've had a bit of luck.

I mean, I've only won a few races ever in my life.

My father.

He really was quite successful at it.

But it isn't, um -- It's not so easy to get to breed one that's going to win something decent.

-There's an army of over 200 horses to be exercised here every morning, and it's a great time for their owners to see them put through their paces.

-Geordie.

-Hi.

-How are you?

-Good to see you on this rather dark and misty morning.

I haven't seen them for five weeks, these two.

-We'll see exactly what they've done in five weeks and how far away we are from running.

We'll have a little look under the bonnet this morning.

-Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, yeah.

[ "Dance of the Hours" playing ] -But before Lord Carnarvon sees how his horses are progressing, Richard wants to show him the new state-of-the-art wing of the stables currently under construction.

♪♪ -This is our new spa.

They don't move in that.

-So what happens?

-It's just very, very cold water.

They stand in it and then... -And it cools off the tendons and things.

-Yeah, and then in there it's going to be the water treadmill and then a solarium at the end.

They are very expensive.

That's why training fees have gone up, Geordie.

[ Both laugh ] What is it they say on those cooking programs?

"Here's one I prepared earlier."

See the Farrow & Ball paint.

We've got automatic water.

Fill themselves up.

It's basically Highclere for horses.

Isn't that good?

-[ Laughs ] -Since the water treadmill isn't quite ready for business, the horses today will be exercised the old-fashioned way.

Every day, the jockeys here test out their speed on a six-furlong gallop.

And Richard is taking Lord Carnarvon to see how his horses are shaping up.

-Isn't there a heat wave?

Supposed to be three heat waves this summer.

Should get my Speedos out, Geordie.

-Lord Carnarvon currently has two horses in training, a colt -- that's a young male to you and me -- called Yellow Lion, and a filly, a girl, called Pink Lily.

-Okay.

We're going.

Come on.

Lay up!

-Thoroughbreds can be raced professionally from two years old, but it's up to Richard to decide when they're ready for their debut.

-Well, she does have a bit of speed.

-Up first today is Pink Lily.

-This is the quickest she's been in her life.

-35 miles an hour.

So it's not bad.

-38, 37.

-She's come on since I was here last.

-Oh, yeah.

She wouldn't have managed this last time I was out here.

-She's a little dinger.

-Next is Lord Carnarvon's colt, Yellow Lion, his strongest hope to make it onto the track this year.

-Looking very strong.

-I would say he's not far off a run.

He's showing a lot of pace, hasn't he?

♪♪ -I've been encouraged by what I've seen this morning.

I was very pleased with the colt, who looks fantastic, so I hope he'll actually get on the racecourse.

Looking at my great-grandfather, grandfather, and my father, they'd be looking down and thinking, "Well, can this guy actually have a winner with these homebred horses?"

Because homebred horses have been part of all those three generations.

Yeah, when we're up close against them going those decent speeds, you know, 36, 40 miles an hour, and the movement of them is fantastic.

-It's not about the raceday experience so much anymore.

It's about people wanting to see them in training, wanting to see the beauty of their movement.

-Absolutely, yeah.

They're surrounded by these horses that cost £100,000, £150,000 at these different sales.

My homebreds are a little bit cheaper than that to produce.

It doesn't make them run any faster if they cost more.

[ Laughs ] But I hope I can take on these more expensive horses.

♪♪ -At the castle, the television broadcast is due to go live in 10 minutes' time.

-Camera one.

Camera two.

-The castle saloon will soon transform into a catwalk for a fashion segment on morning show "Lorraine."

-Do you want to just do six looks, yes?

-Some of the challenges are -- So we can't use steamers.

There's no hairspray allowed.

Can't even have a sip of coffee.

I need to wander out there to go and do that.

Which we all need in the morning.

But, I mean, look at how beautiful it is.

-But general manager John is focused on just one task -- getting the crew wrapped and out of the castle in time for this morning's tours.

-[Whispering] The trouble is, is all the fashion crap 'round the corner, but I've got the cast that it's going in hidden here so we can get it straight out.

-10 seconds, guys.

-10 seconds.

-As John's stress levels spiral, it's time to go live to the nation.

-We're here at Highclere Castle.

-It's amazing.

-It's so beautiful, and it's just incredible, like, walking around -- This is where they filmed "Downton."

-I've got an exclusive tour behind the scenes from Lady Carnarvon herself.

-Yeah, and I'm talking "Downton" style, plus some French Riviera chic inspired by the movie itself.

-Hmm!

-One segment down.

The plan now is to move to the library for Lady Carnarvon's interview on the famous red sofas.

