‘Downton Abbey’ trailer: a royal visit, gay romance and an extra sassy Maggie Smith

The King and Queen are coming to Downton, let the drama ensue.

It’s 1927, just a few years after the end of the television series with all of your favorites returning including Hugh Bonneville, Dame Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, Penelope Wilton, and Elizabeth McGovern with Imelda Staunton stepping foot into Downton for the first time.

With the arrival of the Royal Family, the house is in a tizzy – both upstairs and downstairs – with Lady Mary (Dockery) having to lure Carson (Jim Carter) back as head butler. We also get a glimpse of Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier) in the throes of a romance. And of course, the catty bitings of Violet (Smith) and Isobel Crawley (Wilton).

Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards (69 Emmy nominations in total), making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.

Focus Features will release Downton Abbey in theaters on September 20th.