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Duchess Kate, 8 months pregnant, gets royal treatment on 'Downton Abbey' set

Real royalty met TV royalty on Thursday as the Duchess of Cambridge visited the set of the hit drama "Downton Abbey."
/ Source: TODAY

Real royalty met TV royalty on Thursday as the Duchess of Cambridge visited the set of the hit drama "Downton Abbey."

Hot off the heels of her Wednesday visit to the Tate Contemporary gallery, Kate's visit was meant to celebrate another example of British arts and culture.

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leaves a costume trailer on the set of British television series Downton Abbey
The duchess leaves a costume trailer on the Downton Abbey set.JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP - Getty Images

"Downton" fans and royal watchers weren't the only ones excited about the visit.

The Duchess, who's eight months pregnant, wore a JoJo Maman BeBe cream coat (appropriately enough, a "princess line" piece) for the visit as she toured the set and got a closer look at the designs the stars wear on the show.

Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Chris Jackson / Getty Images

She even had the chance to see the stars in those familiar costumes.

Image: Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is shown the Downton Abbey servants bells by actor Brendan Coyle (who plays John Bates) during an official visit to the set of Downton Abbey at Ealing Studios, west of London
Duchess Kate is shown the servants bells by actor Brendan Coyle (who plays John Bates).Pool via Reuters

Over the course of the visit, Duchess Kate rubbed elbows with both the upstairs and downstairs crowd.

Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Kate meets with actresses Sopie McShera and Lesley Nicol.Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Duchess Kate chats to (L-R) Penelope Wilton, Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael.Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Image: Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, chats to actress Michelle Dockery and Joanne Froggatt during a visit to the set of Downton Abbey at Ealing Studios, west of London
Michelle Dockery and Joanne Froggatt talk to Kate.POOL / Reuters
Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Nic Collins in hair and make up as actress Phyllis Logan is made-up during Kate's visit.Chris Jackson / Getty Images

She even got a treat to take home to her little boy, Prince George, courtesy of another George.

Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Duchess Kate is presented with a train for Prince George by actor Oliver Barker, who plays a different little George on the show.Chris Jackson / Getty Images

And then came the ultimate "Downton" interaction: a group meet-up with the whole gang. Well, almost the whole gang. Noticeably absent was fan favorite actress Maggie Smith, the woman behind the acid-tongued Dowager Countess, who was unable to attend the royal engagement.

Image: The Duchess Of Cambridge Visits The Set Of Downton Abbey At Ealing Studios
Duchess Kate poses with cast, crew and producers of "Downton Abbey."Chris Jackson / Getty Images

If that cast moment (along with the whole royal lifestyle) wasn't enough to make "Downton" fans jealous, then the Duchess' special screening certainly would be.

Yes, filming for the sixth season of just got underway, and Kate's already had a sneak peek! As for the rest us? We'll have to wait. Both the U.S. and the U.K. season premiere dates remain a mystery.

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