-No, no, no, we can't.

-But there's a hitch.

-Also, people running.

-So what impact will that have?

-Do it now... -In here?

-So you now don't need the library?

-Okay.

All I'm thinking is this is the first room the public come in.

If you go later in this room, that gives me a problem.

And you'll have 150 faces at the windows watching you.

♪♪ -Unfortunately for John, those 150 faces are a little closer than planned.

-The first coach is here half an hour early.

-These visitors have been sold exclusive access to the castle, but currently Lady Carnarvon is about to go live to the British public.

-Alison, I suggest they come to the loo and gift shop.

We've got the one coach here that arrived early.

What I've got to ensure is that we can get them in in a reasonable time because they're here for a set period of time, and I've got more coaches behind them to come, so I don't need a logjam to start the day.

♪♪ ♪♪ -10 seconds, guys.

-10 seconds.

-At Highclere Castle, the crew of morning television show "Lorraine" are nearing the end of their live broadcast.

-This is a gorgeous look.

It's almost like hand-painted.

It's very nice indeed.

-But outside the castle walls, a coach load of visitors have arrived 30 minutes early, unaware of what's going on inside.

-The first coach is here half an hour early.

-These guests are expecting a private tour of the castle on arrival, but with the crew still broadcasting live, general manager John needs to buy time.

[ Radio beeps ] -Ladies and gentlemen, we're just going to make our way down now.

-The television program is going, so we're at the point from which we can't return.

We're on the treadmill.

All I can do now is think on my feet and react.

-Okay.

That's wonderful, Alison.

If you return to the front door and then we might have to reset should the next coach come and take a view.

-While John stalls the guests, gardener Paul and butler Luis have been pulled in to quickly make sure everything's set up outside.

-We have to put all the furniture back again because Paul very kindly cut the grass very nicely, but he's all out of place.

-But he didn't put the chairs and tables back, did he?

-No, no.

So he's done kind of half of his job.

-I've done only a half job.

Beg your pardon.

So therefore I have to do the rest of it this morning.

-Both Paul and Luis have witnessed years of filming for "Downton," including for the latest film being promoted today.

-Do I have to watch "Downton Abbey"?

-I think you should.

-Are you joking?

Nobody -- That's not in my contract.

-It wasn't?

Are you pre-"Downton"?

-No.

Third series, when I came.

Filming the third series.

I watched that one.

-And then you got bored?

-Yeah.

-I'm pre-"Downton."

And I watched every single series.

I like it.

I remember saying, "No, that's not for me.

I'm not gonna watch 'Downton.'"

But then I remember watching on a Sunday and I couldn't wait for next Sunday because it was really good, actually.

Sense of humor.

Well, you haven't got that.

[ Both laugh ] -Down in the car park, more coach loads of very loyal "Downton" fans are now arriving thick and fast.

-Excited?

-Yes.

-Multi-talented Paul McTaggart can usually be found chauffeuring the Carnarvons, manning reception... -Have a fantastic day.

-...or dressing up as the Easter Bunny.

-That is hot in there!

[ Laughs ] -But today he's in charge of marshaling coach arrivals.

-There's 12 coaches here today, so that counts up to about 600 people.

It's all documented who goes where at what precise time.

So it's sort of like a little dance.

They dance around things.

One goes in, and the others come out.

[ Indistinct conversations ] -I think this program has just gone off air.

Has it?

About to go off air?

-We're done, so we're gonna... -Complete?

Oh, brilliant.

We'll give you a hand.

-Back inside, the live broadcast is finally wrapping up.

-John to Charlotte and the ladies.

Everything's done.

Can we help in the saloon, taking stuff out and winding up cables and things?

-With the first tour due to start any minute, it's a race against time to get the castle cleared.

-Guys, cabling across here.

I've got public coming.

Can we lose it?

-Hello.

-Hello.

Have a lovely day.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-Okay, can someone with a high viz just come up and stand in proximity of these vehicles and the loading up so I don't get tangled with public and vehicles?

♪♪ Well done, ladies.

We are now clearing the house.

Who wants to do the last sweep of bits from their side?

By my watch, it's approaching five past 10.

Um, there was a suggestion that the program would need 40 minutes to de-rig.

We've managed it in 4.

What -- What -- What's this 40-minute lark?

-What can I tell you?

I can't believe it.

-40 minutes.

We got you out in 4.

-I can't believe it.

-Were they happy with the program?

-Yes.

Oh, thrilled.

Yeah, it was brilliant.

Yeah, looked great.

-50 million viewing figures?

