Downton Abbey’s Earl lands real-life royal role
The film version of Downton Abbey showed the morally upright earl of Grantham — portrayed by hugh Bonneville — resplendent in the uniform of the LordLieutenant of Yorkshire.
Now, in a case of life mirroring art, I can disclose that Bonneville has very nearly emulated his big- screen alter ego: he’s just been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex.
The unpaid role requires him to deputise about six times a year for the Lord- Lieutenant, the Queen’s representative in West Sussex, and the honour was only conferred on him after appropriate consultation and scrutiny.
Paul Legrave, Officer to the Lieutenancy of West Sussex, tells me Bonneville’s name was put forward to Buckingham Palace by the Lord-Lieutenant, Susan Pyper, this summer. happily, the actor, who began his career at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he starred in productions such as ’Tis Pity She’s A Whore, passed the vetting process.
his new duties promise to be varied. ‘ They would include things like [attending] citizenship ceremonies,’ says Legrave, who explains that West Sussex’s Deputy Lieutenants are involved in ‘quite a lot of discreet work, as well as official engagements’. Bonneville, 55, moved to Stedham, a village on the Sussex Downs, about 20 years ago, before screen success in Iris and Notting hill enabled him to buy what one friend described as ‘a much bigger house tucked away in the hills’ nearby.
The actor declines to comment on his latest advance up the ranks of West Sussex society, but has regularly spoken of his love for the county.
he proposed to his wife, Lulu — with whom he has one son, Felix — on harting Down and has declared that he wishes his ashes to be buried there.
There are perhaps just two drawbacks to the Deputy Lieutenant’s role. Unlike that of Lord- Lieutenant, it does not come with a uniform, ‘just a badge of office,’ explains Legrave.
And from time to time they’re required to greet dignitaries arriving at Gatwick airport. Will Bonneville require Carson to deputise for him instead?