ITV's The Lady: Buckingham Palace Scenes Filmed in Surprising Locations
ITV's new drama The Lady debuted last night, captivating audiences with the dramatic rise and fall of Sarah Ferguson's former royal aide, Jane Andrews. However, viewers might be astonished to learn that the palatial settings, particularly those resembling Buckingham Palace, were not filmed at the actual royal residence.
Where Was The Lady Filmed?
Despite numerous scenes set at Buckingham Palace, ITV has confirmed that the production did not film at the palace. Instead, three stately homes were used as stand-ins for the royal residences. While the specific properties remain undisclosed, past productions like The Crown have employed locations such as Lancaster House and Burghley House to mimic royal interiors, though ITV has not verified if these were used for The Lady.
The four-part series stars Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews, who secures her dream role as Sarah Ferguson's personal dresser, portrayed by Natalie Dormer. As Andrews becomes increasingly absorbed into royal circles, the drama shifts between opulent royal homes, her humble northern roots, and idyllic overseas getaways.
Locations for Andrews' Early Life and London Scenes
Jane Andrews hailed from Grimsby, though the show only mentions she is "from the north." Exterior scenes depicting her early life were filmed in Leigh-on-Sea, a coastal town about 45 minutes from London. Interior scenes, including Andrews' residence, were captured in Brixton. Additional filming occurred in Watford, as suggested by brickwork and a Leavesden Road sign in one scene, with other London locations like Hampstead Heath also featured. Later courtroom sequences were filmed on location at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court.
Was Sunninghill Park Used?
Jane Andrews served Sarah Ferguson from 1988 to 1997, a period that included Fergie's relocation to Sunninghill Park in 1990. Episode 2 appears to depict scenes set at this refurbished royal estate, but similar to Buckingham Palace, these sequences were recreated elsewhere, not at the actual location.
International Filming: Greece and France Substituted
In episode 2, Andrews travels to Greece with her boyfriend Luis Castillo, played by Dimitri Horne, and later episodes include scenes set in the south of France. Surprisingly, none of this was filmed in either country. Production moved to Majorca, which stood in for both Greece and France. The end credits acknowledge that the series benefited from Spain's tax rebate scheme, a common industry practice to reduce production costs by substituting one nation for another, often unnoticed by audiences.
The Lady premiered on ITV1 and all episodes are now available to stream on ITVX, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the surprising filming choices that brought this royal drama to life.