-Oh, I should hope so.

Is that a guarantee?

-Samuel, thank you very much.

-Thank you so much, John.

-All the very best.

Bye-bye.

-Thank you.

-With the crew packed up and on their way back to London, the castle is back to the normal hustle and bustle of tourists, and, thanks to John's team, the visitors are blissfully unaware of the morning's commotion.

-No two days are the same.

Nothing ever necessarily goes according to plan, and I suppose that's why there is someone doing the job I'm doing.

-Everything is smooth at Highclere.

Everything goes as clockwork.

When the clock's working, that is.

[ Chuckles ] ♪♪ -Highclere Castle costs a staggering £10,000 a day to run.

And the "Downton Abbey" connection alone won't pay the bills.

-It's one thing having a movie success and you get more income for the building and you just help the building, but if you've also got a business idea, you can really do something more.

And it's given us a platform for new brand ideas.

-The Carnarvons have capitalized on the castle's on-screen fame with various business ventures, one of which are the six history and lifestyle books that Lady Carnarvon has penned about her world-famous home and its historic inhabitants.

♪♪ Today, Lady Carnarvon is on her way to a private members club in Henley-upon-Thames to publicize her latest work alongside PR manager Hannah.

-Lady Carnarvon is doing a book tour about her book "Seasons," which is all about landscape, gardens, cooking, and the history of the estate.

I would say there's probably about 15 book talks in the diary per year.

Hello.

-I'm really not late, I heard.

-No.

You look lovely.

-Well, so do you.

I like those trousers.

-Thank you.

-One of my sidelines I suppose is being an author.

And when you're an author, you then have to talk about the books.

-Let's go in.

-Right.

Let's go in.

Can -- Cup of coffee?

Yes.

I've asked for coffee.

-No, no.

Excuse me.

Could we have a cappuccino or a macchiato?

Which one would you prefer?

For Lady Carnarvon.

-I think a cappuccino at this time of the day.

-Coffee isn't all that will be served at today's event because Hannah has brought along some samples of one of the Carnarvons' newest business ventures.

-This is my gin display, so I'm hoping that perhaps a few people might be interested in buying some of our gin.

People are free to try it, as well.

It's slightly early in the day at the moment, but hopefully later on.

When you finish your talk, when you say that, "I'll be selling gin at the back..." -So the book and the gin.

-But today isn't just about books and gin.

After the talk, Lady Carnarvon will be heading to the premiere of the "Downton Abbey" film.

And she's not the only one who will be gracing the red carpet.

Today I'm at this talk with Lady Carnarvon.

Later on, I'm going to the premiere of "Downton Abbey" film.

So it's quite exciting.

[ Applause ] -Thank you very much.

It's so nice to be back again.

Without more ado, I'm going to begin to take you through some of our interesting and slightly muddled life.

We're very lucky to have been part of the "Downton Abbey" journey, but that, in the end, you know, doesn't necessarily feed back to Highclere.

Gin.

Excellent.

It took us four years to set the company up, and we tasted gin for nine months, I'll have you know.

-[ Laughter ] So we're trying to promote Highclere, the real castle, which does need to develop its other sources of income.

In the autumn, from the oats, we produced Highclere Castle Oats for racehorses, so Richard Hannon and some of the other trainers buying the oats from us.

We planted a vineyard to try to produce sparkling wine, which I'm going to call Chateau Highclere, which a girlfriend told me it's smart to use...

But I think it's rather fun.

-[ Laughter ] We've trying different initiatives, so to do in part of getting out there talking, raising money for charity, it's a really nice way to do it.

Thank you very, very much for coming today.

I'm going to be at the back signing books.

And whilst you're doing that, please buy the gin because that's also very good for you.

It's got lots of botanicals, part of your seven a day, and it's a really nice gin to try of an evening.

[ Indistinct conversations ] -Hi.

Hi.

Would you like to try the gin?

-But will Lady Carnarvon's sales pitch pay off?

♪♪ -There you go.

-Thank you.

-I'll just put a bit more.

There you go.

It's citrus-forward, and it's very smooth.

You'll taste the sort of, like, the smoothness of the oats.

So it means it doesn't, like, burn the back of your throat.

It's really good.

Yeah.

-Brilliant.

[ Laughs ] -Oh, that's great.

Thank you.

-[ Beep ] Obviously it's not just the selling of the gin but it's raising the awareness of the brand.

But you enjoyed the gin?

-Yeah.

-Who would you like this to?

-Marilyn.

Marilyn.

-Marilyn.

There we go.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Oh, good.

