Actress Lesley Manville, who famously portrayed the late Princess Margaret in Netflix's The Crown, is now drawing comparisons to a more controversial royal in promotional images for her latest television project. The 70-year-old star reprises her role as amateur sleuth Susan Ryeland in Marble Hall Murders, the sequel to Magpie Murders and Moonflower Murders, all based on the popular novels by Anthony Horowitz.
New Series Details
The six-part programme also stars Tim McMullan and Patricia Hodge, and will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year. This third and final instalment of Horowitz's trilogy sees book editor Susan Ryeland embroiled in a murder mystery after being hired to work on a troubled author's novel.
Fashion Coincidence or Intentional?
In promotional photos, one shot appears to show Manville's character bearing a striking resemblance to the disgraced former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. While chatting with Atticus Pünd (played by Tim McMullan), she wears the exact same dress Ferguson donned at Wimbledon last year—a Jacquard Rich Floral Print Maxi Dress from ME + EM, currently retailing for £245. Manville also wears her auburn hair up in a similar style, with fringes trimmed to the same length. However, while Ferguson opted for a neutral lipstick, Manville chose a glamorous bright red. It remains unclear whether the similarities are intentional, and the Daily Mail has contacted the BBC for comment.
Sarah Ferguson's Recent Turbulence
The past few months have been challenging for Sarah Ferguson. In October, she lost her Duchess of York title when her ex-husband, Prince Andrew, relinquished his Duke of York title due to his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Ferguson's own relationship with Epstein has come under scrutiny following the release of millions of pages from the so-called 'Epstein files.' In one 2009 message, she asked Epstein to 'just marry me,' a year after his conviction for soliciting a minor. The former duchess has not been seen in public since December.
Prince Andrew's Arrest
In February, Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The 66-year-old was detained during an 8am raid on his new home at Wood Farm, becoming the first senior royal to be arrested since King Charles I nearly 400 years ago. Thames Valley Police confirmed his arrest on February 19, stating that 'a man in his sixties' had been released under investigation. Andrew was reportedly arrested in relation to allegations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein while acting as a trade envoy for the British government. The King issued an unprecedented statement expressing his 'wholehearted support and co-operation' with the investigation.
New Grandchild on the Way
Amid the turmoil, Sarah and Andrew are expecting a new grandchild. Their daughter, Princess Eugenie, recently announced her pregnancy with her husband Jack Brooksbank. The couple, who already have sons August, five, and Ernest, two, shared a photo of the baby scan on Instagram with the caption: 'Baby Brooksbank due 2026!' The King expressed his delight at the news.
