Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcast
My husband, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, and I have the enormous privilege and pleasure of living in, and taking care of, my husband’s family home, Highclere Castle, which is better known to many people as the setting for the popular television programme “Downton Abbey”. Thanks to this series, our home has, over the last few years, become one of the most well-known and iconic houses in the world. My Podcast is my way of trying to share the stories and heritage of this wonderful building and estate, and all the people and animals that live and work here, so that you can get to know and love it as I do.
Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcast
New Year at the real Downton Abbey: Lord and Lady Carnarvon look forward and reflect.
In this New Year special episode, I'm delighted to sit down with my husband. We reflect on the challenges and highlights of 2025, including our memorable 'Weekend to Remember' event and the exciting premiere of the 'Grand Finale' film. We also discuss the personal joys and trials on the farm and in our gardens, and the impact of a very dry summer. Looking forward, we share our excitement for upcoming events in 2026, including the construction of the new garden pavilion, various celebrations, and our special Viking cruise. Highlights include our successful charity efforts, advancements in our gin business and the addition of our adorable new spaniel puppies. Here's to a happy and prosperous 2026 for everyone!
00:00 Welcome and New Year Reflections
00:26 Challenges of 2025
01:03 A Memorable Weekend to Remember
03:32 The Grand Finale Premiere
04:59 Racing Highlights and Future Plans
06:20 Business and Farming Challenges
08:57 Exciting Upcoming Events
11:55 Highclere Castle Gin's Global Recognition
12:57 New Additions and Future Projects
16:33 Concluding Thoughts and New Year Wishes
You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/
New episodes are published on the first day of every month.
Here is the tidied-up transcript of the podcast conversation between Lady Carnarvon and her husband, Geordie (the 8th Earl of Carnarvon).
A New Year at Highclere: Looking Backward and Forward
Lady Carnarvon: Welcome to my podcast! There is no one I would rather be sitting with as we start a new year than my husband, Geordie. But firstly, a very happy New Year to all of you. Thank you, Geordie, for joining me today.
Lord Carnarvon: Well, it's great to be thinking back over the past year and sharing exciting thoughts about what's coming up in the year to come.
Lady Carnarvon: We certainly hope for exciting things. 2025 was quite a challenging year, wasn’t it? Despite highlights like the Grand Finale film and some of our other achievements, the wider world has faced significant challenges.
Lord Carnarvon: It has been a challenging year for many. Locally, because of the extremely dry summer, we faced difficulties both on the farm and in the gardens.
Lady Carnarvon: Yes, it certainly was. We had an amazing summer in terms of weather, which helps when we have visitors, but it was a struggle to keep the landscape hydrated. The culmination of the season included our "Weekend to Remember" followed by the Grand Finale. Do you want to talk a little bit about that weekend? I found it so moving, Geordie.
Lord Carnarvon: It was moving to see the generations come together—from the very young to the amazing veterans who actually fought in World War II. They joined us for our remembrance service on Sunday, and we were very lucky to have clear weather for the flypast of those amazing vintage aircraft.
Lady Carnarvon: I wanted to pick up the theme of 80 years since the end of World War II and think about what our parents and grandparents might have hoped for on VE Day. I asked the question: what have we done with their hopes and dreams today? We had ambassadors from many countries and thousands of people join us to stand together. The purpose was to raise money for those who "save and serve" today, as it seems a very precarious and fragile world out there.
Lord Carnarvon: It was great for the younger people to see those wonderful machines of the air—the ones so important in defending freedom—and to say hello to the extraordinary veterans. It was also fun to see the period details, like the ladies having their 1940s hairdos done! Viking Cruises helped sponsor it, and the Perot family from Texas was amazing in helping sponsor the air show. We had one of the last B-17s in the country fly by, as well as the Lena and several Spitfires.
Lord Carnarvon: It’s very rare to get a Blenheim bomber, but we had one, along with an American Mustang fighter. It was extraordinary, and we raised a reasonable amount for SSAFA, the RAF Benevolent Fund, Combat Stress, and of course, HORAN (who are out there every day in dangerous, war-torn areas trying to save lives).
Lady Carnarvon: I hope it was both entertaining and meaningful, which lies at the heart of Highclere. Then, just one week later, we went into London for the premiere of the Grand Finale. I don't think I ever thought I'd be going to a premiere where our own home swam up onto the screen!
Lord Carnarvon: There were glorious aerial scenes of the Castle set in a "green sea" of parkland and cedar trees. It was wonderful to see the stories of the beloved Downton Abbey characters conclude. Julian Fellowes did it all very well; since it was the "Grand Finale," you saw characters retiring or moving on, but the ending still left you wondering. It was also great to see the Royal Ascot scene, as racing is such a traditional part of English life.
Lady Carnarvon: I know you love Ascot, but I think I enjoyed watching the film even more a week later. We took 140 members of the Highclere team to a cinema in Newbury. We sat and cheered, laughed, and ate popcorn. It was so relaxing.
Lord Carnarvon: Because we were quite far back in the vast theater in Leicester Square, I actually picked up on details I hadn't noticed the first time when we saw it in the more intimate setting in Newbury.
Lady Carnarvon: Speaking of Ascot, you’ve had such fun with your mare, Pink Lily, over the last few years.