[ Laughs ] Hope you're not driving.

Thank you.

-No, no, we've got plenty here, actually.

-You're all drinking!

What a lovely sight!

-Yes.

-Good!

So, what is the time?

God.

I need to go and change.

Where am I?

-Up the stairs, room 1.

-Room 1 up the stairs.

Right.

-While Lady Carnarvon goes to get glammed up for the premiere, Hannah balances the books.

-I'm trying to break Lord Carnarvon's record of my record the other week.

We did 40 bottles in three hours.

This is in 45 minutes.

1, 2, 3, 4... Oh, I'm just ringing Lord C to tell him how much gin we sold.

Oh, hi, Lord C, hi.

Um, just to say just sold 32 bottles of gin in 45 minutes, which is very handy.

It's brilliant.

Very happy.

Very happy.

It's always nice to keep him involved because it's his -- You know, he loves the gin, and it's his baby.

And it's just...

It's nice to know that people are wanting to buy the gin.

-But the team's day isn't over quite yet.

In just a few hours, Lady Carnarvon will be swapping gin for champagne... because 36 miles away in London's Leicester Square, they're rolling out the red carpet in preparation for the premiere of the new "Downton Abbey" film.

♪♪ Highclere Castle is just one part of a much wider estate, spread over 5,000 acres of parkland, woodland, and farmland, and it has been looked after by the Earls of Carnarvon for nearly 350 years.

The current Lord Carnarvon is the 8th Earl and took over the estate alongside Lady Carnarvon in 2001.

-My father used to talk to me as a teenager about the long-term responsibility of looking after Highclere and to think of it as a long-term act of stewardship rather than something that was just this amazing thing to have.

-The estate has been passed down from father to son for generations, and one day it will be the responsibility of Lord Carnarvon's eldest son and heir to the Carnarvon title, George.

-It is wet today, isn't it?

-It's great for the younger generations to actually learn about day-to-day operations before you come and take over a place like Highclere.

[Laughing] I hope I'm not disappearing quite yet.

I'll I'll be the 8th Earl of Carnarvon for a bit longer.

But -- But in time, it'll be good to get the next generation involved.

-30-year-old George, who holds the title of Lord Porchester, lives in London.

-This is definitely more of the wilder part of the estate.

-But as an earl in training, he's spending the morning with his father to continue his education in running the estate.

-We're going up to our farm buildings, up at the high part of the estate, and we're going to talk about what we're doing there with the processing of the oats.

-One of the Carnarvons' business ventures, set up over 20 years ago, is selling homegrown oats as premium horse feed.

-This is the busiest time for the horse side of things because people are ordering quite a lot of oats to feed the horses because they're doing maximum energy this time of year.

-It's a fun one to have, though, because, you know, you go to a race in Ascot, you see these horses winning with Highclere oats.

It's a nice little brand.

I think the last time I was involved in the farm was when I was 19.

I think I span the hay... Do you remember that?

-You did.

You were driving tractors and you were spinning the grass before we were baling it to make sure it was dry.

-It was a slightly short-lived job though because I broke your brand-new piece of machinery.

It was quite an expensive lesson.

♪♪ -How are you?

Good to see you.

-How are you all doing?

-It's getting quite busy with the orders, isn't it now?

-These last two or three weeks have been really busy.

-Highclere sells around 2,000 tons of oats a year to some of the biggest racehorse owners and trainers in the country.

-It's just like when you go on your easyJet flight.

They will wrap your bags.

Same thing, right?

-One of those.

Yeah.

This is where we're adding value in farming because we're growing oats ourselves, and then we're adding value to presenting them as fully usable oats for the performance-horse industry.

This is a reconditioned robot from the Cowley car factory, and it's a great machine.

It saves a lot of time and muscle power.

-So I guess on a good day, you can get, what, 10 pallets, 20?

-Yeah.

It's important for George to understand this side of the business in farming.

Over a long period of time, we've found that this kind of a venture really is the thing that keeps us going in farming one way or another.

-The greatest part about this place is it's such good views, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Although that probably helps you make any money in farming.

What are you doing down here?

-This is one of our not-so-brilliant arable fields.

The idea here is to take advantage of the new government schemes for conversion of arable back to woodland.

-So which which trees are you putting down?

-So I think we're going to have some native English trees like beech that would normally be on this kind of land.

-Do you get the credit straightaway or is it over...?

-No, it's not going to be a short-term income, and you'll be more grey-looking when the time it actually does.

-Yeah.

So how long does a beech take to grow?

30, 40 years?

-Well, I mean, as far as I can see it at the moment, the proposal is it runs over a 35-year period.

I hope over the next few years, George will become more involved and he'll come up with an idea that I would never have thought of because I'm getting probably less imaginative about things because I'm older.

[ Laughs ] -How easy would it be to put up more solar?

-You could have this area.

If you've got permission, you could have more solar in it.

Or one windmill when it's windy.

-When I was younger obviously, you see how excited it must be to, you know, eventually one day own an estate like here.

But working alongside my dad recently, you realize the scale of how much there is to do on the estate, and some of the stuff that makes money isn't necessarily very attractive to look at.

It could be quite boring.

-Should we walk across here a bit?

-But I'm looking to make sure that we can all enjoy this estate for many years to come... and, you know, I guess hand it over one day, but that's a long time to come.

♪♪ -At the members club Phyllis Court in Henley, Lady Carnarvon's book talk is over and the guests are heading home for an afternoon G&T courtesy of Highclere.

-So how many have you...?

-So, we sold 35.

-Did you?

Amazing, Hannah.

Well done.

Oh, I spoke to the lovely lady... "Can we get into Phyllis Court?"

-We are in Phyllis Court.

-The gin is?

The gin, you silly twit!

[ Laughter ] -But despite their business triumph, the day isn't over yet for Lady Carnarvon.

-So, today is a busy day.

I started off quite early back at the castle, I then came to do a talk, and now I am getting changed and ready to go to the British premiere of the "Downton Abbey" number-two film.

When you sort of put a face on with hair and makeup, it's hugely helpful and gives a little bit of confidence because it's not really my scene.

I'm not part of that lovely world.

It is extraordinary seeing the castle come up on a big screen.

I always cry, I think.

[ Laughs ] -Paul, who will be chauffeuring Lady Carnarvon, is lucky enough to also have a ticket to tonight's big event, along with the rest of the Highclere staff.

-I always watch "Downton Abbey" every summer right the way through, just in case that person comes out and says, "Oh.

Where did Lady Mary stand?

Or where did this happen?"

If you could tell that person that little snippet that they don't know, that makes their day.

That's what I think anyways.

-Wonderful, Paul.

Many thanks.

-Yeah.

-Brilliant.

♪♪ -Tonight there will be no divide between upstairs and downstairs... -Mr. Bonneville.

-...as the team are all dressed to rub shoulders with the stars on the red carpet.

-My legacy will always be I think the butler that lived through "Downton Abbey."

"Downton" will be here for a long time.

And in a hundred years' time, they'll probably be talking about "Downton" still.

-We've had that relationship with the "Downton" machine, the juggernaut, for 13 years or so now, and that's been an amazing part of the business to be involved with.

-I've got two women fighting over me!

-The stitching is very good.

-Get a knife from the bar.

Let's get a knife from the bar.

-Well, it's very exciting to be at the premiere of the "Downton Abbey" movie two.

The last one was an enormously fun show and a great success, and I'm sure this one will be the same.

And it's just great to be back after these three years of not doing this kind of thing, so we're all very excited.

-Might be part surgery, this is.

-Oh, my God.

Yeah.

-Yep.

We're good.

-Is that it?

-Yeah, now you got a big hole in your coat, but, you know.

[ Laughter ] -We're off.

Yeah.

Apparently so.

-In true "Downton" fashion, tonight is a real family affair, with Lord Carnarvon's two sons in attendance, George and Edward.

-I'm very excited.

Last one was great, and I'm sure this one will, too.

It's lovely to see everybody here.

-Who would ever have thought that a funny old costume drama, which began in 1912, would entrance millions and millions of people around the world?

It's given us an amazing marketing platform.

It has been hard work, but I think it's been a very interesting, fascinating, and fortunate journey that we've been lucky to be part of.

-I hope with the success of "Downton" that this romantic idea and dream of the "Downton" story will encourage people to visit Highclere and the surrounding heritage buildings in England in general, probably over the next 20 years, I hope, which will at least help keep many of these places surviving.

♪♪ -Next time, Lord and Lady Carnarvon launch their very own roses at Chelsea Flower Show... -Cheers.

-Cheers.

-What is it like seeing myself as a rose?

Do you know what?

My husband would like this because it doesn't answer back.

-...a deluge of gift-shop deliveries threaten to clog up the stables... -This is an absolute nightmare.

Huge castle.

No space ever.

-...and the castle's first charity gala in three years tests the staff.

-It is going pear-shaped.

I think it's a bit like ducks paddling really hard underneath the water, but then on the surface, no one saw it.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