Lord Carnarvon: Pink Lily has been my little chestnut star; she’s won seven times now. She won three times at Goodwood, which is her favorite track. In her best race this year, she showed enormous grit, fighting back in the last furlong to win.
Lady Carnarvon: She never gives up! She is back here now, and we are going to put her into foal early this year. I believe you’ve penciled her in for Golden Horn?
Lord Carnarvon: Yes, he was a great champion over a mile and a half—winning the Derby and the Arc de Triomphe. It’s a good cross for her breeding, and if the foal inherits just a bit of her determination and grit, we’ll get somewhere.
Lady Carnarvon: I’m so looking forward to it. We also have a nice two-year-old colt—who will be three this year—named Pearl River in training with Richard Hannon.
Lord Carnarvon: Pearl River—what a great name.
Lady Carnarvon: Thank you! But looking back, it has been a challenging year for business. It’s a bizarre employment market—it's difficult to find staff, yet many are looking for jobs. Additionally, with the cost-of-living crisis, it feels like wading through "clay mud" at times.
Lord Carnarvon: That’s true. We were worried the spend in the gift shop might be lower, but thanks to the retail choices and designs from Sally, and the work of our kitchen team, it actually went relatively well. The weather was on our side, and it was lovely to see people enjoying Highclere Castle Gin cocktails with Luis at the bar. However, farming was very tough. There was almost no rain from March until September, so crop yields were very low.
Lady Carnarvon: Farming has been quite depressing this year. Food is the most important currency because we all need to eat, yet its value and how it is treated by society feels at odds with that.
Lord Carnarvon: Livestock farmers had to be particularly resilient. We had to use some of our hay intended for the horses just to keep the sheep alive. There is a general feeling that the government is not supportive of farmers, even though they do an essential job. You need to be very resilient to stay in farming in Britain right now.
Lady Carnarvon: Certainly. But looking forward to January and February, we have some of our favorite events, like Valentine’s Day. Our major project for the spring, however, is the new Garden Pavilion, isn't it?
Lord Carnarvon: It is! This is very exciting. It’s going to be a beautifully built, open, and airy event space. It will be much better than using temporary marquees.
Lady Carnarvon: It will be transformational for the team. We finally achieved planning permission to replace the marquee that was constantly being put up and taken down. The new pavilion will have a lovely garden in front, a great bar, and a barbecue area. I’m immensely grateful to our partners, Viking Cruises, for their sponsorship over the next 10 years.
Lord Carnarvon: It’s wonderful to be alongside Viking. They have a very successful business and their guests are always so enthusiastic when they visit the Castle.
Lady Carnarvon: And you and I are going on a Viking Cruise ourselves in April! We’ve done a river cruise on the Nile, but never one in Europe. We are starting in Amsterdam and heading to Basel with three other couples. I can’t wait to just eat, admire the views, and go on excursions. We might even go back to Egypt in November.
Lord Carnarvon: Do we have the Battle Proms coming up in August as well?
Lady Carnarvon: Yes, our glorious outdoor concert with fireworks in early August. We usually have rather good weather for that. And the other big news is that Highclere Castle Gin was voted one of the three best gins in the entire world by Forbes magazine!
Lord Carnarvon: I was amazed to read that. They noted there are thousands of gins, and ours was in the top three. It’s an enormous accolade for something that began in the orangery here at Highclere.
Lady Carnarvon: It’s a great partnership with Adam von Gootkin and Renée in Connecticut. We are now in Ontario, Canada, as well as 30 states in the US and on Amazon.
Lady Carnarvon: On a personal note, I’ve planted a "Patron’s Walk" with shrubs to thank those who support the Friends of Highclere. I’ve included hydrangeas, viburnums, and philadelphus. I’ve even made little name plaques for them. I also want to create a "Secret Dell" area at the back... but you’ve had two other surprises recently, haven’t you?
Lord Carnarvon: The two little bundles of joy! Two 10-week-old Cocker Spaniel puppies—a boy and a girl. I was not expecting them! They are adorable, but quite a lot of work.
Lady Carnarvon: I know, but it’s mostly my work! I didn't tell you they were coming until they arrived on Monday. You took it brilliantly. Patty and Lola are just joyful. Walking them with my three Labradors makes me smile from beginning to end. They already try to chase after Isla, the slim Labrador.
Lord Carnarvon: They are very good; they can already retrieve tennis balls at a very young age.
Lady Carnarvon: We’ve also got work to do in the Castle. I want to redecorate a room on the top floor—the "Infantry Barracks"—which currently holds many of your father’s old papers.
Lord Carnarvon: And the picture of Elizabeth, Countess of Carnarvon, from the Civil War period is being cleaned with your sister Lucy's help. We will hang that in the dining room with the other Stuart portraits when it returns.
Lady Carnarvon: Lucy has also done a fantastic job on the new interpretation for the Egyptian Exhibition. So, we have many manageable projects ahead, and then I must start my next book. I’m thinking of doing a "Treasure Hunt" theme around a year at Highclere.
Lord Carnarvon: That sounds like fun.
Lady Carnarvon: Well, my darling, thank you for sitting here with me. It’s appropriate to look backward and forward in January, named for the Roman god Janus, who had two faces to do just that. I wish everyone listening a very happy New Year. May we all find more peace than we have found so far.
Lord Carnarvon: A very happy New Year and a prosperous 2026 to everyone.